Skip to main content

TfL describes reports of closer ties with Uber as ‘nonsense’

Transport for London (TfL) has described claims that it is deepening its relationship with Uber as ‘nonsense’. Media reports suggested that London’s transit authority might be going to offer customers access to public transport services via the ride-hailing firm's app. The Financial Times reported that Uber is attempting to add TfL's data about tube and bus timetables into the app. But a spokesperson from TfL told ITS International that the only thing it is putting out is open data – and does no
December 14, 2018 Read time: 1 min

1466 Transport for London (TfL) has described claims that it is deepening its relationship with 8336 Uber as ‘nonsense’.
 
Media reports suggested that London’s transit authority might be going to offer customers access to public transport services via the ride-hailing firm's app.

The %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external Financial Times false https://www.ft.com/content/0f1ee492-fc92-11e8-ac00-57a2a826423e false false%> reported that Uber is attempting to add TfL's data about tube and bus timetables into the app.
 
But a spokesperson from TfL told ITS International that the only thing it is putting out is open data – and does not know if Uber is using it.
 
“Just having open data is not a ‘deepening’ of a relationship as it’s open to everyone,” the spokesperson added.

Last year, TfL rejected Uber's %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external application false http://www.itsinternational.com/categories/enforcement/news/transport-for-london-rejects-uber-operation-license/ false false%> for a new private hire operator licence. In June, the ride-hailing company was granted a 15-month %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external licence false http://www.itsinternational.com/categories/utc/news/uber-granted-15-month-trial-to-operate-in-london/ false false%>to operate following a decision by Westminster Magistrates Court.

Related Content

  • November 22, 2018
    Lime launches free-floating car-share service in Seattle
    Bike-share and electric scooter company Lime has launched a ‘free-floating’ car-share service in Seattle and intends to make 1,500 vehicles available in early 2019. Bloomberg says the company has deployed 50 Lime-branded vehicles and intends to increase this number to 500 by the end of the year. Users can unlock a LimePod vehicle, a customised two-door Fiat 500, via the company’s app for $1 and are charged 40 cents per minute while driving. Toby Sun, Lime’s chief executive officer, says the company is a
  • July 9, 2019
    Grab secures $300m to expand presence in South-east Asia
    Grab has received $300 million to further accelerate its expansion in South-east Asia. Justin Leverenz, senior portfolio manager at Invesco – the company which has put up the cash - says the investment will support Grab in its “bringing more everyday services, greater accessibility and convenience to users in South-east Asia”. Earlier this year, Grab began working with property developer Sinar Mas Land to deploy electric scooters in Indonesia and to help strengthen BSD (Bumi Serpong Damai) city’s posi
  • November 6, 2019
    NTSB: Uber’s AV in fatal crash ‘had software issues’
    The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has found that an Uber autonomous vehicle which killed Elaine Herzberg last year had software flaws. NTSB released a report which says the Volvo XC60’s autonomous system software classified the pedestrian as an unknown object and determined that an emergency braking manoeuvre was needed to mitigate the collision. Uber confirmed that emergency braking manoeuvres must be carried out manually and the system is not designed to alert the driver. Data
  • May 30, 2019
    InDriver launches ride-hailing service in South Africa
    InDriver has launched its ride-hailing service in Johannesburg, South Africa, which allows the driver and rider to negotiate lower fares. A report by IT News Africa says drivers can use the InDriver app to accept or ignore offers as well as negotiate for a higher price. Rifqa Carr, InDriver spokesperson says: “Drivers have the freedom to choose whichever ride request they like, without any risk of being penalised. They’re also able to see the full fare, from point A to point B, and can then decide