Uber, the San Francisco-based ride service that has become a real threat to cabbies all over the world, is being met with some genuine hostility around the globe.

In Mexico, hundreds of taxi drivers calling for a ban on the online ride service voiced their frustration while marching through the streets of Mexico City, chanting: "Uber Out!"

A number of drivers protested by driving their pink-and-white cabs in ranks along the city's main boulevard. According to The Associated Press, the demonstrating drivers point out that Uber, along with other ride-sharing services, get away with evading taxes, registration, and even the safety laws that legitimate cabs services must legally deal with.

Eleazar Romero, the leader of the demonstrating taxis, said his group is not against technology.

“We just want a level playing field, we want everyone to follow the same tax rules we do," he said. 

Fighting the protests with business savvy, Uber responded to the demonstrating taxis by offering Mexico City commuters free rides on Monday, saying on its website that commuters could take up to two rides, which are worth around $10, for free.

For their part, Mexico City officials have stated that they would study ways to regulate the Uber app, but noted that the complaining cabs should meet up with the times and use the same app technology that Uber does.

In London, The Independent has reported that taxi strikes are expected to result in delays as protesting drivers join in a “slowdown” against Uber today.

And in Italy, a judge in Milan has just ruled that Uber constitutes unfair competition for traditional taxi drivers, and has ordered the company to stop service in 15 days or be fined $22,000 a day.

"This is an important victory, but it is just the first battle in what will be a very long fight to make sure the rules are followed in Italy," said Pietro Gagliardi, a representative of Unione Artigiani’s taxi trade group, has said, the Wall Street Journal reports.