Uber will not be issued a new private operators licence, when their current licence expires, Transport for London (TfL) said today.
Their current licence expires at the 30th of September and then they will have 21 days to appeal, during which time it can continue to operate.
TfL concluded the ride-hailing app firm was not fit and proper to hold a private hire operator licence after a number of contributory scandals hit the media earlier this year.
Also FOI requests from members of the Taxi trade representative group The London Taxi Drivers Club (LCDC), exposed a mass of emails which showed an unsavoury relationship between Uber executives and senior TfL staff. Evidence was also given to the Sunday Times by the LCDC regarding the authenticity of 13,000 DBS certificates after TfL tried to sweep the problem under the carpet.
Uber's approach and conduct demonstrated a lack of corporate responsibility which could have potential public safety and security implications, it said.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said in a statement: "I fully support TfL's decision - it would be wrong if TfL continued to license Uber if there is anyway that this could pose a threat to Londoners' safety and security. This is not an anti Minicab app decision, this is a anti not playing by the rules decision."
Current statistics have shown that in London alone, Uber drivers were responsible for committing one serious sexual assaults including rape of vulnerable passengers every eleven days. Last year showed a 50% rise in passenger attacks from Uber drivers.
London Cabby Gerald Coba said:
"This decision from TfL will almost certainly make traveling on London streets much safer. Bus drivers will no longer be doing uber shifts before starting work driving buses.
"It should also make driving along one way streets safer too. But this isn't the end. Uber will try to carry on using PHVs registered by other licensing authorities. Cross-boarder hiring needs to be dealt with ASAP, as its become a major problem across the UK.
"But now TfL have refused to relicense, I strongly believe other authorities around the country will now follow suit."
12 comments:
They will appeal, they will win.
See meter case.
Far too much money involved.
TFL are still here, they need to go more than UB£R.
TFL TOTALLY FAILING LONDON
https://youtu.be/TIYgQgQhvp4
Everyone watch this and laugh, No wonder Uber is at the place it is.
Be Lucky
greenbadgejohn
I'm very dubious on this decision , I have little to no confidence with TFL the same management who participated in Uber's rise to fame..lies secret emails cosy phone calls, the poison still festering? Think? Tfl have proposed issues that THEY know can be addressed by Uber by the time of any appeal date, consequencently appeal overturned, TFL come away seemingly looking as if they've tried but failed but looking as if they were on black cabs side and taking the heat of further criticism I honestly think this is a organstrated farce to get around the licensing uber problem without backlash from the black cab trade. Ask yourself why cross bordering:having a 24 hour premises:Ehailing touting were among the reasons for refusal, I honestly think we are being shafted I await the appeal and truly hope I'm a conspiracy theorist
The TfL case against Uber is overwhelming and with their poor track record in many other countries, their chances of winning any appeal do not seem very good. Uber describe their operating methods as 'Innovation' but to many people this description seems more like the so-called 'innovation' is based on exploitation whilst Uber operate such poor conditions for their drivers, many of whom have to resort to Tax Credits to get a decent living wage. To many, Uber operates like a 3rd world company who do not want to answer to any form of Authority nor comply with the law and always appeal any judgement against them. It is time for the tide to turn and Uber's way of doing things outlawed. They must learn that their huge financial backing cannot make them above the law. It's just a pity that TfL never did their Due Diligence and spotted what Uber get up to around the world BEFORE granting them an Operator's Licence in London in the first place.
They will be re licenced far too much money involved money talks remember that
The battle still continues. All the taxi and private hire regulations need tightening and adequate across the Country to ensure the spirit of how the legislation was meant to be upheld. Pre booking and plying for hire needs very clear definitions, A National Cab Act would be desirable, street work needs to be clearly protected in the black cabs favour, aswas the intention in the original legislation. There is still loads to sort out. Also black cabs should up their game, clean good taxis with smart dressed clean polite professional drivers. I would like to see more black cabs on the road and even a 10% lowering of fares. We must be competitive and seen to be the best, which I believe we are. Provide the service, and give something back. There's no room for selfishness or laziness. Also lets have a better relationship with legitimate private hire.
As for George Osborne's Standard
That's why it's a free paper.
I suggest everyone leave them alone.
leave them in piles all over London
They can't even give the rag away.
Now Uber is coming to an end I will have to get my tax credits increased to cover my loss of earning --- unless taxify gets licenced soon -- just as Uber ends !!
The only problem with this decision is that most Uber users are going to think that the Black Cab drivers have been instrumental in this decision, pushing more customers away and alienating the traditional Black Cabs.
why dosen,t the cab trade take photos with the date and time of the large piles of evening standards lying around in london,they print an excess of uncirculated copies so they can lie to their advertisers about their circulation figures,these reports could then be given to the advertisers,it would need a trade org to organise this,but am not holding my breath,trouble is the cab trade is defending when it should be attacking
a previous poster states "we must up our game"put fares down 10%?we are forced to drive a £45,000 WHEEL CHAIR ACCESSABLE vehicle how can we compete with a vehicle costing a fraction of that with pro rata running costs,perhaps we could get tax credits to make up the shortfall,i,ll believe this uber BANNING if it still applies after 6 months or are tfl going to swallow all ubers spiel about implemented improvements and claim a moral victory,and relicence?
Putting fares down and increasing black cab numbers is never going to be a popular view, however imagine the good publicity in the media for such an unheard of event. Remember it's not how much one makes on each fare, it's more profitable to have more people in and out the doors, the quantity of jobs completed is the thing.if busy with more work, will make more, besides I am sure the tips will also increase. Just a thought, I know it's not popular, but to corner the market and flourish we need more people using us as first choice and being able to access a black cab without waiting long.
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