Are TfL Appointing Ranks Just For Uber Drivers ?

Uber have announced plans to employ a further 20,000 drivers by the end of the year as lockdown measures begin to ease and demand for rides soars. Most of the new licenses will appear in London. 

While London Taxi driver licenses are declining at an alarming rate, TFL are alleged to have processed over 450 new PH licenses in the past week!

The private hire instant hail minicab firm will recruit the new drivers after reporting a more than 50 per cent increase in trips since restaurants opened for outdoor dining on April 12.

But how will their drivers pick up passengers with road closures, cycle lanes and other restriction, stopping them from being able to wait kerb side for passengers. 

Well, they’ve announced that they will be introducing a number of special pick up points for Uber cars only....in other words “minicab ranks”. 

Have the nice people at TfL appointed special corporate standings? 

We’ve been informed that initially, there are to be three street standings in Soho to help drivers get fares. They are:

1. Wardour Street
2. Romilly Street
3. Archer Street

In a message put out to their drivers, Uber declare that passengers requesting a car while the road closures continue, can chose one of the three ranks to find a car. 

Question is, under what legislation are these ranks to be appointed.

Plus have they been officially appointed by our very own caring and facilitating regulators?

I’ve been informed that our trade representative groups have all written to TfL and are now waiting for replies... funny how deaf TfL seem to be when it comes to the London Taxi trade though, when there are concerns about this company.

TAXI LEAKS EXTRA BIT: 

If these standings are to be officially appointed, it will be interesting to see if any of these initial pop up ranks will be monitored by PCSOs, or some kind of marshal.

We’ve regularly seen private hire cars using eTaxi only charging stations and TfL have done nothing to stop this practise. 

What will happen if an Uber gets to one of these pop up ranks and there is a line of Taxis on them (like when Uber use Hakassan or Novikov’s ranks in Mayfair)???

Are these pop up ranks going to be just for Uber cars...

1. What happens if Sids Speedy Hire is sitting there?
2. How will drivers know what company a PH car works for??
3. Are TfL going to allow Uber display some form of livery ???

Will we now be seeing a return to the 'Cab Wars', like in the early 60’s....those old enough will remember Tom Sylvester's Carline Cabs and Micheal Gotla’s Renault Dolphines of Welbeck Motors and the street battles with Licensed Taxi drivers.

Ive been reliably informed that emails from all trade representative Orgs have been sent to TfL’s Graham Robinson yesterday. 

The LTDA have taken a slightly different view inferring that it’s unlikely for TfL not to take action over Uber’s Soho pop up ranks. 

Their email to members is worded:

Over the weekend we will be observing what happens and in the unlikely event that TfL refuse to take action and Uber go ahead, we will gather evidence, and if necessary, take out private prosecutions

Another issue hass popped it’s head up today, the fact that London licensed Uber drivers are plying for hire outside the confines of the M25. We've again been reliably informed that Uber can choose to work outside of the M25 if they wish, because of a new “feature” of their app. 

Just how on gods earth do they get away with this on a London PHV license.... who has authorised this???

London Gatwick, London Stanstead, London Luton....

Uber say that as long as it’s got London in the title, they can officially work there. 

How are four licensing authorities turning a blind eye to what’s going on?