Taxi Driver Online

Interesting that the extracts from the council's report here give the impression that they're now quite happy about Uber getting an op's licence

In particular, officials seem to think Uber drivers no worse, nor better, than the existing rabble.

Maybe they've concluded that Uber better inside the tent with York-plated PHVs rather than operating in the city anyway with cars plated elsewhere

Of course, that'll probably mean Uber using cars in York plated by several different authorities - I wonder if they've taken that into consideration?


Uber makes new bid to get a licence in York

https://yorkmix.com/uber-makes-new-bid- ... e-in-york/

Director of the company Neil McGonigle has made the application on behalf of Uber Britannia Limited.

He wants to operate private hire vehicles from an office at Tower Court, Oakdale Road, Clifton Moor. But as the vehicles are hailed by an app, they wouldn’t be based there.

A report to the City of York Council licensing and regulatory committee states that the law allows private hire operators to use drivers who have no connection to the licensing authority.

It states: “Uber have been lawfully enabling passengers to take journeys in York under the ‘triple licensing rule’ since 2015. This application will enable them to recruit York licensed drivers (and vehicles) to undertake those journeys.”

Uber and taxi complaints

Uber operated under licence in York for 16 months until December 2017. At that point, councillors denied the company a licence renewal due to “a significant data breach and an increase in the number of complaints”, the report says.

“The committee report presented at the meeting noted that of the 296 complaints about taxis in the previous eleven months, 155 related to Uber drivers and vehicles.

“Uber initially appealed the committee decision to the magistrates’ court but the appeal was subsequently withdrawn.”

Uber may be bidding to get a licence again in York now given the impending election. If the Labour Party win, it could look to crackdown on cross-border private hire.

The council report lists 31 complaints made against Uber drivers over the last year. Many of these come from York’s taxi drivers, including reports about Ubers waiting on official taxi ranks which they are not allowed to do.

Officers note that “Uber drivers are more likely to be known to taxi drivers than the general public e.g ‘waiting on ranks’. Therefore, that there are a high percentage of complaints from the taxi trade is not surprising and officers are grateful for all the information supplied.”

There are also reports of Ubers driving the wrong way up a one-way street, making illegal turns and parking in disabled parking bays.

The report goes on: “As well as the complaints about where the vehicles are waiting, the other complaints include six about ‘the standard of driving’ and one complaint about the refusal to carry a guide dog.

“These complaints were predominantly dealt with by the local authority where they were licensed. It is noted that the complaints are predominantly about the actions of Uber drivers and not about the operator.”

The report also includes the 104 complaints made about all other taxis in York to help councillors “put the Uber complaints in that context”.

These complaints range from allegations of sexual harassment to drivers urinating in public, driving allegedly while watching football on a phone and making inappropriate remarks.

The council report states: “In the opinion of officers, the volume of Uber complaints is similar to some – not all – other large operators in the city and similar to the total received about York ‘hackney carriage vehicles’ generically.”

Councillors must decide whether Uber is a fit and proper operator to be granted a licence at the meeting next Tuesday (11 June). They can also decide to attach conditions to the operator’s licence.

probably been a few helpful party donations after all we know how quickly politicians change their minds when they see pound signs in their eyes

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

I suspect they have realised cars licensed elsewhere can not only work in York legally, but far more importantly, don't pay York licensing fees.

In short, like many other places, it's all down to licensing fee income.

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IDFIMH

Blimey, someone actually echoing my thoughts.

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IDFIMH

Labour will have priorities such as banning fox hunting trail hunting, countryside pursuits, net zero by 2030, and introducing vat on private education, to deal with first. And recognition of terrorist states, and building new affordable homes, and building rubber dinghies to get even more illegals into the country, lowering the threshold of vat to £20k to make sure they drag in more vat without increasing it, you know the rest…

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Former taxi driver

Taxi drivers to protest against bid by ‘dangerous’ Uber to return to York

https://yorkmix.com/taxi-drivers-to-hol ... n-to-york/

York taxi drivers will gather while councillors decide whether to grant Uber a licence to operate in the city this evening (Tuesday).

