Uber granted 15-month trial to operate in London

Uber is now operating in London, UK, on a 15-month licence grant following a decision by Westminster Magistrates Court. The move follows Transport for London’s (TfL’s) refusal to renew the company’s licence in 2017. Chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot deemed Uber as ‘fit and proper’ and ordered the company to pay TfL’s legal costs of £425,000. The ride-hailing firm claims it has now made substantial changes by replacing senior management.
June 27, 2018 Read time: 2 mins
8336 Uber is now operating in London, UK, on a 15-month licence grant following a decision by Westminster Magistrates Court. The move follows 1466 Transport for London’s (TfL’s) refusal to renew the company’s licence in 2017.


Chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot deemed Uber as ‘fit and proper’ and ordered the company to pay TfL’s legal costs of £425,000.

The ride-hailing firm claims it has now made substantial changes by replacing senior management.

The decision has not been welcomed by consumer group SumOfUs. Campaigner Eoin Dubsky says: "The bottom line is that Uber remains a shady corporation and shouldn’t have been granted a new licence until it can show drivers are treated fairly.”

In a statement, Caroline Pidgeon, chair of the London Assembly’s transport committee, says court action has forced Uber to improve its working practices and TfL must ensure the conditions of the renewed licence are enforced.

“The safety of Londoners must come first and we will be keeping a close eye on the way Uber operates,” Pidgeon adds.

UTC

Related Content

  • May 11, 2017
    EU court rules Uber must be regarded as a transport company
    A ruling by an representative of the Court of Justice of the European Union has dealt a potential blow to ride-hailing company Uber, saying it is not merely a digital enabler but provides a transport service, which means it must be licensed in order to operate.
    Read More
  • January 25, 2018
    Enforcement ensures equity for toll road users
    All-electronic tolling boosts traffic flow but introduces the tricky question of enforcement. Workable solutions are starting to emerge. Enforcement is an essential part of tolling and one of the most important ways for a mobility agency to keep faith with its investors, its community stakeholders and the vast majority of its users. It can also be one of the most unpopular and contentious things a toll authority has to undertake. If tolling is about paying for the roads, then everyone has to pay their
    Read More
  • December 13, 2018
    Karhoo says London faces decline in taxis and private hire vehicles
    Ride-hailing platform Karhoo says that the number of taxis and private hire (PH) vehicles in London is set to decline as demographic and financial pressures bite. Taxis can be hailed in the street while PH vehicles can only be booked in advance, but both are struggling, Karhoo says in its submission to the Greater London Authority (GLA)’s investigation into the sector. The headline figures of a large increase in PH numbers in London - and claims of this being the cause of congestion - have obscured
    Read More
  • October 23, 2018
    Addison Lee and Oxbotica to implement AV services in London by 2021
    Addison Lee has partnered with self-driving vehicle software company Oxbotica in a bid to bring autonomous ride-sharing services to London by 2021. Addison Lee, a UK private taxi hire firm, says it will also explore opportunities to provide corporate shuttles, airport and campus-based services. Andy Boland, CEO of Addison Lee, says: “By providing ride-sharing services, we can help address congestion, free space used for parking and improve urban air quality through zero-emission vehicles.” The partners
    Read More

Highlighted Content