Uber arrives in ACT to regulation

Councilors amended an earlier motion that would have required Uber to get taxi licenses for each of its drivers, a move that may have forced the San Francisco-based company to end its popular “UberX” service in the city.

TfL chief operating officer for surface transport, Garrett Emmerson, defended the consultation which she said was created to “inform and improve the regulations that govern the capital’s private hire trade”. TfL said that in its “provisional view” the two weren’t the same and the debate was passed onto the High Court for an official ruling.

The news of the consultation was quickly followed by a petition supporting Uber and addressed to TfL, calling on the transport authority not to impede the business which “millions of Londoners have come to rely on”.

Under the new rules, ride-sharing operators will also face criminal and driving checks similar to those imposed on taxi drivers.

After careful consideration of the responses to our initial consultation, we are bringing forward a package of proposals for further consultation that we consider will strengthen the regulation of private hire services in London.

Speaking with ABC News, an Uber representative said that its acceptance among commuters shows the value of ride-sharing.

The potential new rules have been proposed by TfL – but the established taxi industry has apparently had a key role in drafting them. In contrast, private hire vehicles are subject to less regulation because they are booked in advance, he said. Uber claims TfL’s proposals “make no sense” and also threaten drivers’ livelihoods. They include a five minute minimum wait time for a private hire vehicle, even if one is just down the street, and a ban on displaying vehicle availability in an app, supposedly to increase passenger safety and prevent illegal mini cab “touting” respectively. 

The alliance has been lobbying the city for months to crack down on Uber and remove a few of the red tape on the taxi industry, which it has regulated for years.

He said the change in direction was backed by the black cab drivers unions, and ” a genuine belief” that London’s black cab drivers “provide the public with a crucial service”.

The plan represents the latest crackdown from various regulators around the world on Uber, which has threatened to disrupt London’s black cab industry as well as taxi services in many other cities, and could have a major effect on its success in the capital.