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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be furious they have banned Uber from London?

608 replies

Acidophilus · 22/09/2017 12:20

WTF?

Uber has itsbissues but this is ridiculous.

TFL have bowed to Black cab pressure and we will all pay massively for it. Or get mini cabs that are less safe and treat heir drivers worse.

OP posts:
Nuttynoo · 22/09/2017 12:57

@bisquick - the 24/7 parts will get you close enough for a night bus though.

notanurse2017 · 22/09/2017 12:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

coddiwomple · 22/09/2017 12:58

Great news.
You might be a bit more for a black cab, but there's a reason for that! Reliable, safe

I am glad someone is taking the issue seriously, and will force Uber to have a look at the way they operate, for everybody's sake. Saying that mini cabs are worst is hardly an argument in favour of Uber!

KarlosKKrinkelbeim · 22/09/2017 12:58

Spineless labour mayor sucks up to the black cab drivers. Plus ca change, plus que le same old shit.
Ban will no doubt get overturned but Khan has done his grandstanding. Twat.

OhThisbloodyComputer · 22/09/2017 12:59

Isn't it unfair to make a black cab drivers spend months, sometimes years, learning the knowledge and then invest heavily in a safety approved vehicle, only for some rapist in a dented Datsun to undercut them?

Crunchymum · 22/09/2017 12:59

Have to agree that I've never had a problem with black cabs. And I've been taking cabs for 20 years (am a Londoner who doesn't drive). My bad experiences have always been with mini cabs not Uber per se

Indigo90 · 22/09/2017 12:59

I have never understood the demonisation of Uber compared with other mini cabs. In many areas of London including mine black cabs are scarce and the Hailo app never seems to produce one. I have never waited more than three minutes for an Uber and the service has always been excellent.

I usually chat to my drivers, most of them have a reason for driving Uber e.g. the fireman who had had his days reduced to 4 days a week so was driving his cab to make up the lost income. Why not? Others need flexible working hors around zero hours contracts or caring responsibilities where it suits them just to clock on and off when they are available. Surely that is to be commended?

HateSummer · 22/09/2017 13:00

I don't care cos I don't live there 👍✌️💪

Scribblegirl · 22/09/2017 13:00

I live in Zone 4 in South East London. Black cab drivers won't take me this far out (or often, south of the river at all). We don't have the tube here, so no night tube. And I'm more at risk of sexual assault waiting for my third bus change of the journey in Croydon for half an hour at 3am.

So if Uber are out of London, I will be staying in on a Saturday night .

Ktown · 22/09/2017 13:00

great news. they have massively added to congestion.
i support the black cab drivers completely.
Uber have done nothing but clog up roads.

TheAntiBoop · 22/09/2017 13:00

They have issues they need to sort out. They have no interest in their customers or their employees as shown here and in other markets. Customers don't seem to care about the drivers either as long as they get a cheap ride

rather than getting shitty about it they need to get their house in order.

I use a local mini cab service - they have an app. Cheaper than uber and they actually know where they are going and understand what one way streets are.

AccrualIntentions · 22/09/2017 13:00

All they have to do is improve their standards in line with the licensing requirements and then they'll be back in business. If they aren't prepared to do this then tough. Same as for any other firm.

Crunchymum · 22/09/2017 13:00

It takes on average 3 years to complete the Knowledge - granted drivers usually do it whilst working other jobs too.

5rivers7hills · 22/09/2017 13:00

Also, minicab drivers aren't worse than Uber drivers! They have to be checked as well to get an operating licence. Not sure what world you're living in

They bloody are worse.

I've got hundreds of Uber's. And a handful of minicabs.

I've had two incidents with minivans that I reported to the police and TfL.

Zero even slightly unpleasant experience with uber.

NoLoveofMine · 22/09/2017 13:02

I've noticed a number of black cab drivers who are women recently so it seems the number is growing. The cost does make them quite prohibitive though.

5rivers7hills · 22/09/2017 13:02

Isn't it unfair to make a black cab drivers spend months, sometimes years, learning the knowledge

It's a completely pointless skill now we have sat navs with live traffic.

That's like saying how god dam unfair it is on the abbucus workers that we are using calculators....

Bisquick · 22/09/2017 13:02

Hahaha @nuttynoo not when I've gone into labour at 3 am and am 40 minutes from the only nearby hospital that'll treat my high risk pregnancy. I could of course call an ambulance but just FYI not everyone using an uber is out on the lash.

Then again you've already missed the memo on not everyone who is brown being a terrorist so this is probably not a useful discussion.

Cavender · 22/09/2017 13:03

I find this really interesting. I use Uber regularly where I live in the USA and it has a really good reputation.

Why is it such a problem specifically in London?

pigeondujour · 22/09/2017 13:04

I don't think you can criticise innovative companies on the basis of humans having spent a long time learning what computers can do quicker. I don't care whether my driver uses SatNav or not. I do care about his employer a) not exploiting him and b) making sure I'm safe in his cab. I can see both sides of this - cheap private cabs are a godsend and make me feel safer than I do on public transport, but I don't want that to be at the expense of workers' rights or women's safety.

safariboot · 22/09/2017 13:05

My two cents: Uber are a taxi company. They're making excellent use of computer systems to run their business, but they're still a taxi company and should stop pretending they aren't. "Ridesharing" my arse.

And they have a well-established record of acting like the law doesn't apply to them and deliberately impeding law enforcement investigations. I'm glad to see the UK isn't rolling over but is enforcing the law against Uber as it does against anybody.

tiggytape · 22/09/2017 13:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Crunchymum · 22/09/2017 13:05

Black cabs are expensive as you are literally paying for the expertise / knowledge. And of course you are paying for your regulated / police checked service so essentially your safety

It's the same as someone with more experience being able to command a higher salary?

As with many things in life, cheaper isn't always better .

squoosh · 22/09/2017 13:06

But in this case cheaper is often better.

BabychamSocialist · 22/09/2017 13:06

I've never had a problem with any of the minicabs where I live. We recently got Uber in the nearest city to us and it's awful. Had issues with it the few times I've used it.

When I go to London, I always use black cabs or Addison Lee. I just feel safer.

SquirmOfEels · 22/09/2017 13:07

Assaults by black cab drivers are so rare they make the news when they happen (about once every five years or so),

It's the safest form of public transport there is.

Minicab firms just sack drivers there are complaints about - if you read local free sheets, you'll see reports about prosecutions most months (they're common enough not to make the main London news).