London to be 'brought to a standstill' in protest against Taxi apps
Drivers have been advised to avoid central London today as thousands of licenced taxis are expected to join a protest against de-regulation and the growth of online services such as Uber.
London Hackney carriages
Peter Kavanagh of the Unite union, whhich is helping to organise today’s demonstration, told The Drum that his members had “no problem with competition” but were seeking a “level playing field” in London’s lucrative taxi market.
Kavanagh criticised London Mayor Boris Johnson saying: “From failing to tackle the increasingly hazardous rickshaw brigade to shrugging his shoulders and allowing the Uber app, which doesn't take bookings or even pay tax in this country, to be licensed as a private hire operator, the mayor has shown his true colours”, suggesting that Uber had been allowed to operate in London due to having “friends in high places.”
Leon Daniels, Transport for London’s (TFL) managing director for surface transport, said: "It is regrettable that a number of taxi drivers - whose job it is to help keep this city moving - plan to cause unnecessary disruption to other road users.
"The taxi trade has several forums with TfL and the mayor. We urge them to communicate directly with us on the specific issues they wish to discuss."
Kavanagh told The Drum that it could not predict the size of the protest, which was organised on social media, but expected “thousands of taxis” to gather in Trafalgar square at 2pm which, he said would bring the city centre "to a standstill."
Uber’s entry into the European taxi market in Europe has proved controversial across the continent with demonstrations against them being held in many cities.
In August a court in Frankfurt banned Uber from operating after finding it did not have a transport permit.