Transport for London doesn’t like Uber. It doesn’t like the innovations the app has created in transport; it doesn’t like how competitive platforms like Uber have become with black cabs; and it doesn’t like that customers have completely embraced the service.
That’s why they’ve effectively banned the app – again.
This morning TfL ruled that it will not be expanding Uber’s licence, because it claims the platform does not meet the ‘fit and proper’ requirements to be a private hire operator, nor has it done enough to address rider safety over the past few years (TfL refused to renew Uber’s licence back in September 2017 as well, but a court challenge managed to get it extended for an additional fifteen months).
But something about TfL’s safety criticisms doesn’t quite add up.
A flaw found in Uber’s system – which allows unauthorised drivers to upload photos to the accounts of authorised drivers – seems to be the basis of the ban this time around.
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