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Uber loses license to operate in London
NY Post ^ | September 22, 2017 | Associated Press

Posted on 09/22/2017 4:40:08 AM PDT by Oshkalaboomboom

London’s transport authority said Friday it won’t renew Uber’s license to operate in the British capital, arguing that it demonstrates a lack of corporate responsibility with implications in public safety and security.

Transport for London says the car-hailing app was not “fit and proper to hold a private hire operator license.”

Uber, whose app is used by 3.5 million passengers and 40,000 drivers in London, will see its current license expire on Sept. 30.

The company promised it would appeal, and can continue to operate until the appeals process is exhausted.

In its decision , Transport for London cited its approach to handling serious criminal offenses and how it conducts background checks on its drivers. TFL also took issue with software that could be used block regulatory bodies from gaining full access to the app and “preventing officials from undertaking regulator or law enforcement duties.”

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he supported the decision, saying any operator of taxi services in the city “needs to play by the rules.”

“Providing an innovative service must not be at the expense of customer safety and security,” he said. “I fully support TFL’s decision — it would be wrong if TFL continued to license Uber if there is any way that this could pose a threat to Londoners’ safety and security.”

Uber shot back quickly in response. In a statement, it said the decision would “show the world that, far from being open, London is closed to innovative companies.”

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
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To: HamiltonJay

The reason we chose uber was:
One group stranded at night at closed train station in the countryside. Uber arrived in 2 minutes.
Group needed to reach activity site that was a roadside pullover. Uber took us there and came back for us. Geolocation is excellent tool.
Group staying at country camp had cab pickup for london scheduled for 6am pickup. Cab company emailed us at 11pm to cancel. Used uber app in the am and got 3 cars in 3 minutes
Group stranded at Paris Disney in huge crowd looking to board last train back to Paris. Was going to take us back 10 blocks from hotel at 1am. Used app to book uber at 1130pm which sent van for the group. Arrived to pick us in 10 mjnutes. Took us to hotel door.
Did I mention all uber used was credit card on file in my account. No foreign currency required. No tipping. The fare was always displayed before the booking was confirmed.


21 posted on 09/22/2017 7:03:25 AM PDT by silverleaf (We voted for change, not leftover change)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom

Where I live the taxis are smelly, expensive, and highly unreliable.

On the other hand I can push a button on my phone and a typically friendly person will show up in a clean car within 3-5 minutes to take me to the airport or downtown for a third of the price of a taxi

Every place that has tried to hamstring Uber has done so under pressure from the cab companies who don’t seem to understand their model is outdated.


22 posted on 09/22/2017 7:11:40 AM PDT by Manuel OKelley
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To: Gay State Conservative

It’s true that cities without a large Muslim population have a smaller chance of a terrorist attack, although it has changed now to countries without a large Muslim population since they can travel to commit carnage. You’re also correct when you state that there are lots of Muslim apologists, both in London and in America. But the original charge and the one which spread around the Internet like wildfire was that Sadiq Khan basically said that if you lived in London terrorist attacks were like the weather, something that you had to put up with. He never said that, which is all I’m pointing out.


23 posted on 09/22/2017 7:13:40 AM PDT by Oshkalaboomboom
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To: Alberta's Child

True!


24 posted on 09/22/2017 7:15:26 AM PDT by dennisw (Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it is enemy action.)
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To: Gay State Conservative

It’s my understanding they have a policy against Muslims. That said, they don’t let many stay permanently at all. It is a very mono-culture. This is also a problem, they’re not reproducing fast enough.

What also cracks me up, they don’t think they’re racist, as they don’t have a racism problem - lol, well, of course, when you don’t have to contend with other people/cultures...yet I have heard comments from Japanese that would be considered racist elsewhere, they just don’t see it (they carry many stereotypes about many countries).


25 posted on 09/22/2017 7:26:01 AM PDT by fuzzylogic (welfare state = sharing consequences of poor moral choices among everybody)
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To: silverleaf

Yep, where the service exists, I’ve only had good experiences (except one, and it was 4am).

This decision is nothing more than corruption. I bet they can’t show any statistically significant measure showing that the service is “unsafe”, it’s BS.

I find it interesting that anybody can complain about them, except taxi drivers....driving their smelling, dirty, poorly maintained taxis.

I also find it interesting when Uber drivers complain. It’s not a career, you get to drive as much or as little as you want, when you want. You’re driving by choice, if it’s not good enough for you, find something else to do.


26 posted on 09/22/2017 7:31:31 AM PDT by fuzzylogic (welfare state = sharing consequences of poor moral choices among everybody)
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To: fuzzylogic

Well Ive only used uber in England and Paris so I never heard any complaints - usually they didn’t talk at all

Their ethnicity was identical to that of cab drivers
I cant even compare the ease of mind over knowing the exact fare at time of booking, not needing foreign currency, no tipping, having pickup in minutes and by geolocation!

Spouse just used uber first time... in Beijing


27 posted on 09/22/2017 7:44:03 AM PDT by silverleaf (We voted for change, not leftover change)
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To: silverleaf

Uber does do tips now, which I do give, especially on very short trips. You’re right though, knowing how much it’ll cost up front, not dealing with payment at your destination. The other aspect is just the ease of getting one, when a taxi isn’t around it is a hassle to get one. With Uber, they easily find you. There’s nothing stopping the taxi services from having an app to assist customers get one of their rides, I’m not aware of such a thing.


