Uber Will Offer Concessions To Stay In London

Uber, the U.S.-based ride hailing company, is willing to give concessions to be able to conduct business in London after its service was banned in the city.

According to a Reuters news report, which cited the Sunday Times, sources close to London’s transport agency said Uber’s willingness to make concessions was encouraging, and that talks between the two sides may ensue. “While we haven’t been asked to make any changes, we’d like to know what we can do,” Tom Elvidge, Uber’s general manager in London, told the newspaper. “But that requires a dialogue we sadly haven’t been able to have recently.”

The concessions offered up by Uber will likely focus on improving passenger safety and providing benefits for drivers. It could also include limits on working hours and holiday pay, noted the report.

Late last week, London stripped the ridesharing company of its license to operate in the city,. The reason for the Uber ban, which will affect 40,000  drivers, is that the regulator for Transport for London (TfL) believes that Uber’s conduct represented a risk to public safety. As a result, the TfL has decided not to renew Uber’s license at the end of September. However, the ride-sharing firm can appeal the decision within the next 21 days.

“Uber’s approach and conduct demonstrate a lack of corporate responsibility in relation to a number of issues, which have potential public safety and security implications,” the TfL said.

Uber plans to contest the decision. “Transport for London and the mayor have caved in to a small number of people who want to restrict consumer choice,” said Elvidge. “We intend to immediately challenge this in the courts.”

With London opting to not renew the license, Uber is turning yet again to its customers for help. According to a separate Reuters report, 500,000 people have signed an online petition in less than 24 hours calling for Uber to stay on the streets in London.