Uber loses licence in London

[Silent Hunter]

BBC news story

This has got a lot of people worked up on social media...

[Santander]

This is the day London became the world's leading city again.

[dead0man]

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Has there been a lot of Uber related safety and security issues I haven't heard about in London or this just another bull sh**t excuse to push more anti-consumer, protectionist garbage down the people's throats whether they want it or not?

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

"Just another bull sh**t excuse to push more anti-consumer, protectionist garbage down the people's throats whether they want it or not."

Historical dead0man protesting against introducing requirements for taxi drivers.

[dead0man]

dodge

[Silent Hunter]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Has there been a lot of Uber related safety and security issues I haven't heard about in London or this just another bull sh**t excuse to push more anti-consumer, protectionist garbage down the people's throats whether they want it or not?

Yes, concern about criminal record checks for drivers, its treatment of freelancers and not allowing full access to its app for law enforcement.

[dead0man]

I was under the impression Uber does a criminal record check?  In the US they can legally only go back 7 years and I know a state (MA?, CT?), maybe several assist in the checks since they can go back further.

Freelancers can do what they want if they feel mistreated.

What would law enforcement need full access to the app for?



At the end of the day, London can do whatever it wants.  If the citizens of London approve of the ban, who the hell am I to say they're wrong?

[Santander]

Government always knows best. Don't question authority.

[mileslunn]

While generally a big supporter of Uber, I have to admit I am not sure why it has been much of a threat in London.  Compared to most cities, London probably has the best cab system on earth.  Easy to find and unlike most cities the cab drivers seem to know where everything is.  Still competition cannot be a bad thing and I would think Uber would be more successful in cities with lousy cab service.  Now where I live in Vancouver where it is impossible to find a cab, I can easily see how Uber would put them out of business as we have horrible cab service

[parochial boy]

Uber's "disruptive innovation" is less the use of an app, and more the reliance on badly paid and precarious bogus "self employment". Which is really a very 19th century form of "innovation".

Good to see a crackdown on the purveyors of one of the worst aspects of the modern economy.

[dead0man]

Yeah, screw those people that can't find a better job than Uber!

[Silent Hunter]

I was under the impression Uber does a criminal record check?

The checks weren't deemed good enough for TfL.

[Blair]

I'm in two minds; Uber as a corporation is garbage. They're app barred New York City officials and police officers from using them, they surge their prices during terrorist attacks and treat their drives like sh**t. However in London for a lot of my friends they're the only way to get around if you live outside of the center if you're out past 12 at night.

Most other cities in the UK are small enough to keep taxis cheap but in London they're ridiculously expensive, so it's a going to make it more expensive.

My guess is that this is just a warning shot; and that they'll agree to to change their practices in exchange for licensing.


On the boring political side I've seen a fair few non-political friends on facebook post petitions and complain about it; and over 500,000 have signed the petition. It's going to be relatively unpopular but I doubt people will suddenly vote Tory because of this.

I do feel sick at Uber using the 'save your uber' campaign slogan as if they're some sort of small taxi firm from Croydon.

[dead0man]

I'm in two minds; Uber as a corporation is garbage. They're app barred New York City officials and police officers from using them, they surge their prices during terrorist attacks and treat their drives like sh**t.

What info do the cops need that they're not getting?

If prices don't go up when demand is high, you'll have fewer drivers.  Would you rather have cheap fares and few rides or expensive fares and plenty of rides?

If the drivers feel they are treated badly, they are free to not drive or to drive for one of the other apps.  I don't see the problem here.

[Silent Hunter]

Lyft doesn't operate in London and the other apps are linked to the existing minicabs or taxis.