Their demonstration will take place ahead of Uber’s application for a private hire licence which is being heard at City of York Council’s West Offices.

It aims to be a show of solidarity from drivers who are concerned about Uber’s re-entry into York.

It comes as the app-based ride hailing firm lodged its application to officially return with at least 91 vehicles following councillors’ refusal to renew its licence in 2017.

The refusal followed a significant data breach and 155 complaints against the firm in the year leading up to the decision in December 2017.

Uber drivers licensed outside of York can currently legally travel in to pick up and drop off customers.

But the granting of the company’s application would allow it to recruit York-based drivers and it is also aiming to open offices at Clifton Moor, if it gets planning approval.

Uber stated in its application that it vets drivers who apply to work for the company and trips are monitored and recorded to keep passengers safe.

The company added it also uses technology to plan pick ups around traffic restrictions and it maintains a 24-hour helpline which councils can contact with safeguarding concerns.

‘Faceless machine’

But Neil Rowley, chair of York Private Hire Association, told YorkMix: “Uber is still a dangerous company as they do not and never have known who is driving their cars.

“They are a faceless machine that has no human base in the cities that they work.

“All York Licensed vehicles and drivers are monitored not only by their local companies, but also by each other. Anyone could be driving an Uber as nobody checks them. Public safety is at huge risk with Uber.”

York Taxi Association’s chair Mr Asif said out-of-town Uber drivers who did not know about local road rules had previously caused havoc.

He added York private hire drivers were also wary of Uber’s return following instances of some of their taxis plying for trade, contrary to licensing rules.

Mr Asif said: “Nobody can stop them from getting a licence if they abide by the rules.

“But up to now Uber have flooded the market with drivers who don’t know how the traffic system of the area works.

“And it’s getting harder for the taxi drivers here to make a living.”

Mr Rowley also urged the council to delay the decision until after the election.

“We believe it is a terrible time for York councillors to be making what is definitely a political decision considering the fact that a general election is round the corner.

“We believe the legal team at York council should delay this application until after the general election because whatever decision is made will be considered political.

“If Uber really want to play the game fairly in York, they should withdraw their application and reapply after the 4th of July.”

Was about to say that Uber making basic 'taxi' driving stuff sound like they've reinvented the wheel - "The company added it also uses technology to plan pick ups around traffic restrictions" - but up pops the local PHA and sounding even more ridiculous. But, of course, there's some substance to what they say otherwise, but the usual gross exaggeration about everything obviously all about throwing enough mud and hoping it sticks. I mean, it's the usual contrast of evil Uber vs the happy-clappy/aren't-we-perfect local trade

As for the election stuff, it's a vague point of sorts, but maybe the bigger thing is that local politicians shouldn't be deciding these things at all

But, again, the point is probably more about trying to make the process look dodgy...

What on earth is he on about?

How do they differ from any other operator?

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IDFIMH

But that's why Uber wants to get a York license so they can use private hire drivers licensed by York, who I assume will know how the local traffic works.

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IDFIMH

No shortage of quotes and stuff here.

But, as usual, Uber making it sound like they've reinvented the wheel (drivers requried to take guide dogs, for example - making a virtue of necessity), while the York trade making it sound like Uber drivers are the totally unregulated scum of the earth


Uber is allowed back into York – but with conditions attached

https://yorkmix.com/uber-is-allowed-bac ... -attached/

Uber has been given a licence to operate in York again.

Councillors voted to grant the firm a private hire operator’s licence for the first time since 2017 after a mammoth four-hour meeting last night (Monday).

It means the company can now recruit York-based drivers. In the last six years, only Uber drivers licensed elsewhere have operated in the city.

The decision by the licensing and regulatory committee to grant the licence came despite vociferous protests by the city’s taxi drivers.

They demonstrated outside the meeting at the City of York Council West Offices and then queued up to condemn the app-based ride hailing firm.

York Taxi Association chair Arfan Asif told the committee: “If you stand firm with the decision made here in December 2017 to not renew Uber’s licence, when Labour are in government you will see an end to all out-of-town drivers and York will once again have control of its licensed vehicles and drivers working in the city.”

