Central London and other major European cities have been brought to a standstill after black cab drivers held a protest against Uber, an app that allows users to book privately hired taxis from their smartphones.
Black cabs throughout London are causing traffic to remain at a standstill by driving slowly (and in some instances, abandoning their vehicles) throughout the capital, starting from Trafalgar Square.
Black cab drivers have said that they are unhappy with the industry now being deregulated due to the introduction of Uber, with safety concerns being raised due to the app leading to unlicensed drivers being contacted for private hire. According to unions and groups representing the taxi drivers, no checks are being made by Uber to ensure that the cabs it puts users in contact with are legitimate.
Transport for London’s Garrett Emerson said: ““TfL will work with the Metropolitan Police to do all we can to keep central London moving, however, given the scale of the likely disruption, we would advise drivers to avoid the area if at all possible. There are lots of other ways to get around, including the Tube or walking, and we’re asking cyclists to take extra care given the large number of vehicles expected to be involved.
“Given the level of concern among the trade, and the fact that some of the legislation in this area is unclear and able to be interpreted in various ways, TfL is inviting the High Court to give a binding determination on this issue.”
Uber’s UK and Ireland general manager Jo Bertram responded to the protest, saying: “Londoners are voting with their fingers, tapping the app in support of new and innovative services as we see our biggest day of sign-ups in London today since launch two years ago.”
She continued: “Unsurprisingly, the LTDA (London Taxi Drivers Association), which is stuck in the dark ages, is intent on holding London to ransom and causing significant economic impact to Londoners today, estimated to be £125 million.”
Uber was launched in 2009 and has proven to be hugely popular. It allocates a user to a driver by locating their GPS signal, informing them of the closest available taxi and allowing them to pay via their phone.
Photo: Getty Images
