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12/06/2014
'Anti Uber' Demonstration Causes Traffic Disruption
Parts of central London have been gridlocked after more than 12,000 black cabs headed the centre of the city as part of a European taxi demonstration over Uber, a rival service which works without regulation thanks to an app.
In London, cabs drivers gathered at Trafalgar Square at 14:00 for an hour-long protest.
Taxi drivers staged the protest over the lack of regulation of apps such as Uber, which works out the cost of the journeys, which they claim is the same as using a taxi meter, which only official taxis are entitled to use.
The Google-backed app allows users to order a car at the touch of a button, and the fare is calculated using GPS tracking.
Steve McNamara, from the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA), said: "We did not set out to cause disruption to Londoners. It is nothing to do with technology, some of the taxis have been using apps for years. The difference is all taxis have to operate legally, they should have to apply for the same rules as everyone else."
Jo Bertram, the Uber general manager defended the company's business model, saying the number of app downloads has soared and added that: "Londoners are voting with their fingers, tapping the app in support of new and innovative services as we see our biggest day of sign-ups in London today since launch two years ago.”
In addition, he recognised: "In fact, today we're seeing an 850% increase in sign-ups compared to last Wednesday."
Demonstrations were held across Europe in cities as Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Rome, Milan or Berlin.
(CVS)
In London, cabs drivers gathered at Trafalgar Square at 14:00 for an hour-long protest.
Taxi drivers staged the protest over the lack of regulation of apps such as Uber, which works out the cost of the journeys, which they claim is the same as using a taxi meter, which only official taxis are entitled to use.
The Google-backed app allows users to order a car at the touch of a button, and the fare is calculated using GPS tracking.
Steve McNamara, from the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA), said: "We did not set out to cause disruption to Londoners. It is nothing to do with technology, some of the taxis have been using apps for years. The difference is all taxis have to operate legally, they should have to apply for the same rules as everyone else."
Jo Bertram, the Uber general manager defended the company's business model, saying the number of app downloads has soared and added that: "Londoners are voting with their fingers, tapping the app in support of new and innovative services as we see our biggest day of sign-ups in London today since launch two years ago.”
In addition, he recognised: "In fact, today we're seeing an 850% increase in sign-ups compared to last Wednesday."
Demonstrations were held across Europe in cities as Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Rome, Milan or Berlin.
(CVS)
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Taxi drivers in central London are staging a protest over competition in the capital. It is understood the dispute surrounds a lack of regulation, including the use of apps such as Uber, which the drivers claim has been a "disaster" for trade.
11 June 2014
London Faces Jams Over Anti-Uber Protests
Thousands of black-cab drivers are set to bring significant jams and traffic disruptions to central London in protest at the lack of regulation of rival cab services Uber, the Google-backed company that uses an app to allow users to order a car at the touch of a button and calculate the fare using GPS tracking.
London Faces Jams Over Anti-Uber Protests
Thousands of black-cab drivers are set to bring significant jams and traffic disruptions to central London in protest at the lack of regulation of rival cab services Uber, the Google-backed company that uses an app to allow users to order a car at the touch of a button and calculate the fare using GPS tracking.
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Man Arrested Over London Taxi Rapes
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Iconic Black Cabs Recalled After Fire
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Hundreds of black cabs have been taken off the roads following a series of under-bonnet fires, it has emerged. Around 600 of the iconic London taxis are to undergo safety checks after the eighth taxi in three months burst into flames, in the capital. Four similar incidents took place elsewhere in the country.
19 February 2008
Cabbie In Court Over Rape Charges
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Cabbie In Court Over Rape Charges
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