Uber poised to bag further temporary licence from TfL
Uber will have its fate sealed on Wednesday when Transport for London (TfL) makes a decision on the ride-hailing app’s licence in the capital.
Uber has currently been running on a 15-month probationary licence, issued last June in the aftermath of Sadiq Khan’s decision in 2017 to strip the operator of its licence over safety and regulatory concerns.
Read more: Sadiq Khan vows to take on Uber ‘big boys’ in licence decision
It is understood that Uber applied for a five-year licence to continue operating in London, but is poised to get one that runs for 12 to 15 months.
TfL and Uber declined to comment.
Last month Khan vowed to take on the “big boys” at Uber when it comes to renewing its licence, saying everyone must play by the rules if they want to operate in the capital.
“You will know my track record which is standing up to the big boys, and they are boys, and make sure everyone plays by the rules whether you’re a big business or whether you’re a small business and I don’t care how many lawyers you employ or how big your PR budget,” he told LBC radio.
Read more: Sharing is caring: How Via Van is making a capital connection
Following Khan’s decision to strip Uber’s licence the firm made a series of changes to its app, including a 24/7 support centre and limits to driver hours, meaning that a licensed driver can only spend 10 hours on a trip with a passenger or on their way to pick up a passenger.
Uber rival Ola, an Indian start-up was recently awarded a 15-month licence from TfL, while Via Van won a three-year licence renewal.