France: Taxi drivers to stage vehicular protest march along Nantes ring road, block access to airport and rail station Feb. 13

Taxi drivers represented by five unions across the Pays de la Loire Region plan to protest in and around the city of Nantes on Feb. 13. The purpose of the action is to denounce alleged unfair competition from VTC operators and to demand improved health insurance. Participating drivers will assemble at the Beaujoire Stadium parking lot at 07:00 before organizing into two convoys and staging a go-slow march along the city's beltway (route N844/A844); one of the vehicle columns will travel eastward with the second moving westward, disrupting traffic in both directions. The eastbound convoy will continue to the Vignoble (Vineyard) interchange and follow Boulevard Prairie des Mauves to the Nantes Train Station. The westbound convoy will exit the beltway southwest of the city and proceed to Nantes Atlantique Airport (NTE). According to preliminary information, the event will end at about 17:00.

Road travel disruptions are likely throughout Nantes for much of the day on Feb. 13. Some outbound rail and air transport delays are also possible if protesting taxi drivers block access to NTE and the Nantes Train Station for an extended period of time.