How ride-hailing services have shaken up mobility in Abidjan

‘In Abidjan, we don’t talk in terms of distance, we talk in terms of time.’ — AFP Relaxnews

In Abidjan, in the West African country of Côte d’Ivoire, people mainly get around using private hire car services. Since the arrival of ride-hailing companies in 2015, these applications have taken over from the traditional taxicabs, and not without creating friction between the two. GPS and fixed prices have made these private hire car services popular – and made users happy – as they become a symbol of changing mobility in the city.

When leaving a restaurant, going shopping or heading to work, cabs are the way to go in Abidjan. Since 2015 and the arrival of the ride-hailing giant Uber, other companies have set up in the city to fill a gap in the transportation offer.