Taxi Driver Online

New taxi app bids to operate in Brighton and Hove

Taxi app Ola hopes to start up in Brighton and Hove if it gets a licence.

Hailed as a rival to Uber, Ola wants a five-year licence to operate a private hire service, where taxis are pre-booked.

The company started out in India before branching out to Australia and recently launched in Birmingham.

It also operates in South Wales, Merseyside and Reading.

In its application Ola has committed to using Brighton and Hove licensed drivers and vehicles only.

Any out of town drivers who drop off in the city will only be permitted to complete a maximum of two pick-ups here within a 24 hours period.

The company has given its Brighton address as Queensbury House in Queen’s Road.

The GMB and Unite unions made a joint representation which was described as not an objection.

Secretary of GMB’s Brighton and Hove Taxi section, Andrew Peters said competition is always welcome provided it is all on the same level.

But both unions are concerned that OLA does not consider that it is a “transport provider”.

Mr Peters said: “This is what Uber has always stated and yet it has applied for an operator licence to provide the means of transport to the public which is quite ironic.

“This is where the very experienced trade has concerns because there is a huge responsibility on all licensed operators for the protection of the public.

“This is especially relevant where there has been horrific news about vulnerable people being abused via a small core of taxi/private hire drivers in places like Rotherham and such like.”

Mr Peters pointed out the city’s taxi trade works with the council to maintain high standards to protect the public, and all companies now have their own app.

He added: “International cab apps are now popping up all over the place which in one sense is very good for the public but local councils must ensure that these entities are ‘fit and proper’ and are aware of the full responsibilities.

“Unfortunately when they deny they are ‘transport providers’ that is where eyebrows are raised within the local trades.”

A three-councillor panel meets at Hove Town Hall to discuss the application from 10am on Monday 12 May.

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IDFIMH

Be a bugger to enforce that?

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IDFIMH

Not sure if this 'transport provider' thing will mean that much to the general public - not really sure I know its relevance either - something to do with European Law?

But don't think the point will have much clout with the public - Mr Peters would be better highlighting other stuff, in my opinion

are they going to be much competition for uber ?

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Apparently ola are taking black cabs on their books so just watch the mad rush!

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

I sort of had this discussion with the local trade in respect of the Uber applications, and my answer is still the same.

Uber/Ola have applied for private hire operator licenses, once they receive those private hire operator licenses they are licensed private hire operators.

They can call themselves what they want, but legally they are licensed private hire operators.

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IDFIMH

I would imagine so. They are in India.

This actually blends into why I think Uber will never make the idiots buying their shares today any money.

The work Ola take off Uber will be undertaken by drivers, in the main, also signed up with Uber.

The local trade might take a hit or two, but in the main it will be Ola taking money from Uber, who will in turn have to compete by giving more discounts to the kids.

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IDFIMH

but at what point will drivers decide the work is too cheap and bin the apps ?

or is there no base price below which drivers will not go

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

We have to remember the price Uber charge the punter often has no resemblance to that which Uber pays the driver. That's why Uber lose billions of pounds every year. In short they subsidise jobs.

So in theory it shouldn't effect the driver and the question you posed isn't really an issue.

If however it did ever start to effect the driver rates, then I'm quite sure drivers would reconsider accepting the work in the same way we all do now. If work is too cheap, why do it?

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IDFIMH

The age old question, but I don't see how it's any different with the app-based providers as compared to more traditional operations.

So if some drivers did 'bin the app' then the remaining drivers would be making a bit more because they'd have less down time, so a new balance would be found.

Or, if push came to shove then the apps would just up their prices a bit, as is certainly the case as regards the CAZ stuff.

So at the end of the day something has to give, but if the apps do come and go it's no different to what's went before.

New taxi app Ola promises to use only Brighton-licensed drivers

https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/201 ... ed-driver/

Restrictions on out of town drivers working for taxi app Ola were promised if it gets a licence in Brighton and Hove.

An agreement between the authority and Ola would restrict any out of town drivers to picking up two fares within 24 hours before going back to their own area.

The memorandum of understanding was presented by Ola at a licensing panel meeting at Hove Town Hall on Monday 13 May.

The issue was raised after problems in the past with drivers licensed by Transport for London (TfL) and other local authorities operating in the city for Uber.

