@morbidtruth_: When Uber launched in the early 2010s, many taxi drivers saw it as an existential threat. Unlike traditional cab companies, Uber initially operated with fewer regulations in many cities, allowing drivers to avoid costly taxi medallions, licensing fees, and other requirements that cab drivers had spent years and, in some cases, hundreds of thousands of dollars to obtain. The backlash was immediate. Taxi drivers around the world staged mass protests, blocked city streets and airports, and pressured regulators to ban or restrict Uber, arguing the company had an unfair advantage by sidestepping the rules they were required to follow. The clashes marked the beginning of a years-long battle between the traditional taxi industry and ride-hailing services, ultimately reshaping urban transportation across the globe.