Taxi service Uber operates legally in London

According to foreign media reports, the London Transport Bureau (TfL) recently ruled that taxi service Uber can be legally operated in London. This also marks Uber's victory in the fight against taxi drivers in Europe.

Under London's taxi laws, only taxis with black plates are allowed to charge passengers based on distance and time, London taxi drivers consider Uber's service to allow private car owners to use their smartphones to send passengers according to distance Charges, and smart phones have actually played the role of meter, so this act is clearly a violation of the above laws.

But the London Department of Transportation does not think so, "Smartphones transmit location information only between vehicles, and operators do not have physical contact with these vehicles," the London Department of Transportation said. "Smartphones are not the same in this process. Meter, so there is no violation of London's taxi-related laws. "

This decision from the Transport for London was made against the background of thousands of taxi drivers in Europe protesting against Uber services that Uber believes allow users to book taxies through mobile apps that do not comply with local regulations while operating The process did not pay taxes to the relevant departments according to law. Earlier this week, taxi drivers in Madrid, Spain and Barcelona took to the streets to protest Uber services, although Uber services are not yet extended to the Madrid area.

However, the Transport Department of London also pointed out that the current ruling is not the final decision as to whether Uber will operate legally in London and wait for the final ruling of the London District Court. In addition, the Transport Authority of London said Uber had been able to operate legally in London until after the London Taxi Association had sued six Uber drivers for using meter without a license until a hearing was held this autumn.

"It is a natural offense to use a meter in a private car," said Steve McNamara, the secretary general of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association. "In fact, we would prefer London The Department of Transportation changed, not Uber, after all, the former is the norm for the entire industry. "

Uber welcomed the London Department of Transportation's ruling and said the company also said that protests in Europe have prompted Uber applications to download in the UK in June up 850% from the previous month.

"The ruling of the London Transport Authority is undoubtedly a Uber victory," said Jo Bertram, general manager of Uber UK and Ireland, in a statement. He also pointed out that the current Uber service Has been opened to taxi drivers with black licenses in London, and some drivers have already installed Uber's mobile app.

Translator: Puyu

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