Uber taxi app is no threat to London’s black cab says TfL commissioner October 2, 2014 Uber does not pose an imminent danger to London's iconic black cab. So says Transport for London (TfL) commissioner Sir Peter Hendy. Speaking at the Guardian's transport debate held during the Conservative party conference, Hendy argued the fury directed toward the San Francisco-based company had been largely "misplaced". In fact, Hendy was optimistic that there [...]
Paul Mason’s Postcapitalism: The left’s unwitting conversion to neoliberal economics August 31, 2015 Unlike many other advocates of free markets, I quite like Channel 4 News economics editor Paul Mason. His journalistic approach, informative yet editorialised towards his own opinions, is compulsive viewing. So when he penned a book on his new idea – “Postcapitalism” – I knew it would be controversial yet worthy of review. [...]
Uber taxi app could face fresh crackdown under a Labour government September 23, 2014 Taxi app Uber could face a much more hostile regulatory and tax regime if a Labour government is elected in 2015. Speaking at a fringe event hosted by the New Statesman at the Labour conference, shadow transport secretary Mary Creagh said her party would not tolerate "tax avoidance on a large scale" adding that Uber's [...]
Uber vs Hailo: Why has the UK taxi app been unable to replicate its US rival’s success? October 24, 2014 Yesterday, the Hailo taxi app had its day in the sun unveiling two new features; Pay Hailo and Hailo Hub. However, the shadow of the company's withdrawal from the US after failing to successfully take on rivals such as Uber and Lyft still looms large. Things looked good for Hailo when it began its US venture three [...]
Uber taxi app: Founder Travis Kalanick’s plan to rid London of a million cars October 5, 2014 London will be less congested and less polluted, app founder tells Oliver Smith Travis Kalanick outlined what might be his most ambitious goal yet on Friday. Speaking to more than 2,000 business delegates at the Institute of Directors annual convention in the Royal Albert Hall, Kalanick said his four-year-old startup would aim to take a [...]
Tube strike 2015: Travel advice for Thursday – No Tube, but DLR, London Overground, trams, rail and 200 extra buses will run July 9, 2015 The Tube strike is on, and that means you're likely to run into problems if you're travelling in London on Thursday. Here's everything you need to know to prepare and plan for your journey. When? No services will run on Thursday at all after the 24-hour strike began on Wednesday evening. There may still be [...]
Dear Uber drivers: As its Spotify tie-up launches, you’re going to hear way more Kate Bush, One Direction – and Kirsty MacColl November 21, 2014 The tie-up between Spotify and Uber launches today, meaning anyone who gets in an Uber cab can listen to their own tunes. The system works using a feature inside Uber's app which connects to the driver's phone. As long as it is plugged into the sound system, it allows passengers to determine what plays over [...]
German ban on Uber car hire overturned August 18, 2014 Germany’s administrative court yesterday overturned a ban on taxi and mini-cab hire app Uber. The ban was imposed by the Berlin State Department of Civil and Regulatory Affairs, which claimed the app could endanger customers as it allowed unverified drivers to pick up customers. Uber argued it provided competition which drove up standards.
The UK must digitally disrupt to grow the economy and create jobs, or be disrupted July 23, 2015 Not many things are guaranteed in life, but the power of technology to disrupt our lives is one that is. Whether we look at the creation of the first personal computer in the 60s, the arrival of the World Wide Web in the 80s, or the smartphone connected world we now occupy; digital technology has [...]
Uber to be driven off track in Germany after court ban September 2, 2014 Worldwide cab firm Uber yesterday vowed to fight on in Germany after a court issued a temporary injunction against the app-based service, saying its drivers lacked the necessary commercial licences to pick up passengers. The ruling by Frankfurt regional court last week came after a challenge brought by the German taxi industry for non-compliance with [...]