Two weeks ago, we reported that Uber would find out on September 28 whether or not it would be given an operating license to continue offering its service in London. According to BBC News, a judge at the Westminster Magistrates’ Court has decided that Uber is now ‘fit and proper’ despite its "failings" in the past and has awarded it the operating license.
Uber first lost its operating license in 2017 when Transport for London (TfL) declined to issue a new license over safety concerns. A judge issued the license on probation and Uber implemented more safety checks to try and address TfL’s concerns. Last year, TfL again refused to give the ride-hailing firm a new license because it said that the improvements had not gone far enough.
With the license having been granted to Uber, drivers that use the platform can stop worrying about their livelihood going forward. BBC News estimates the number of drivers in the capital city to be around 45,000.
While London does have excellent public transport links including trains, the underground, buses, bicycles, and black cabs, Uber vehicles offer commuters a convenient way to get around late at night or to areas that are a little far from bus stops or train stations. With politicians trying to clamp down on private vehicles in London, having Uber operating in the area could make it easier for people to forego cars.
Source: BBC News
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