Patrick Meinhardt demands a clear stance against Uber and better conditions for Berlin taxis at BER.

Patrick Meinhardt leaves no doubt that he is dissatisfied with Berlin's transport policy. The general managing director and head of the capital office of the mobility association VSPV spoke in an interview with TV Berlin about both the situation at Berlin Brandenburg Airport and the competition between taxis and rental cars. In both cases, he calls for a more decisive approach by policymakers. Meinhardt particularly harshly criticizes the regulation under which Berlin taxis are no longer allowed to pick up passengers with Berlin as the destination at Berlin Brandenburg Airport as of January 1, 2027. For him, this is incomprehensible in light of the actual traffic flows:

„I think it's schizophrenic that as of January 1, 2027, no Berlin taxis may drive customers to Berlin from Berlin/ Brandenburg Airport. 95 percent of all trips go to Berlin and not to Brandenburg!”

Meinhardt places particular responsibility on the Berlin Transport Minister. She must initiate talks with the district administrator of the Dahme-Spreewald district and advocate for the interests of the Berlin taxi trade. He also explicitly supports a proposal from the Berlin Taxi Guild: A geo-zone near the airport could ensure that Berlin taxis, ordered by phone or app, are quickly available at the airport.

„Here I now expect dynamism and assertiveness at all levels.“

VSPV calls for consistent controls against illegal rental cars

Meinhardt becomes even more explicit on the topic of platform providers and rental cars. He describes the situation on Berlin's streets as "perverse." According to him, 1,700 illegal rental cars have been identified in the capital. To counter the lack of insurance coverage, illegal work and social fraud, he calls for regular and consistent controls by the State Office for Citizens' and Regulatory Affairs (LaBO). Additionally, Berlin must cooperate more closely with Brandenburg and the Dahme-Spreewald district. Meinhardt suspects that problematic business models are increasingly relocating to the surrounding areas. For the VSPV, the conflict has long been more than a transport policy dispute. Meinhardt sees the platform economy as a fundamental problem for competition and the social market economy. About Uber, Bolt & Co stand, he says:

„The system of irresponsible platform capitalism, for which Uber, Bolt & Co stand, has nothing—nothing at all—to do with the values of the honorable merchant, and with its elbow- and predatory capitalism it destroys the foundation of our social market economy, which is based on fair competition.”

Therefore, the association calls for not viewing the development solely from a transport-policy perspective, but also for stronger protection of consumers and the Mittelstand.