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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:
cheesetoast · 22/09/2017 14:26

Acc, you have got that wrong. Each driver has to have a personal taxi license given by the council. If UBER doesn't operate all those drivers will still have their license, they will have to find work with a minicab firm.

FlowerPot1234 · 22/09/2017 14:26

Bit of both for me.

Absolutely sure that the black cabs-Mayor -masonic- alliance has something to do with this. The Mayor is the Chairman of TFL after all. Uber is competition not only to black cabs but the TFL's products of tube and bus services too. This anti-Uber anti-business, pro-Union (given the ridiculous ruling about self-employed drivers) approach is nasty.

Don't like the failure of Uber to deal with sexual assault complaints at all and kick drivers out, though understand on one level why they urge victims to go to the police rather than them doing it for reasons of confidentiality and the victim may not wish to involve the police.

Intrigued by Greyball and a bit amused that the regulators aren't really being honest about what they're up to and Uber in return has been nifty in their avoidance. That whole area, once you realise the regulators are going outside their proper remits, is all rather a funny chase which Uber has been winning.

Now they come along and do this. 40,000 drivers jobs at risk. Terribly handled by all concerned.

TatianaLarina · 22/09/2017 14:27

Banning Uber hits those who can't afford Black Cabs

Nope you just get a mini cab from a reputable company - it costs the same and is often cheaper than Uber.

Aeroflotgirl · 22/09/2017 14:27

Right worldwide, so you would rather pay £50 for an otherwise £18 journey, good on you have the cash to splash, not everyone has and does. I used licensed mini cabs (never Uber), I would never use a black cab in case of absolute emergency.

TatianaLarina · 22/09/2017 14:27

^quicker not cheaper

Aeroflotgirl · 22/09/2017 14:27

Meant, I would never use a black cab, only in the case of an absolute emergency.

RedToothBrush · 22/09/2017 14:29

Banning Uber hits those who can't afford Black Cabs. And it hits women's safety, walking the streets at night. So it really disproportionately hits women who dont have a lot of money.

I think you miss the point completely.

Your argument is bollocks I'm afraid, because unfortunately too many attacks of the nature you say women are at risk of on the streets are happening IN Ubercabs. Hence the reason for the licence being revoked.

Uber was putting these same women at risk by putting them in a closed environment with people who might deliberately work for Uber precisely because these vulnerable women get in a cab with them.

Uber have 21 days to appeal the decision and/or get their house in order to ensure this doesn't happen to get their licence back.

Thus offering real protection rather than just offering an Russian roulette service for these same women on low income that would be at risk EITHER walking or in an Uber.

conserveisposhforjam · 22/09/2017 14:30

there is a complaint up-thread from someone who believes black cabs are less inclined to stop if your face isn't white. I've heard this complaint from someone in real life aswell

I got in a black cab at Tottenham Court Road once. The cab was basically driving past me and then did an emergency stop.

Me - I thought you weren't going to stop then!
Driver - Yeah sorry - I thought you were with that black bloke walking behind you, I only just realised you weren't!
Me - can you pull over please you racist bastard? Etc etc

Angry
surferjet · 22/09/2017 14:32

great news!
Well done TFL & Sidiq Khan.

Aeroflotgirl · 22/09/2017 14:33

Red that is why I would never get an Uber, and have a licensed cab firm I use regularly.

conserve oh my goodness, yes the Sun, and DM reader. That is awful Shock.

C8H10N4O2 · 22/09/2017 14:33

But there is a complaint up-thread from someone who believes black cabs are less inclined to stop if your face isn't white

I'm not quite sure how this makes it ok to reject customers with a disability?

