Uber, the ride-hailing app, has been plagued by a long list of scandals so far, ranging from violation of laws to sexual harassment. This global service has attracted the ire and anger of many. Once again, the company is in the news for the wrong reasons.
Uber stripped of its London licence!
Reportedly, Uber will not be granted a new licence to operate in London after identifying the pattern of failures. According to Transport for London (TfL), there were “several breaches that placed passengers and their safety at risk.” The TfL also said 14,000 trips taken recently involved unauthorized drivers who had faked their identity on the Uber app.
Does not have confidence!
In a press statement, TfL said, “Uber has made a number of positive changes and improvements to its culture, leadership, and systems. Despite addressing some of these issues, TfL does not have confidence that similar issues will not reoccur in the future, which has led it to conclude that the company is not fit and proper at this time.”
Uber announced that it will appeal the decision and can continue to operate until the final decision is made. The legislation means that Uber now has 21 days to appeal. Notably, the company’s licence expires on Monday at midnight.
Stripped licence for second time!
However, this is the second time in two years that transport authorities have rejected Uber’s bid to renew its operating license in London. The ride-hailing app appealed that decision and was later granted permission to operate for 15 months.
London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “I know this decision may be unpopular with Uber users, but their safety is the paramount concern. Regulations are there to keep Londoners safe.”
Jamie Heywood, Uber’s regional general manager, said: “TfL’s decision not to renew Uber’s licence in London is extraordinary and wrong, and we will appeal.”
He added, “We have fundamentally changed our business over the last two years and are setting the standard on safety. TfL found us to be a fit and proper operator just two months ago, and we continue to go above and beyond.”
According to Uber, 24% of its sales come from just five cities, including London, New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and São Paulo. Uber lovers in London fear not! In the case of a ban, we have other alternatives for you as well, all European startups!
Bolt
Formerly known as Taxify, the Bolt app is available on both Android and iOS platforms. Bolt is available in more than 30 countries and 100+ cities around the world. It is one of the better alternatives to Uber out there in the market. Notably, all the Bolt rides in Europe are 100% carbon neutral. The taxi drivers working for Bolt are screened and tested. Hence there is no reason to worry about your safety as such.
Gett
Formerly known as GetTaxi, Gett operates in over 100+ cities in Europe, including London, Moscow, Tel Aviv, and New York. Compared to Uber, Gett offers ride at a reasonable price and pays its drivers more competitive hourly wages as well. As per the company pricing policy, Gett doesn’t charge the customers more during busy hours.
ViaVan
ViaVan is an excellent choice for those who don’t mind hitching a ride with a few others. It is an easy, convenient, and fast way to get around the city. With this platform, travellers get premium, comfortable rides for only a few euros more than a city bus or subway. The service is available in London and Amsterdam.
Kabbee
Kabbee allows users to compare prices and book minicabs in London. With the proprietary 30-point Accreditation Scheme, this platform has handpicked 60 of the best minicab fleets in town. Kabbee makes it simpler and quicker to book the right car for you with guaranteed safety. It also has exclusive service for Kabbee account holders in a rush – “Cab hunter.”
Kapten
Backed by Daimler and BMW, Kapten operates in London, Paris, Lyon, French Riviera, Lisbon, and Porto. This platform is known for cheaper fares by 20% than its competitors. It’s worth mentioning that the rider knows the exact price of the journey before the trip starts. It also has a loyalty programme, where it rewards customers with free rides and other benefits. In France, Kapten is the second largest car booking app with three million users.
Xoox
Similar to Kabbiee, Xoox (pronounced as Zooks) allows the user to compare the prices, emission output, and cars before booking a ride. Users can choose the cab they want based on the journey price and ETA from a real-time list of nearby available cabs.
TaxiApp
This app has been built by black cab drivers to allow passengers to book and pay for black cabs. Rather than a fixed price, the fare is decided by the meter. The payment can be made through the app, or in the cab by cash or card. This platform allows black cab drivers to have accessibility and convenience as an Uber app.
Main image credits: Chrispictures/Shutterstock
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