Uber app does not break law, High Court rules

Transport for London brought the case to the court, complaining on behalf of London’s cab fleet that Uber’s system is effectively a clone of the taximeter that only black cab drivers may use to calculate cost and distance.

London mayor Boris Johnson has said disruption from tech companies such as Uber is inevitable, and the best cities can do is “create a level playing field” for established trades such as black cabs.

The judge also found that it was drivers, not their vehicles, who are “equipped” with smartphones.

Uber, which has faced criticism over safety issues, began operating in the city on Friday.

It is illegal for private hire vehicles in the capital to use meters to calculate fares essentially because they can not be checked.

Not surprisingly, a group representing many of London’s 25K licensed taxi drivers isn’t pleased with the ruling, and plans to appeal.

Taxi meters. Only black cabs are permitted to have meters because these are regulated and checked by Transport for London which sets universal fares.

Mr Justice Ousley said that the app Uber’s drivers use is not a meter, as it sends journey time and distance back to the start-up’s servers in California.

Writing in the Telegraph earlier this month, he claimed Uber’s model of hailing a taxi via its app breaks laws saying minicabs may not “ply for hire”.

Uber’s service is dependent on the app to connect passengers with drivers.

Uber also welcomed the decision, stating that the ruling was “a victory for common sense”.

TfL recently proposed compulsory five-minute waits before Uber drivers could pick up passengers, among other measures. Other proposals include an English language requirement for drivers, stricter insurance requirements and a topographic exam to test drivers’ navigational skills, similar to the Knowledge taken by black cab drivers.

The case was brought by Transport for London (TfL) and Uber, seeking clarification of the law governing private hire vehicles in London. More than 133,000 people have signed a petition organised by Uber protesting the proposals.

He said: “We’re coming into markets that maybe haven’t seen innovation for quite a long time and that to me is the disruption”.