Transport for London (TfL) on Friday announced that Uber London Limited’s private hire operation license will not be renewed after its license expires on September 30.
TfL has deemed the cab hailing company unfit and not proper to have a private hire operation license.
According to TfL, the taxi hailing company’s methods and behavior have shown a lack of corporate responsibility in relation to a long list of issues which threaten public safety and security.
Some of the reason given include:
- Its method of reporting serious criminal offenses
- Its method of obtaining medical certificates
- Its method of obtaining Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks
- Its method of explaining the use of Greyball in London, software that can be used to block regulatory bodies from gaining full access to the app and prevent officials from undertaking regulatory or law enforcement duties
The Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 allows the private hire operators to appeal the decision within 21 days after the applicant has been informed.
Uber London Limited is still allowed to operate until any appeal processes have been exhausted.
This comes in the wake of a recent taxi strike in Nairobi that saw several drivers take to the streets in protest of of the rates at which they were being paid.
Read:Transport Stalemate As Online Taxi Drivers Go On Strike
“The problem with the companies is that they’re not ready to listen to us,” said Daniel Omondi, the chairman of the Online Platform for Taxis Association.
However, its spokesperson Janet Kemboi said they company has an open door policy when it comes to driver-partners issuing their individual concerns.
Do you have a story you want told? Do you know of a sensitive story you would like us to get our hands on? Email your news TIPS to Editor@kahawatungu.com
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
