French cabbies seek payout for lost Olympics revenue

French taxi drivers on Thursday demanded government compensation for lost revenue during the Olympic Games as traffic disruptions and fewer regular clients weigh on demand.

In a letter to the transport ministry, taxi unions said that the Games had been "hugely disappointing" for the drivers of licensed taxis of which there are 20,000 in Paris alone. Several venues in and around Paris, but also in Marseille were blocked off for several weeks before the Games started on July 26.

In response to the letter, Transport Minister Patrice said in a social media post that taxis and ride-hailing services would now be allowed to enter the so-called "red zones" around Olympics venues, which were previously off-limits for motor vehicles.