Uber granted London licence for just two months

Transport for London (TfL) has issued Uber London with just a two-month private hire operator licence. The ride-hailing company’s previous 15-month licence – awarded by a court on appeal after TfL originally decided not to grant one - expires tonight (25 September). Two years ago, TfL declared that Uber was not ‘fit and proper’ to hold a licence – before the court intervened. At the time, Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi admitted the company was ‘far from perfect’. TfL now says it will be req
September 25, 2019 Read time: 2 mins
1466 Transport for London (TfL) has issued Uber London with just a two-month private hire operator licence.


The ride-hailing company’s previous 15-month licence – awarded by a %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external court false https://www.itsinternational.com/categories/utc/news/uber-granted-15-month-trial-to-operate-in-london/?__utma=90924956.1869851934.1534854633.1569326723.1569330357.635&amp;__utmb=90924956.12.9.1569332147858&amp;__utmc=90924956&amp;__utmx=-&amp;__utmz=90924956.1564666132.552.12.utmcsr=Adestra|utmccn=(not%20set)|utmcmd=email&amp;__utmv=-&amp;__utmk=30922423 false false%> on appeal after TfL originally decided not to grant one - expires tonight (25 September).

Two years ago, TfL declared that Uber was not ‘fit and proper’ to hold a licence – before the court intervened. At the time, Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi admitted the company was ‘far from perfect’.

TfL now says it will be requesting additional information from Uber “to help inform any future licensing decision” and insists its original decision not to give Uber a licence “led to the app-based firm improving its culture and governance”.

“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,” says a TfL spokesperson.

The two-month licence comes with new conditions “to ensure passenger safety”, TfL says. “These new conditions cover ride-sharing, appropriate insurance and driver document checks by Uber.”

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