Uber Has Effectively Been Banned From London
TfL has today informed Uber that it will not be issued with a private hire operator licence. pic.twitter.com/nlYD0ny2qo
— Transport for London (@TfL) September 22, 2017
Ride-hailing app Uber has been provisionally banned from operating in London, in a massive development that’s being hailed as a win for the traditional, old-fashioned black cab driver.
Transport for London (TfL) said in a statement that Uber’s ‘approach and conduct’ were ‘not fit and proper’ to hold a private hire licence. Its current one expires on September 30, but legally the firm is granted a 21-day stay of execution during which it can appeal the decision – and continue to operate.
The shock ruling criticises Uber’s approach to reporting serious criminal offences, presumably committed by its drivers, its approach to how medical certificates were obtained, to how its criminal record checks were obtained and its use of software designed to block the police from gaining ‘full access’ to the app.
London is a massive market, Uber appealing, and during legal process have a chance to pull their socks up
— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) September 22, 2017
Uber claims to have 3.5 million users in London – almost half the city’s population. Some 40,000 drivers also operate under its banners, it says. It has been operating since 2012 but has faced stiff criticism from black cab drivers, who have to undergo much stricter background checks and competence tests before being allowed to work. It’s expected that Uber will appeal, and make promises of big changes in order to keep its licence.
GMB, the taxi drivers’ union, released a statement shortly after TfL issued the news. Maria Ludkin, GMB legal director, said:
“No company can behave like it’s above the law, and that includes Uber. As a result of sustained pressure from drivers and the public, Uber has suffered yet another defeat. It’s about time the company… changed its ways.”
Do you use Uber in London? Will you revert to using Black Cabs? Will it make your life more difficult?
Comments
I reckon there will be a bit of back and forth before it’ll be finalised.
Uber really is better and sometimes cheaper than what TFL can offer.
Welp, there’s always lyft
Man, in Argentina Uber is consider illegal, but they still operating. All the taxi drivers are really angry. But in this country, everything is possible…
I have never trusted Uber, I always ride a cab since they actualy have to undergo some steps before becoming a driver istead of just having a phone and face and off you go, you’re an uber.
Has the UK gone full r*tard recently?
Inb4 “taxi is expensive bla bla bla”, taxist have to pay twice as much insurance, maintanence, taxi regrstion, tax on the price… and all of that is more than uber, therefore for them to reach this price they would loose money, and we can’t have taxis loosing these, necouse these taxes are common sense, what we need to do is put those taxes on uber drivers, and require them to be skilled, and have finished a school for taxists, not just some random bloke who probablx has a broken car and bad driving habits… Uber is banned in Croatia and I’m glad it is
Seeing that it is just you and me then.. where will it be?
The Black Cab will rule on
europe is becoming FIA banning everything damnn
I guess I’ll just walk.