The plans for fixed rate fares from either of the airports into Paris had been going on long before Uber arrived. The stumbling point was the taxi drivers´ insistence that HOV lanes be made available for them if they would agreed to a fixed rate plan. Paris was very late the to airport fixed fare solution. Other European cities have had airport fixed fares for some time, but I believe Uber had little to do with it. Particularly because Uber even now does not have access to easy, close-in airport passenger pickup.

I use all modes of transportation depending upon my specific need. From the airports I use either taxi or train, I wouldn´t even consider using Uber. I typically use Uber late at night, primarily to avoid the taxi dispatch fee of 4€ or any potential approach fee.

However, during the day, Uber drivers do not have legal access to bus lanes and are therefore significantly slower than are taxis which do have bus lane access. If your Uber driver decides to avoid traffic by using the bus lanes, you may want to agree in advance who pays the eventual 135€ fine if you´re caught.

During the day, if I have an appointment or meeting, I only use the métro and I monitor the RATP app for current traffic conditions or operating issues. If I have time, I like to use the bus or taxi but traffic issues, particularly during inclement weather, can cause significant unforeseen delays.

Uber has certainly had an impact in Paris; Taxi G7 has responded with its own app and easy credit card payment option. While they charge both about the same, an interesting blog dated last year found that Uber is typically a bit more expensive than are taxis, a result most likely caused by Uber´s surge pricing.

There has always been a fee structure for reserving a taxi. The difference now is that a taxi reservation will cost 7€ vs the old 5€ fee that was only imposed at busy pickup periods. I haven´t found evidence in the new fee structures that approach fees have been universally eliminated. They have been for fixed price fares but I am not clear on their applicability when calling for pickup. Hopefully they have been eliminated.

I consider the best approach for transportation solutions in Paris to be one of knowing the alternatives and matching the need with a choice of options.