Uber offers free rides on Turkish referendum day

Uber offers free rides on Turkish referendum day

ISTANBUL

REUTERS photo

Facing stiff competition from rivals in Istanbul, taxi hailing app Uber will offer free rides in the Turkish city on April 16 for voters taking part in the hotly contested referendum, as reported by Reuters. 

Turkey will hold a referendum on April 16 to decide whether to shift from the current parliamentary system to an executive presidency with vastly enhanced powers for the president. 

“Uber will take everyone to the ballot boxes for free in the referendum being held on April 16,” the company said in a statement, as quoted by the news agency on April 11. 

The offer only applies in Istanbul -- a city of 15 million people -- and is limited to two journeys worth up to 30 Turkish Liras ($8.07) each on the uberXL service, referring to larger vehicles that hold up to six people.  

Uber launched in Istanbul in 2014 and has faced competition from a popular home-grown taxi app, Bitaksi. It has previously offered a boat service aiming to capitalize on Istanbul’s infamous road congestion.
LATEST NEWS

  1. Türkiye will continue on path to energy independence, Erdoğan vows

  2. COP29 draft deal proposes rich nations give $250 bln in climate finance

  3. MPs pass reforms on internal security

  4. Romania set to hold presidential election

  5. Israel to end 'administrative detention' for West Bank settlers
Recommended

Over 47 million foreign tourists visit Türkiye in 10 months

AI firms seek accords with publishing giants to maintain growth

Competition authority launches probe into Mastercard, Visa

BP announces $7 billion gas project investment in Indonesia

Trudeau to send checks to millions of Canadians

SEC Chair Gensler to exit, clearing way for Trump pick

Volkswagen workers head towards strikes from December
WORLD

COP29 draft deal proposes rich nations give $250 bln in climate finance

A new draft deal at U.N. climate talks Friday proposes rich nations commit $250 billion a year to help poorer nations combat global warming in a bid to break the deadlocked negotiations.
ECONOMY

Over 47 million foreign tourists visit Türkiye in 10 months

Foreign tourist arrivals in Türkiye increased by 7.03 percent year-on-year in January-October to 47.3 million, according to data from the Culture and Tourism Ministry on Nov. 22.

SPORTS

Türkiye heads to Nations League playoffs after Montenegro loss

Türkiye spurned the opportunity to finish atop its group in the UEFA Nations League and qualify for League A directly with a 3-1 loss at Montenegro on Nov. 19 night.