Headline makes this sound like it's a licensing story, but it's more like PR and advertorial for Free Now. To be fair to the publication, though, they've got a critical quote from the ADCU, plus a slightly leftfield view from the head of the Clean Cities Campaign
Transport for London grants three year taxi licence to new Uber competitorhttps://www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-n ... r-24826328Can you keep track of all the taxi firms operating in the capital?A German ride-hailing firm has been handed a licence “longer than any major competitor” to operate in London. European transport-booking app Free Now has just received a new three-year private hire vehicle (PHV) operator licence by Transport for London (TfL).
The company now holds the longest private hire licence of the four largest operators in London, the firm says. The licence has been issued by TfL, following struggles by firms including Uber to secure licenses with the transport body in the capital.
Free Now says it is committed to “investing and growing further” in London and the wider UK market in the coming three years. The firm claims to have has quadrupled its number of UK journeys in the year to June 2022, with a steep increase in demand for private hire vehicle services.
There are already 40,000 drivers registered with the app, in nine cities across the UK. A spokesperson said in a statement: “Free Now is moving towards a broad urban mobility ecosystem, ensuring to get passengers from A to B in the most fast, flexible and frictionless way. The platform brings together disparate demand and supply together more intelligently to save emissions, reduce dependence on private cars and increase the efficiency of urban mobility.
“Within the past year Free Now has expanded [our] mobility offering, providing even further choice for consumers in how they travel all available within one app. Alongside private hire vehicles and iconic black cabs, users can book the largest fleet of electric mobility options in London through e-scooters and e-bikes which is made available through app integrations with key operators active in the market including Dott, HumanForest and TIER.”
The company says it has more than 56 million users in 16 markets and in over 170 cities. An eight mile journey from Brixton to Hampstead Heath, as of Monday 6pm (August 22), would cost around £24 through the app, roughly the same price as an Uber or Bolt, and half the £48 estimated cost for a black cab. However, at rush hour it would take around 10 minutes longer than the £3.20 Tube and Overground fare. Free Now sponsors the UK's Mercury music prize.
James Farrar, General Secretary of the App Drivers and Couriers Union, told MyLondon : "We are distressed to learn that TfL has yet again granted a license renewal to an international gig economy minicab operator, without demanding adherence to minimum labour standards as a condition. Free Now is the only major operator to offer black cab and minicab services from the same app."
But Oliver Lord, UK Head of Clean Cities Campaign said he did not believe the move was a threat: "If we want a healthier city then we need to give people alternatives to owning a polluting car and private hire services, along with car clubs, are part of the mix. This is with the caveat that regulations and incentives are in place to get them electric, as well as discouraging trips in congestion hotspots like the West End or where public transport is well connected and accessible."
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Minicab office with an app, you mean? 
