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.