TfL denied Uber operator license, ride hailing service wins on appeal (Sept 2020)

[maomao]

Because some people like the reassurance of knowing the driver's name and number plate in advance, and the reassurance of seeing their progress on a map, so they know when they're actually going to show up. It also makes sure the driver knows where you are to pick you up.

I'll take the convenience of an app over ringing up a cab office every time.

Majority of hole in the wall cab offices can do all that these days. All my locals do.

 

[ShiftyBagLady]

Majority of hole in the wall cab offices can do all that these days. All my locals do.

Yeah but you forget when you get off the phone, or I do at least.

 

[Guineveretoo]

Did you report this?

No. Who would I have reported it to? And what would I have said?

"A cabbie I got from East Croydon station made racist remarks about my neighbours." Unfortunately, that is not newsworthy, or even reportable.

In fact, I am not even sure it is an offence. It would have been the Race Relations Act then, which was pretty poor at dealing with racist statements. To put it mildly.

 

[maomao]

Yeah but you forget when you get off the phone, or I do at least.

They usually tell you by text with a link to a web page with tracking.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

I will always favour cash on a night out, so I can keep track of what I'm spending.

I just avoid nights out nowadays, far easier

 

[ShiftyBagLady]

They usually tell you by text with a link to a web page with tracking.

Your local minicab does? Times must have changed then

 

[Gromit]

They usually tell you by text with a link to a web page with tracking.

Webpages that are next to useless in giving an accurate real time location. When they even work.

 

[cupid_stunt]

They usually tell you by text with a link to a web page with tracking.

That's how it works here in Sussex too, and the local cab firm doesn't charge the rip-off commissions that Uber now takes from their drivers - although the drivers still moan about having to pay about £15 a day for their bookings.

Gromit it gives the time down to about 30 seconds.

 

[maomao]

Your local minicab does? Times must have changed then

They have. I remember paper dockets for bookings. I live in a relatively poor part of London with several well established traditional firms and they all use Cordic despatch software. I'm sure there are pen and paper firms left but not many.

 

[maomao]

Webpages that are next to useless in giving an accurate real time location. When they even work.

At worst they're on two minute updates. Most are better.

 

[Gromit]

It's a headline FFS, designed to grab attention, and pull you in to read the article, nowt wrong with that.

The headline is the most important part of the piece. Not only does it set the tone and overall point of the article but many never even read past the headline. There's even TV show who just read the Headlines.

I really don't hold with this Lane duck excuse of well we might have misrepresented in the headline but we cleared it up below. Be factual the whole article and yes the headline is part of an article.

 

[cupid_stunt]

The headline is the most important part of the piece.

Err, no it's not.

Not only does it set the tone and overall point of the article but many never even read past the headline.

'Many' AKA idiots.

There's even TV show who just read the Headlines.

For idiots.

I really don't hold with this Lane duck excuse of well we might have misrepresented in the headline but we cleared it up below. Be factual the whole article and yes the headline is part of an article.

Only idiots take on-board stories just by their headlines, anyone with an ounce of common sense reads the bloody article.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

You've got a point but it's more dangerous to be calling a cab in the middle of nowhere where someone might see you and roll up and say they are a cab. In my cab taking days I'd spend ages waiting and calling to see why it's late, standing in the cold... my experience of cabs has not been a good one. I've not had a bad trip with uber and it has made many a night out easier and more enjoyable as I know that I can get one from just about anywhere in London without having to look it up.

I also prefer to use apps on the odd occasions I take taxis; it's all documented, you can see where the cab is and where it's heading for, it goes through to your credit card automatically and there's no bother. But uber is not the only app around and there are equivalent ones which deal with general licenced taxis.

 

[Gromit]

Err, no it's not.

'Many' AKA idiots.

For idiots.

Only idiots take on-board stories just by their headlines, anyone with an ounce of common sense reads the bloody article.

And the world is full of idiots, which is why we have Trump and Brexit. Headline writers share most if not all of the blame.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

On a personal level I am indifferent to this as I'm a bit of tightwad and don't see why I shouldn't just use public transport unless it's the middle of the night (and I have kids, so I'm not often out in the middle of the night), so I seldom use taxis and have never used Uber.

This 100%

Getting a cab anywhere is a massive extravagance for me, unless hugely pressed for time I just don't do it and always feel like a bit of a Prima Donna when I do.

But fuck uber and their snidey, shitty business model, they are race to the bottom merchants who can rim my piles.

 

[Cloo]

I totally don't get people who get taxis in central London during the day at all (unless in a hurry for an appointment), like people who take them to get to a restaurant after work in the middle of town. I mean, WTF, get the fucking tube or bus! Or even.... walk.