28 posted on 09/22/2017 7:50:17 AM PDT by fuzzylogic (welfare state = sharing consequences of poor moral choices among everybody)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom
He never said that

I am a native English speaker...as I assume you are as well.Although I'm no Mensa member...no William F Buckley...I'm inclined to believe that I have at least a fair command of spoken and written English.

And that command,however strong or weak it might be,tells me that that's exactly what he implied.

Of course your mileage may vary.

29 posted on 09/22/2017 7:57:24 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (ObamaCare Works For Those Who Don't.)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom
Just did a quick google search and found an interesting piece on Khan's comment,as covered in a British newspaper.Check out some of the comments to the main article.They suggest that I'm not the only one who's interpreted his remarks in the way that I have.

What Brits Think Of Khan's Remarks

30 posted on 09/22/2017 8:09:51 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (ObamaCare Works For Those Who Don't.)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom
I don’t know if they still require it but years ago it took years for a Londoner to get a taxi license.

They call that “The Knowledge” and it was so hard to do that they actually did brain studies of London taxi drivers and found that their brains grew as they gained the Knowledge.


I believe that is still around, but it is only for the traditional taxi cabs that you hail down on the street or get from a taxi cab rank.

A lot more people use mini-cab services which you have to telephone and they come to you.

Typical one - http://www.londoncabs.co.uk/

This is really the competition to Uber and IIRC the mini-cab prices were quite similar in other UK cities. What Uber gives is a much better smartphone interface, on-line tracking, remote payment with no cash to the driver involved, and usually much nicer cars.

31 posted on 09/22/2017 8:36:21 AM PDT by az_gila
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To: Gay State Conservative
And that command,however strong or weak it might be,tells me that that's exactly what he implied.

I guess that's progress because at the start of this thread he definitely said it, no question about it. I saw your other post on what the British commenters thought about it. That just reminds me of the man who lost his job in Washington DC because he complained about a niggardly budget increase. Just because people are outraged over something you said doesn't mean they had the slightest idea what you were talking about. You've read and heard what he said now (a response to a question about an attack in New York, btw, that had nothing to do with London) so feel free to interpret it whatever way you want.

32 posted on 09/22/2017 8:46:32 AM PDT by Oshkalaboomboom
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To: posterchild
their customer service (corporate, not drivers) was far less than helpful.

I am wondering why you would need to contact their corporate staff? Can you disclose the reason?

33 posted on 09/22/2017 8:46:32 AM PDT by nwrep
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To: Southern Magnolia

My son and daughter-in-law in D.C. have a car but use it only a little. Uber is super convenient for their needs.

The car requires that they unlock and open the back yard parking pad gate, back the car out, relock the gate, drive to the destination and then FIND PARKING. So short trips in the city are a production.


34 posted on 09/22/2017 8:47:37 AM PDT by JimRed ( TERM LIMITS, NOW! Building the Wall! TRUTH is the new HATE SPEECH.)
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To: nwrep

Saw possible (but inconclusive) evidence that my acct was hacked. A little benign information from them would have helped resolve the mystery - they had no interest in being helpful.

Another time, I reported a driver who accepted my request for a ride but then demanded I cancel once he called and found out my destination.. (he didn’t like the destination but he didn’t want to leave the airport queue which he would have to do if he cancelled it himself.) Only got a stupid form letter which seemed to snow a lack of comprehension.


35 posted on 09/22/2017 8:58:45 AM PDT by posterchild ("Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts." - R. Feynman)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom
Uber is having a lot of trouble in Socialist Europe. They are already banned in France, Belgium and Spain so this is just the latest.

This is from today's Daily Mail article and conflicts with the above claim (note the inclusion of Socialist America! LOL):


36 posted on 09/22/2017 9:49:38 AM PDT by Moltke (Reasoning with a liberal is like watering a rock in the hope to grow a building)
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To: Oshkalaboomboom

Since 2003, London charges a daily fee for vehicles to enter what they deem The Congestion Charge Zone. According to Wikipedia: “The standard charge is £11.50 for each day, for each non-exempt vehicle that travels within the zone.”
Perhaps the city hasn’t been able to get the amount of money they desire from this zone fee since Uber’s been in the picture. More people will have to use public transport, or their own vehicles to enter this zone. Being forced to use their own vehicles will raise the City’s coffers no doubt. I also wonder how much of an impact Uber has had on the regular London cabbie’s earnings. If London is so worried about the safety and security of their people, they should stop the influx of radical muzzies instead of banning a taxi service.


37 posted on 09/22/2017 10:36:50 AM PDT by mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)
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To: Moltke

But it is NOT banned in Socialist Portland, but banned in non-Socialist Rest of Oregon...


38 posted on 09/22/2017 11:20:55 AM PDT by nwrep
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To: nwrep

Go figure! Hey, that map is just what the Daily Mail published. They play fast and loose with facts...but the top poster doesn’t seem to want to back up his claims with reliable data...go figure, again...


39 posted on 09/22/2017 2:40:59 PM PDT by Moltke (Reasoning with a liberal is like watering a rock in the hope to grow a building)
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To: treetopsandroofs
Did the muslim cabbie union and the muslim brotherhood mayor strike a deal?

Uber Ban in London: Black Cab Drivers Welcome TfL Ruling

So they call them black cabbies in London but isn't that some kinda microaggression or something?

40 posted on 09/22/2017 4:00:03 PM PDT by LeoTDB69
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