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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Uber app taxi row referred to London's High Court | Uber app taxi row referred to London's High Court |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| London's transport authority has announced it does not believe Uber's car service is breaking the law by using an app to determine charges. | London's transport authority has announced it does not believe Uber's car service is breaking the law by using an app to determine charges. |
| However, Transport for London added it would invite the High Court to give a binding ruling on the matter "given the level of concern among the trade". | However, Transport for London added it would invite the High Court to give a binding ruling on the matter "given the level of concern among the trade". |
| The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) has claimed the app equates to being a taximeter, which private vehicles are not allowed to use. | The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) has claimed the app equates to being a taximeter, which private vehicles are not allowed to use. |
| It plans a demonstration on 11 June. | It plans a demonstration on 11 June. |
| The organisation announced the action earlier this month, saying it intended to cause "severe congestion and traffic chaos for large parts of central London". | The organisation announced the action earlier this month, saying it intended to cause "severe congestion and traffic chaos for large parts of central London". |
| It confirmed that TfL's announcement would not change its plans. | It confirmed that TfL's announcement would not change its plans. |
| High Court ruling | High Court ruling |
| The controversy centres on an app provided to Uber's drivers - which is separate from the one used by the public - that calculates the journey distance and time taken, and then relays this information to remote computer servers to determine the fee. | The controversy centres on an app provided to Uber's drivers - which is separate from the one used by the public - that calculates the journey distance and time taken, and then relays this information to remote computer servers to determine the fee. |
| TfL's decision is based on the fact that Uber's kit does not require a physical connection between the device and the vehicle, as is the case with the equipment used by black cabs. | TfL's decision is based on the fact that Uber's kit does not require a physical connection between the device and the vehicle, as is the case with the equipment used by black cabs. |
| However, it added that "the rapid pace at which smartphone-based technology has been developing in recent years" meant the matter should be referred to a judge. | However, it added that "the rapid pace at which smartphone-based technology has been developing in recent years" meant the matter should be referred to a judge. |
| "We will be asking the High Court to provide a binding ruling," added Leon Daniels, TfL's managing director of surface transport. | "We will be asking the High Court to provide a binding ruling," added Leon Daniels, TfL's managing director of surface transport. |
| "This is the sensible approach, and we hope that London's taxi drivers and private hire drivers and operators will work with us to bring clarity on this issue." | "This is the sensible approach, and we hope that London's taxi drivers and private hire drivers and operators will work with us to bring clarity on this issue." |
| However, LTDA is in no mood to co-operate, and highlights the fact that the handsets Uber provides to drivers are blocked from making calls. | |
| "The taxi trade have no confidence in TfL and its legal team whatsoever and we will be issuing proceedings of our own," its general secretary Steve McNamara told the BBC. | "The taxi trade have no confidence in TfL and its legal team whatsoever and we will be issuing proceedings of our own," its general secretary Steve McNamara told the BBC. |
| "This attitude demonstrates why we are being forced to demonstrate. TfL is simply not fit for purpose." | "This attitude demonstrates why we are being forced to demonstrate. TfL is simply not fit for purpose." |
| However, Uber's London manager proved more receptive. | However, Uber's London manager proved more receptive. |
| "We very much welcome TfL's announcement today bringing clarity and confirming that TfL and Uber fully share the vision that technology should be a key driver in changing the way people are moving around their city, improving the experience for both riders as well as drivers," said Jo Bertram. | "We very much welcome TfL's announcement today bringing clarity and confirming that TfL and Uber fully share the vision that technology should be a key driver in changing the way people are moving around their city, improving the experience for both riders as well as drivers," said Jo Bertram. |
| Driverless Uber | Driverless Uber |
| San Francisco-based Uber describes itself as a "pick-up" service that connects those needing a ride with a background-checked private driver. It then takes a cut - typically 20% - of the fee. | San Francisco-based Uber describes itself as a "pick-up" service that connects those needing a ride with a background-checked private driver. It then takes a cut - typically 20% - of the fee. |
| It now operates in more than 100 cities across 30 countries. In the UK it covers London and Manchester, but has plans to expand to a further four or five cities over the next year. | |
| The firm highlights both the safety features offered to customers - letting them see the name and photo of the driver before they arrive - as well as offering the drivers themselves the flexibility to set their own hours and the area where they want to work. | |
| However, comments by the firm's chief executive on Wednesday may give some potential recruits reason to pause. | However, comments by the firm's chief executive on Wednesday may give some potential recruits reason to pause. |
| Travis Kalanick told an audience in California the firm's long-term plan was to replace drivers with self-controlled cars. | Travis Kalanick told an audience in California the firm's long-term plan was to replace drivers with self-controlled cars. |
| His comments followed Google's announcement that it would start building its own self-drive vehicles - the search giant is one of Uber's investors. | His comments followed Google's announcement that it would start building its own self-drive vehicles - the search giant is one of Uber's investors. |
| "Look, this is the way the world is going," Mr Kalanick said, when questioned about how he would explain this to the workers. | "Look, this is the way the world is going," Mr Kalanick said, when questioned about how he would explain this to the workers. |
| "If Uber doesn't go there, it's not going to exist either way... the world isn't always great." | "If Uber doesn't go there, it's not going to exist either way... the world isn't always great." |
| He later tweeted that he thought the move would take a couple of decades to achieve. | He later tweeted that he thought the move would take a couple of decades to achieve. |
| But the timing of his comments offers the LTDA another way to attack a firm it has already described as an "American monster". | But the timing of his comments offers the LTDA another way to attack a firm it has already described as an "American monster". |
| "Its drivers can work very flexibly, they can stay at home all day if they work for Uber - they'll be unemployed," said Mr McNamara. | "Its drivers can work very flexibly, they can stay at home all day if they work for Uber - they'll be unemployed," said Mr McNamara. |
| "I think driverless cars is still very much a Star Wars technology. While it may work in some cities in the distant future, I cannot see it working in a city like London with the complex layout of its streets." | "I think driverless cars is still very much a Star Wars technology. While it may work in some cities in the distant future, I cannot see it working in a city like London with the complex layout of its streets." |