Mayoral candidate welcomes taxi regulation proposals

Whilst the suggestions have unsurprisingly proved unpopular with Uber, they have been welcome by the chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, Valerie Shawcross CBE AM, who said; “It’s good to see TfL finally showing a few teeth on this issue”.

City staff will now develop regulations to level the playing field & ensure all drivers operate safely, fairly & within the rules.

Popular US-based app Uber and other ride-sharing operators will be able to legally pick up passengers from October 30 in Canberra, with the Australian Capital Territory government requiring drivers and vehicles to undergo accreditation and registration.

But the center-right Daily Telegraph newspaper criticized the proposed regulation saying: “Uber is here to stay – London has to embrace innovation”. “Uber needs to come into the regulatory framework to a few degree while the taxi industry needs to become more competitive in a fast-changing market”.

Uber meanwhile released a statement on its website urging supporters to sign the petition and adding that “these rules make no sense” and would “threaten drivers’ livelihoods by forcing them to drive for just one operator”.

The legislation will allow taxi and hire vehicle drivers carry Uber passengers, opening up multiple modes of business to accredited drivers, while Uber drivers will be banned from picking up passengers in taxi ranks and stopping in taxi, bus and loading zones. Uber is running a very successful campaign to rally support from its users.

UberX, which has regular drivers transporting people in their private cars, doesn’t have commercial licenses and therefore lack the regulation and oversight of traditional taxi companies. A few Uber drivers could be eligible for workers compensation. The placement of greater controls around ridesharing is also indicated, which would hit the introduction of UberPool and other companies offering similar services in the city.

TfL did not comment on its pricing, but Garrett Emmerson, chief operating officer for Surface Transport, previously commented on its proposals.

After more than six hours of debating, councillors voted 32-12 in favour of asking city staff to develop new rules to accommodate Uber within the city’s taxi bylaws.

“That system largely worked fine until recently, but the emergence of Uber has turned it on its head”, he said. Private hire firms, including Uber, would also have to provide a fixed landline that must be available at all times and give a specified fare prior to accepting a booking.