Some views on the two-month licence, with the usual suspects plus a London Assembly member who thinks Uber and Londoners are being hard done by.
This is all from TaxiPoint, so if anyone wants to read the full articles then please click on the links. But a lot of it is just rehashes of stuff we've read a million times before, so the stuff below is the most relevant extracts rather than the full articles:
Uber's London micro licence kicks up a storm amongst some of the industry's biggest private hire unionshttps://www.taxi-point.co.uk/single-pos ... ire-unionsHitting social media within minutes of TFL's announcement, Mr ******** said: "Again TFL kick a real decision over Uber in to the long grass. 2 months for what to allow them several more months of court wrangling to avoid licence loss and ignorance or workers rights."
Chair of the Independent Workers Great Britain union (IWGB) James Farrar, said: "Once again, TfL's failure to regulate effectively and Uber's unwillingness to play by the rules has led to the jobs of 40,000 Uber drivers being thrown into uncertainty. Sadiq Khan must use this two-month license review period to insist Uber respect UK employment law as a condition of license."
Only 24 hours earlier, Taxipoint published an
open letter from the United Private Hire Drivers union to the Mayor of London, which asked him to step in and take the necessary action needed to make sure the ride-sharing app adhere to UK tax and employment laws.
A TfL spokesperson said: “Uber London Limited has been granted a two-month private hire operator licence to allow for scrutiny of additional information that we are requesting ahead of consideration of any potential further licensing application.”
A Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Assoociation (LTDA) spokesperson said: “Granting Uber a two month temporary licence clearly shows that the firm has failed its probabation and is still a huge threat to public safety.
“Over the last 15 months Uber were supposed to change its operations for the better, but the firm has continued to shirk its responsibilities. The granting of the shortest operator’s licence ever shows the Mayor doesn’t trust Uber, and neither should Londoners.
“It’s time the Mayor pulled the plug on Uber’s immoral operation for good.”
Two month Uber licence is a “non-decision by TfL”, says London Assemblyhttps://www.taxi-point.co.uk/single-pos ... n-AssemblyThe London Assembly looked less favourably on the decision taken by the capital’s regulators, questioning what will be learnt during the short eight week licence.
The Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, Florence Eshalomi AM said: “This is a non-decision by TfL. What will it learn in two more months that it didn’t learn in the last 15 months?
“If Uber hasn’t provided the information that TfL needs then that is a concern that needs to be addressed and clarified by TfL.
“Uber may have upped its game in terms of culture and governance, however, such a short extension is evidence they still have some way to go.
“The London Assembly agreed with TfL’s decision not to renew Uber’s license, as politicians from across the political spectrum were highly concerned about its working practices and safety record.
“We look forward to further information on this extension. The safety of Londoners must come first.”
Londoners “frustrated” with short Uber licence stalling “exciting plans for the London market”, says Boff AMhttps://www.taxi-point.co.uk/single-pos ... ys-Boff-AMAndrew Boff said via Twitter: “Londoners will rightly be frustrated to learn that the Mayor has once again kicked the can down the road when it comes to Uber’s licence.
“The livelihoods of thousands of hardworking Uber drivers will continue to hang in the balance, while all those millions of Londoners who rely on Uber to travel around our city will remain in dark about how long they will be able to use the service.
“Uber have exciting plans for the London market – including investing in green vehicles and new charging points – but this move will entirely remove any incentive for the company to pursue these changes and improve their service for Londoners.
“It’s time for Sadiq Khan to finally get off the fence and, for the sake of millions of Londoners, keep London moving by getting behind this enormously valued service.”
United Private Hire Drivers union says TfL is not up to the job of regulating Uber who run rings around themhttps://www.taxi-point.co.uk/single-pos ... round-themIn a tweet, the union said: "Uber is digital & TfLTPH is 1970s era analog & way out of depth. TfL is set up to regulate individual taxi & PH drivers & clownish operators associated with the LPHCA.
"TfL is simply not up to the job of regulating Uber who run rings around them. Needs a complete management overhaul."
The attack on the capital's taxi and private hire regulator comes just days after they granted Uber a two month licence extension - a decision which has left many flabbergasted.
Regulator is reluctant to put public safety before all else say taxi action grouphttps://www.taxi-point.co.uk/single-pos ... tion-groupA spokesperson from UTAG responded to the decision by saying: “This award of a further 2-month window in order to give ULL a third chance to ‘get their house in order’ is further testament to the reluctance of TfL to put public safety before all else.”
UTAG earlier this year took Westminster Magistrates Court to a High Court Judicial Review, based around the decision to grant a probationary licence to Uber in 2018. The group lost the review which was based around a conflict of interest and flawed reasoning.
The UTAG spokesperson went on to add: “After seeking advice we remain ready and waiting for the decision in 2 months. Be assured we will take the correct action at the right time, including challenging any decision that is made. Now is not the time.
“We remain totally committed to holding TfL to account in court for the damage caused to our trade through inept and cowardly regulation that is seemingly biased in favour of a well-funded but unfit operator.”