Also not sure that someone 'believing' something makes it true - is there evidence that black cab drivers are more racist than other groups of drivers (or people)? I honestly don't know.

blahdyblahblah · 22/09/2017 14:34

When I was trying to catch black cabs with black friends they'd hide or stand apart until it stopped. Sad

balsamicbarbara · 22/09/2017 14:35

It's alright for those of you living in Mayfair or wherever, but in the outskirts of London (say Notting Hill out) once you step out of somewhere and want to go somewhere else, it's not as easy as waving down a taxi. You either end up calling some crisp eating mumbler and waiting for a minicab or have to slum it on public transport if it's even available nearby. With Uber you see where the cars are, see how many minutes it'll take for them to turn up, and handle the payment all in one place, it's a revolution in simplicity yet woo people go all holier than thou over it.

AmyGardner · 22/09/2017 14:35

Oh - and last time I was in the US and had to use Uber twice, one driver couldn't find my hotel despite using satnav and one was HIGH AS A FUCKING KITE. No kidding, I felt stoned by the time I got out of his car.

Aeroflotgirl · 22/09/2017 14:35

Oh blahdy that is awful, really bad Angry

TatianaLarina · 22/09/2017 14:36

Amy - I was just looking for the same story.

Must edit my claim above that they published an Uber rape victim's records - that was inaccurate - the records were obtained by an executive and shared within the company.

My feeling is that if they had had a different attitude to women and safety, they would be in a very different position now.

Penguins333 · 22/09/2017 14:37

I hate uber and have never ordered an uber cab except for getting them with friends. They are dangerous and shit. Black cabs are also ridiculously expensive, I refuse to pay them their ridiculous fares and would be glad to see them go out of business. There isn't really a decent affordable cab service in London. If I have to I use local minicab which provides tracking or addison lee.

RedToothBrush · 22/09/2017 14:37

We should be allowed to use a firm which exploits its workers and tries to dodge responsibility and is the focus of police concern based on actual cases because black cab drivers are racist based on my anecdotal experience.

Spot the straw man argument.

Hmm
sparechange · 22/09/2017 14:38

balsam
Addison Lee were doing it for nearly a decade before Uber launched in London

It isn't remotely 'a revolution'. It is taking an existing technology and competing on price by paying shit wages to their drivers AND dodging tax

TheVeryHungryDieter · 22/09/2017 14:38

@sparechange I can never quite trust Addison Lee, I've had a couple of occasions where I've been waiting for my car to the airport and I've been ditched for a corporate booking, as accounts > occasional fares and AddLee can and do jilt you and your booking if they feel like it.

I used to live in Zone 1 until last year and it all worked wonderfully and I could always get a black cab on one particular corner, but I now live in Zone 5, where there are no tubes, no night time trains and no direct buses from central london. Getting home after a night out is hazardous and costs me so much in extra babysitting fees it's not worth it if I can't get an uber.

I also got an Uber to the hospital when in labour. Whoever did the Hmm face about using the app while in labour, it's actually pretty easily managed in less than the downtime of a contraction, and... if you do need to have a contraction while you're arranging your ride then just take a moment, and then press the Confirm button when you have a second. Using alternative options means a) your minicab firm may well hang up on you while you're gasping and not giving details of the journey or b) your long-waited-for black cab will zoom past while you bend over wincing.

EvilDoctorBallerinaDuckKeidis · 22/09/2017 14:39

They've banned Uber from London?????? Shock Shit, I was going to rely on them for the next 5 weeks taking DD to an activity!

FlowerPot1234 · 22/09/2017 14:39

TatianaLarina
My feeling is that if they had had a different attitude to women and safety, they would be in a very different position now.

I know that's what's on the TFL letter, but really it's mostly all about Greyball...

balsamicbarbara · 22/09/2017 14:40

Pull out your phone and compare the pickup times between AL and Uber.. I guess on the plus side, if Uber go under AL can pick all the best Uber drivers and basically replace Uber Wink but that's a bit annoying having to have an extra app installed.

surferjet · 22/09/2017 14:41

& to all the people bemoaning the demise of Uber, stop exploiting immigrants you cheapskates! You don't have to pay an extra £1.00 for a black cab ( uber users were never black cab users much anyway - too tight ) get a proper regulated minicab or use the night tube - even cheaper for you you misers.