Driver Mohammed Solomon said: “Please help your local drivers to get enough to feed their families. It will only happen if the outsiders get stopped working in York.”

Darren Avey, director of Station Taxis said: “Traditional taxi services require rigorous background checks and vetting processes. Uber’s approach to driver recruitment is significantly less stringent.

“There have been too many reports of assaults, harassment and misconduct by Uber drivers. Granting a private hire licence to Uber would mean endorsing a system of profit over passenger safety.

“Moreover, Uber’s business model is wholly unethical, and granting Uber a private hire licence would be rewarding unfair business practices.”

Chair of York Taxi Association Arshad Mahmood said: “Out-of-town Uber drivers have caused a major crash outside the Mount School and many more dangerous driving incidents due to lack of local knowledge.

Licensed drivers

“Uber is going to ruin livelihoods of York Hackney drivers with unfair competition.”

Matt Boxall, York council’s head of public protection, told councillors that Uber was denied a renewal of their licence in December 2017 due to a significant data breach and 150 complaints about the firm.

He said Uber now operated a 24/7 emergency line for council officers in the event of any concerns.

Cllr Mark Warters (Independent) said he was “deeply uncomfortable that we’re determining this in a pre election period when other meetings a lot less contentious, have been cancelled”.

Councillors were told that the monitoring officer’s advice was that the decision was not politically contentious.

Matthew Freckelton, head of cities for Uber, said that the company had completed one billion trips in the UK since 2012, adding £5bn to the economy. “Uber only uses drivers and vehicles that have been licensed,” he said.

“We do not use unlicensed drivers or vehicles. So a driver will get himself and a vehicle licensed by a licensing authority like yourselves, and then come to us to onboard with Uber.”

He added that “our drivers can’t refuse trips to people with guide dogs or wheelchair users.”

Paul Kane, Uber’s UK head of safety, ran through the company’s security procedures, including the fact that all trips were tracked by GPS “so we have a record of all of the trip from from beginning to end. This helps Uber, licensing authorities and the police and with any investigations that they may want to take after after the trip, about anything that may have occurred.”

Riders could share their trip with trusted contacts and there was an emergency button on the app that called 999.

Questioned by Cllr Warters about Uber drivers regularly picking up customers from York taxi ranks, which can only be used legally by licensed Hackney drivers, Neil McGonigle, Uber’s head of driver operations, said they educated drivers about their legal duties and would take action against drivers found to be in breach.

Mr Freckelton said Uber had “a number of geofences set up to try and ensure that pickup and drop offs don’t take place on Hackney ranks”.

Asked by Cllr Kate Ravilious about wheelchair accessible vehicles, Mr Freckelton said Uber was not a fleet provider, the drivers own the vehicles. “If York licensed drivers with wheelchair accessible vehicles that on-board with our platform, then a wheelchair accessible vehicle will be bookable through the Uber app.”

Majority vote

At the end of the meeting, Cllr Jason Rose said the previous licence was revoked due to a serious data breach by Uber “and we have no idea if they’re better or worse than that now”.

Cllr Paula Widdowson said that, by putting in place a proper working relationship between the council and Uber, more safeguarding was possible. She didn’t see any reasons to decline the licence.

Cllr Danny Myers said, in his view, the lack of welfare facilities for drivers, such as an unstaffed office and no toilet facilities, meant Uber failed the ‘fit and proper test’ required for a licensed operator.

He then proposed that the licence was refused on the basis of the lack of welfare facilities and evidence of Uber data breaches. But only three councillors voted in favour of this motion, and seven voted against.

Cllr Ashley Mason then proposed that Uber be granted a private hire operator’s licence, with two additional conditions: that they would use geofencing to prevent pick-ups in Hackney taxi ranks and other specific places; and that Uber would disseminate information about Blue Badge access in York to its drivers.

This was carried by nine votes to three. Uber was granted a licence for one year.

