Taxi Driver Online

Controversial taxi app sets its sights on Leeds


Unite the Union protest


Taxi drivers in Leeds staged a protest yesterday as news emerged controversial car hire app service Uber is planning to launch in the city.

The YEP understands the UK subsidiary of the Google-backed firm has filed an application with Leeds City Council to be a private hire operator in the city.

A group of Unite the Union members held a picket in Kirkstall outside what could be the company’s third base in the UK after London and Manchester.

Uber uses a smart phone application to connect passengers and drivers, cutting out the middlemen of taxi companies. Customers use the app to request a vehicle and the nearest driver is dispatched, with no cash changing hands as the charge is automatically processed through the passenger’s registered card details.

The on-demand service has been hugely successful with the five-year-old company operating in 200 cities around the world and doubling in size every six months.

But its phenomenal growth has led to multiple disputes with cab firms and regulators.

Taxi drivers brought parts of central London to a standstill in June this year in protest against what they saw as a lack of regulation.

Uber insists that it abides by local regulations.

Paul Landau, chairman of the Leeds cab section of Unite the Union claimed Uber is not operating a “legitimate service” 
as it is “simply an app downloaded”.

He stressed the union was not against technology but questioned how passengers could complain if they had poor service.

He added: “It’s not working within the parameters of what is acceptable within licensing guidelines.”

Uber declined to eloborate further on its plans but said all drivers have to go through DBS checks to get a private hire licence and will be licensed through Leeds City Council’s licensing department.

All vehicles will be licensed as well, added the company.

A spokesman for Leeds City Council council said: “The application by Uber to be a licensed private hire operator in Leeds will be dealt with as per our usual licensing policies and regulations.

“Any decision made will be on the basis of the relevant legislation, compliance to local conditions and the merits of the individual application. It would be inappropriate to make any further comment while a legal decision-making process is running.”

source: http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... -1-6906589

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

If they meet all requirements what can the drivers do?

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Make a carry on, create free publicity for UBER and increase UBER's market share.

It all makes sense really - because taxi drivers are really quite intelligent.

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Yeah God forbid they should get in there first

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

I would look on it from an owners perspective, if they are allowed to operate, how will the bases get there radio, or office rents, if owner drivers suddenly leave,

I have been saying that for ages - the taxi trade appear to be doing the minicab proprietors a favour

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Even drivers that rent vehicles could jump ship and get there own vehicle, (If they can afford to do so)

And so they should the middleman is just a parasite me id go and hammer out a deal with Uber quality drivers, vehicles, disciplined . experienced, hard working, ffs it aint hard is it ......................well the GMB in london think it is or maybe theres a vested interest coming into play .

Unite in Leeds should front em up work out mutually beneficial deal and shag the proprietors

OR IF UBER DONT WANT TO PLAY BALL UTILISE THEIR POLITICAL CLOUT AND FEKK EM UP

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

Both Skippy and TT presume a couple of things - firstly that a driver renting would want to own their own vehicle, and secondly, that they could afford one or get finance.

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I should have put if they can afford to do so

everyone goes on about how wonderful Uber is and how beneficial it is for the drivers, however how about this:

lets say a driver takes £1000 a week on the uber circuit

uber skank him a commission @ 20%, so that leaves him £800

knock of another £125 in fuel

so that makes a grand total of £675 and remember Uber doesnt like its customers paying tips

and this is assuming he even makes a £1000.

I'm sure GBC pointed out that most of these Uber drivers were just the same as before but without the stickers.

CC surely you can rent a vehicle and take work from uber ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,no problem in London

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All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

[quote="187ums"]everyone goes on about how wonderful Uber is and how beneficial it is for the drivers, however how about this:

lets say a driver takes £1000 a week on the uber circuit

uber skank him a commission @ 20%, so that leaves him £800

knock of another £125 in fuel

so that makes a grand total of £675 and remember Uber doesnt like its customers paying tips

and this is assuming he even makes a £1000.


Which would of course be a considerable improvement on their/ HIS current situation in London..................the key word is COMMISSION in London you pay up front AND GET FEKK ALL. PROPRIETORS IN LONDON ARE NORMALLY CHEATIN LYING FEKKING SCUM

_________________
All posts by this contributor are made in a strictly personal capacity

I AM PROUD TO BE A CITIZEN NOBODY'S SUBJECT http://www.republic.org.u

F88K EM ALL WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

BOOZE BOOZE BOOZE

Why don't drivers just get together and get their own App ffs there's enough of them out there, they card the customers as they go, hit the social network because lets face it if they're using an App they're using social network sites. Are taxi drivers crazy or do they think if they stamp they're feet long enough people will say 'ok you win, we'll stick to the old fashioned way of getting a taxi/ph'. In the process reduce their costs for work from £100 per week for an operator to about £10 per week for an App provider It's not rocket science get in there before Uber become the next generation of rip off operators

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

They won't get anywhere being in the Midwives union.