The Rhône prefecture called on CRS to “liberate” traffic access blocked by taxi drivers around Lyon this Tuesday, after a first day of demonstrations the day before.
The Rhône prefecture has signaled the end of tolerance. She indicated that she had called on the CRS to “release” traffic access blocked by taxi drivers around Lyon this Tuesday morning. A first day of blockade was organized on Monday, with numerous disruptions on the road network, to protest against a reduction in the price of transport of patients.
“At the request of the prefectural authority, CRS and police personnel are deployed to free up traffic lanes”blocked by taxi drivers, writes the prefecture on its X account. Monday, more than 1,500 taxis in the region had participated in blockades around Lyon, according to the Federation of Independent Taxis of the Rhône (FTI69).
The mobilization was less this Tuesday morning, even in the opinion of taxi drivers. “We are much less than yesterday, we cannot afford to strike for long, for some of our customers it is vital that they are transported, those who have dialysis, chemo”declared to AFP Pascal Wilder, a taxi driver for 44 years, installed in front of the Édouard-Herriot hospital in Lyon, with a few dozen fellow demonstrators.
300 million savings
Asked about sending CRS, he believes that “given the number” drivers at blocking points, “we suspected that the prefect (regional, Fabienne Buccio, Editor’s note) wasn't going to let it happen”believes this FTI69 activist. On Tuesday, it was in the capital that around 500 taxis demonstrated in the morning, near the National Assembly, to protest against the new pricing.
In order to make 300 million euros in savings on this medical transport, the Barnier government, threatened with censorship, wishes to force taxis and medical transporters to negotiate measures with Health Insurance, under penalty of imposed price reductions.
In 2023, more than 40,000 taxis were approved to transport sick people suffering from pathologies ranging from cancer to psychiatric illnesses, according to Health Insurance, or almost three quarters of taxis in France.
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