 

[Reiabuzz]

The black cabs have been moaning alot but TFL didn't do anything for a few year lets be honest.
Uber have just not signed up to the regulations properly and let the police down also.

TFL are "Transport FOR London" it's in the name.

There's been a big problem with the congestion zone being eroded by Uber and their dangerous driving antics. It erodes the bus service with more congestion and takes away passengers, makes many perfectly fit and healthy people lazy (I've seen 1st hand and sure everyone has).

London has limited road space. It's TFL's job to manage that. Uber isn't gone forever but TFL must make sure all transport works together.

Sorry. What dangerous driving antics? I take about 5 Uber’s a week and I’ve never seen anything more dangerous than the average driver. No idea what you’re on about. The only dangerous thing about Uber drivers is they’ve disrupted what was a massive price fixing cartel. It does not, or should not cost me £40 to travel from soho to Liverpool Street. But that’s what s black cab charged me a few months back when I had no choice but to use one.

They’re fucking cunts and the sooner Uber and the like force them out the better.

 

[Orang Utan]

I have to say I'm surprised at how wealthy/profligate many Urbanites seem to have become in the past 14 years.

 

[J Ed]

Sorry. What dangerous driving antics? I take about 5 Uber’s a week and I’ve never seen anything more dangerous than the average driver. No idea what you’re on about. The only dangerous thing about Uber drivers is they’ve disrupted what was a massive price fixing cartel. It does not, or should not cost me £40 to travel from soho to Liverpool Street. But that’s what s black cab charged me a few months back when I had no choice but to use one.

They’re fucking cunts and the sooner Uber and the like force them out the better.

Real neoliberalism in our souls stuff here

 

[J Ed]

Has anyone else recently come across people who think that it is an attack on them as people if you criticise a company which they shop with? In the past couple of weeks I've had that sort of interaction when talking generally to people about Amazon and Tesco.

I cannot get my head around these ideas. I mean fuck I use both, who doesn't but when I buy sausage rolls or whatever I'm paying for the sausages rolls, my identity is not included in that purchase.

 

[Orang Utan]

People don't like it being pointed out to them that convenience and low prices result in other people being fucked over and limited resources being squandered.

 

[J Ed]

People don't like it being pointed out to them that convenience and low prices result in other people being fucked over and limited resources being squandered.

Yes. I suppose if we are being generous there are people who need to rationalise exploitation in this sort of way because acknowledging reality would cause them actual anguish so it is a form of coping mechanism. The alternative is that they just don't give a shit.

 

[Cloo]

So what we've got is:

Uber good:
- Makes direct transit much more affordable
- Easy to use and quick to arrive
- Provides employment, including for people who may be in between jobs or finding it hard to get another one, and for drivers who may be kept out of the black cab game due to their ethnicity

Uber bad:
- Screws over its drivers with its conditions (or lack of them)
- Race to the bottom for prices is not a good thing for drivers or workers in general
- Lax safety

Joys of late-stage capitalism, huh?

 

[J Ed]

I think that there are some more bads there and the goods are all contingent on Uber's long term plan (becoming a monopoly and causing mass unemployment under an economic system in which you need to work to be able to live) never being realised.

 

[sealion]

As funny as it is though it must be a real worry for the drivers. If you just operate as an Uber driver where will you get your fares from if the tap is turned off?

There are plenty of cab offices still operating. Most of ubers drivers started out working from a smaller office.

 

[sealion]

he said never been better, how he thinks his is the best job in the world, he was playing golf that morning had a leisurely lunch etc.

He must be the lucky one. Uber have taken a big slice of the London circuit, so there is less work and a lot more taxi drivers are chucking it in.

 

[sealion]

In the old days companies would sanction drivers heavily for refusing a job in the wrong direction at close of play. AL and Uber changed that.

What companies did this ? The places i worked as a controller would always give a driver something "going his/hers way home. Was this a cash or account circuit ?

 

[sealion]

Pretty sure it's currently 75%. It was 90% when they started. 75% is way more than any other firm offers on account work.

Uber is all account work. A mini cab driver doesn't have to hand over a penny from a cash fare to his office.

 

[DJWrongspeed]

Sorry. What dangerous driving antics? I take about 5 Uber’s a week and I’ve never seen anything more dangerous than the average driver. No idea what you’re on about.

you're sitting in the Uber cab so no wonder you don't see it , i commute into central London 5 days a week, i see it a few times each week. U turns, dangerous stopping, bad parking, lost drivers etc this is b4 you've even got in the car remember.

 

[sealion]

Sign the Petition

A company that put there prices up during a terrorist attack -London bridge-. Fuck them.