Oh, aye, that'll stop them plying for hire. Just means they won't plot while on a rank (presumably) - it's not some kind of Dr Spock/Star Trek-type force field that stops them actually picking up where they shouldn't. And they've got 99% of York to ply for hire in even with the geofencing, presumably


What a load of $hite

I mean, he makes it sound like York is the only licensing authority in the UK that licences WAVs


I drink maybe 10 pints of fluid a day , and at 60 my bladder maybe isn't as, er, resilient as it once was. So usually have to got several times during a shift. Yet the council here have closed *every* public toilet after 6pm, when I'm usually working. Wonder how I manage, and does that make Fife Council not fit and proper?


Simple tokenism. Only question is whether the good councillor realises it's just tokenism

There's a YouTube video of the committee meeting here - it's only 4 hours and 14 minutes long

Don't think I'll bother, somehow - guess it'll be another four and a quarter hours of my life that I won't get back

But I wonder how much BS was uttered during that period? I mean, a few hundred words of a press report on it is full of nonsense

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWYQKcGPJgU

Saw this in the York Press version:


As I've said a million times before, DO NOT EXAGGERATE

I have it on very good authority that Uber's responses to requests from council officials for information often put the rest of the trade to shame.

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IDFIMH

A bit of rehash here, apart from what's in the headline, which is pretty obvious when it comes to Uber. And a lot of pointless blather from Uber and the council in response - who'd have expected that?

Funny, though, that Uber specifically mentions WAV PHVs (any?) signing up, rather than the more obvious HC WAVs. But HCs won't sign up because no surge-pricing. If they did sign up, then that would be because they've dumped the WAV, I'd guess

And doubt if any WAV PHVs signing up after reading this - they'd end up doing non-stop WAV work via the Uber app, I'd guess


Uber licence 'bad' for city disabled - campaigner

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0jj9135zypo

A disability rights campaigner has said she is disappointed with a decision to grant Uber a licence to operate private hire cars in York again after a six-year ban.

City of York Council's licensing committee voted last week to approve a new application by the online ride-hailing firm to operate there.

But campaigner Flick Williams said Uber had been "quite clear that if they were granted a licence there would be no option to book a wheelchair accessible taxi".

In a statement, a spokesperson for the company said: "Ensuring the Uber platform is accessible for all riders is a key priority for us."

When Uber's licence was refused in 2017, City of York Council gave two main reasons.

The first was that there was a significant data breach in 2016 which affected 57 million users, and the company had failed to report this to the authorities.

There had also been a rise in complaints about Uber drivers in York, which the council said indicated that there were "management issues".

Despite not having a licence in York since the ban, Uber drivers from other areas have been allowed to operate legally in the city using licences granted elsewhere.

Ms Williams said granting a new licence to Uber "leads directly to a reduction in the number of wheelchair accessible taxis available".

"The council should have refused it. Uber had their licence removed in 2017 and have continued to operate, so granting them a licence now is, in effect, rewarding bad behaviour," she added.

The campaigner described the new licence as "a deeply bad decision for all disabled and older people in the city".

"That's particularly because Uber were quite clear that if they were granted a licence there would be no option to book a wheelchair accessible taxi," she said.

Members of York City Taxi Association held a protest against the application outside the council’s offices ahead of the four-hour meeting last Tuesday.

Arshad Mahmood, the association's chairman, said they were "disappointed" at Uber being given a new licence to run vehicles in the city.

“This decision has definitely overlooked the 44 wheelchair Hackney taxis and wheelchair taxi users. We are already low in numbers of the wheelchair taxis," he said.

Responding, Uber said: "We have a specific in-app option called Uber Access which is available in a number of cities across the country. Drivers providing these services are specially trained.

"Our ability to make the Uber Access option available in the app is dependent on the volume of private hire wheelchair accessible vehicles in a given town or city and the number who choose to drive with Uber.

"Should we see sufficient volume of private hire wheelchair accessible vehicles sign up to Uber in the city, we would look to make this additional option available for riders in York."

James Gilchrist, director of transport, environment and planning at City of York Council, said: “City of York Council’s licensing committee met and determined to grant a private hire operator’s licence to the applicant.

"This enables the operator to accept booked fares via their online platform with drivers and vehicles which are both licensed in York.

"Previously, the operator was able to only accept booked fares with drivers and vehicles licensed by other authorities.”