Ola is in the process of rolling out across the country, including seeking a licence with TfL.

Councillor Jackie O’Quinn asked about the company’s expansion, raising the issue of two pick ups.

She said: “We’ve had very serious problems with TfL when another company was given a licence.

“We were inundated with a lot of drivers which didn’t do a lot for good relations with the local trade.”

She wanted to make sure the restrictions were legally tight enough to prevent future problems and support the city’s taxi trade.

Ola’s operations director Karl Lutzow confirmed any driver attempting to pick up more than two fares outside their area would be invisible to the system until they returned to their patch.

In Brighton and Hove all licensed drivers must follow the city’s stringent regulations – known as the Blue Book – when operating as a taxi driver.

Councillor O’Quinn also asked if Ola would accept a one-year licence rather than five years.

Mr Lutzow asked for any such restriction to start once the company was ready to start operating, as at this stage it has not recruited drivers.

Councillor Lizzie Deane asked about safety, in particular a panic button Mr Lutzow had described as part of the app.

If pressed this connects to a central operations centre and in the passenger’s case, up to five of their contacts can be contacted and track where they are.

Mr Lutzow told the panel how Ola’s app has a panic button for both driver and passenger.

Drivers are also restricted from working for more than ten hours and have an enforced four to six hour break between shifts.

CCTV must be installed in all vehicles operating as private hire or Hackney cabs. All drivers would be self employed.

Mr Lutzow said: “Ola is looking to build relationships with the unions and work under the same terms and conditions as any of our competitors.”

Representatives of the GMB and Independent Taxi Drivers’ unions observed the meeting.

The panel, which included councillor Carol Theobald, was told if it decided to reject the application, it must show it did not consider Ola a “fit and proper” operator.

Councillors retired to discuss the application and make their decision within five working days.

Not according to Mr Ola

Taxi app told it can operate in Brighton and Hove

https://www.brightonandhoveindependent. ... -1-8951683

The taxi app Ola was today (June 4) given permission to operate in Brighton and Hove.

The company has been granted a one-year operator’s licence by Brighton and Hove City Council.

Ola’s operations director Karl Lutzow told a council licensing panel that the company would only use local drivers.

All taxi drivers licensed in Brighton and Hove must stick to the council’s rules – known as the Blue Book.

He promised to restrict the use of out-of-town drivers after the council’s Licensing Committee chair Councillor Jackie O’Quinn raied concerns.

He said that out-of-town drivers would be restricted to picking up two fares within 24 hours before going back to their own area.

Ola wanted a five-year licence but was granted one for one year only. When the company starts operating, the licence’s one-year term will also start.

The council said that the shorter term was in “order to monitor their operation and the working of the memorandum of understanding”.

Drivers would also be restricted from working for more than ten hours and have an enforced four to six-hour break between shifts.

CCTV must be installed in all vehicles, whether operating as private hire vehicles or as taxis. And all drivers would be self employed.

The app has a panic button for passengers and drivers.

Taxi Ola firm leaves Brighton

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/1824268 ... -brighton/

A TAXI business has pulled out of Brighton and Hove before it even took its first booking.

Ola – a “ride-hailing app” considered a rival to Uber – was granted an operator’s licence for one year in May last year by Brighton and Hove City Council.

But the Indian firm, which already operates in Merseyside, Reading, South Wales, the South West and the West Midlands, has told the council that it now has no plans to operate in Brighton.

Ola UK Private director Karl Lutzow, 41, made the case for the newcomer at a council licensing panel hearing.

And the company even took an office in Queen’s Road, Brighton.

But Labour councillor Jackie O’Quinn, who chairs the council’s Licensing Committee, said: “The market is too full.”

She said that Brighton and Hove was “overwhelmed” with drivers from Lewes which has had the highest increase in applications in the whole country.

Councillor O’Quinn added: “They are all Ubers because it’s easier to get a Lewes licence.”

In Brighton and Hove all licensed drivers must follow the council’s stringent regulations – known as the Blue Book – when operating as a taxi or private hire driver.

One of the conditions that Councillor O’Quinn pushed for was to ensure that all Ola drivers were licensed in Brighton and Hove.

She also insisted on tight restriction to prevent Ola drivers from outside Brighton and Hove picking up fares and competing unfairly with local drivers.

Ola was approached for comment.