Roommates, it looks like Uber will not be able to operate in London, after the transport authority denied the company’s application for a new license.
According to BBC, Uber will not longer be active in London after “several breaches that placed passengers and their safety at risk” were identified. Transport for London has reportedly deemed Uber to be unfit to hold a license due to great safety concerns for riders.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan spoke on the decision saying, “I know this decision may be unpopular with Uber users, but their safety is the paramount concern. Regulations are there to keep Londoners safe.”
This is not the first time Uber lost its license, however. The company initially lost its license bak in 2017 but was granted two extensions, the most recent of which expired on Sunday. The transport authority has decided against a renewal.
Transport for London said it identified a “pattern of failures” that placed passenger safety and security at risk. They cited a change to Uber’s systems which allowed “unauthorized drivers to upload their photos to other Uber driver accounts.”
Director of Licensing, Regulation and Charging at Transport for London, Helen Chapman, said despite Uber’s attempts to improve safety for its riders, they still have a long way to go.
“While we recognize Uber had made improvements, it is unacceptable that Uber has allowed passengers to get into minicabs with drivers who are potentially unlicensed and uninsured.”
Uber employees about 45,000 drivers in London, which is one of the company’s top five markets. The loss of its license will cause many riders to be without transportation. Rachel Wilkinson, a daily Uber rider said she loves the service.
“I must have met and travelled with more than a thousand drivers. In all that time I’ve only had two incidents where Ithought ‘wow, he was rude/weird’- but I’ve never felt unsafe.”
She continues saying: “I’ve always been collected ad got where I needed to quickly and efficiently. In fact, I’m continually amazed by how efficient they are.”
Uber plans to appeal the decision, and hopes to be able to continue to operate during the process.
