If you are heading for sun and sand in Cancun this spring break, be extremely careful which cab you climb into.
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The U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory for Cancun after repeated incidents of medallion taxi drivers attacking Uber drivers and passengers.
Tensions stem from disputes between local taxi unions and the ride-hailing app drivers about pay structure and territory claims. According to the Associated Press, all ride apps were blocked in Cancun, but earlier this month a court granted an injunction allowing Uber to operate.
In some cases, the arguments have manifested themselves with taxi drivers forming blockades on busy roadways, but they have “occasionally turned violent, resulting in injuries to U.S. citizens in some instances,” according to the State Department advisory.
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Twitter user David Wolf posted the below video, explaining that it shows one of these attacks unfolding. “Be careful,” he wrote, “there’s a conflict between taxi cabs and Uber, fighting for passengers. The cab drivers have been violent, attacking not only the Uber drivers but their passengers as well. The government and authorities are useless, as usual in Mexico.”
Heading to #Cancun? Be careful, there’s a conflict between taxi cabs and Uber, fighting for passengers. The cab drivers have been violent, attacking not only the Uber drivers but their passengers as well. The government and authorities are useless, as usual in #Mexico. pic.twitter.com/Qd8EeN14rZ
— David Wolf (@DavidWolf777) January 24, 2023
Cancun’s mayor Ana Patricia Peralta released a video calling for restraint, saying “I am not going to allow a small group to damage the reputation of the resort and human safety.”
The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico acknowledged the situation in a security alert, telling travelers to use caution, stay up-to-date with the latest travel advisories, and “be aware of your surroundings and maintain a low profile.”