Cambridge taxi drivers claim Uber cars are coming up to the city from London and fear chaos will ensuePaul Bradley, vice chairman of Cambridge Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Association, claims the silent Prius cars are coming from the capital
Cambridge taxi drivers claim Uber cars are coming up to the city from London to take advantage of business here.
Paul Bradley, vice chairman of Cambridge Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Association, says the silent Prius cars are coming from the capital after uberX was launched in Cambridge in the last few days.
He said: “So my fear of what may happen with Uber is happening already. They have made a big thing on stating that they will be using local private hire cars and that’s fine but I said my fear was as they get bigger the London Ubers in Prius cars that are causing the chaos on a daily basis... will be bought up here, and low and behold they are doing just that."
Mr Bradley claimed in London Uber drivers had been involved in crashes and drove "the wrong way down one way streets".
“Today (November 10) and their first day yesterday we have them working in Cambridge. Waiting around the city for bookings. This wasn’t what the people of Cambridge were told.”
But the company claims the new app has already proved “hugely popular” with availability in more than 20 towns and cities across the UK.
The Uber app allows anyone to book a trip with a licensed private-hire driver at the touch of a button. Now users in Cambridge can download the smartphone app and book a taxi.
All drivers using the Uber app in the UK are licensed for private hire and Cambridge drivers will have a license from Cambridge City Council which includes an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check – the same checks as black cab drivers and care workers.
The controversial app has been blamed for killing London’s black cab industry.
But figures obtained by Motoring Research reveal the booming private hire car sector could be doing a substantial amount to reduce harmful emissions in the city – with the hybrid Toyota Prius being the most popular car with drivers of private hire vehicles.
A Freedom of Information investigation by Motoring Research quizzed Transport for London on the most popular licensed private hire vehicles across Greater London, and discovered that 12,429 Toyota Prius minicabs are currently registered.
A spokeswoman for Uber said: “Uber’s launch in Cambridge - as with all our launches - is the opening of the app for both passengers in the city and locally licensed private-hire drivers who want to use the platform. In order to use the Uber app in Cambridge, all drivers must hold a valid private-hire licence and must maintain valid insurance and vehicle maintenance. All private-hire licences include an enhanced DBS, the same background check that is required for black cab drivers, teachers and care-workers.
“A number of Cambridge licensed drivers have already taken to Uber and the team is working to get more drivers on the app to meet demand from users in the city.
“On the waiting, all journeys with Uber must be booked through the app in compliance with private-hire regulations.
“On the environmental aspect ... our Electric Vehicle pilot launched in London in partnership with the Energy Savings Trust. Already more than 60 per cent of the miles travelled in London are trips taken in a hybrid vehicle.”
source:
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/ca ... n-12183152
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