Taxi for Uber! Our favourite responses after cab firm loses its London licence
It’s all over for Uber after the cab firm’s application for a new licence in London was rejected because of “public safety and security” issues.
Here’s how people responded online.
1.
Uber leaves London. Thousands of media types simply wander into strangers cars and scream locations at them. Chaos ensues. London crumbles.
— TechnicallyRon (@TechnicallyRon) September 22, 2017
2.
Uber has 21 days to appeal TfL's decision. Wait, 14 days. No, 22 days. Hang on, it's 5 days now. Oh no they're here quick put your shoes on.
— Steve Hogarty (@misterbrilliant) September 22, 2017
3.
Uber are getting kicked out of London?
Back to: "End of the road? £25 mate" #Uber pic.twitter.com/lODQ6zVhgo
— The Danone Trumpet (@OoooDanone) September 22, 2017
4.
Does anybody know anyone in London selling a Prius?
— Jake Lambert (@LittleLostLad) September 22, 2017
5.
Uber's great trick, for a time, was convincing people that they were a tech start-up not a minicab firm with an app.
— Stephen Bush (@stephenkb) September 22, 2017
6.
"Taxi for Uber."
— Russell Brand (@rustyrockets) September 22, 2017
7.
my take is uber is bad but black cabs are also bad so stay at home and play online chess
— joe ❌ (@mutablejoe) September 22, 2017
8.
Uber to be replaced by a fleet of dads who have stuck a "Dad's taxi" sticker on their car. The sticker is legally binding. Get to work.
— Benjamin Partridge (@benpartridge) September 22, 2017
9.
Don't worry, closing Uber won't cost jobs – it'll just mean 40,000 independent self-employed businesspeople need to find new software!
— Laurence Dodds (@LFDodds) September 22, 2017
10.
Hi fellow Londoners, I would like to launch my new app to solve all your transport problems. It's a gif that says "Just stay at home today."
— Tom Freeman (@SnoozeInBrief) September 22, 2017
11.
World over, approach to #Uber is a proxy for whether a gvt/city is on the side of the vested interests (the few) or consumers (the many).
— Fraser Nelson (@FraserNelson) September 22, 2017
Uber has the right to appeal, which got people thinking the ban won’t last long.
12.
Think Mané's ban will last longer than Uber's.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) September 22, 2017
The decision has proved extremely divisive on social media, with a lot of people very, very unhappy about it.
13.
3.5 million Londoners regularly use Uber, particularly students and young people – I don't know anyone who will be happy by this decision https://t.co/x10YkEGkqg
— Aine (@ainemichellel) September 22, 2017
14.
Loosing #Uber makes london more unsafe for young people, especially students who can't afford the ridiculous rates of black cabs.
— Lauren Powell (@powell6269) September 22, 2017
15.
Uber employs 40,000 people in London – that almost the population of Leamington Spa. If it shuts down, ramifications on un/employment huge.
— Jane Bradley (@jane__bradley) September 22, 2017
16.
Does this mean black cabs will now no longer refuse to bring you home because they "don't go that far west" to Ealing?!
— sadbhe (@sadbhe) September 22, 2017
17.
Back to paying through the nose for taxis & not being able to find one late at night! Bad day for consumers!
— Andrew Byron (@AndrewByron) September 22, 2017
Others were supportive.
18.
It means London is closed to companies that flout the rules and don't handle complaints about rape and sexual assault seriously. https://t.co/v7hX9iVgb8
— Wes Streeting MP (@wesstreeting) September 22, 2017
Nigel Farage also backed it, which makes us think it MUST be a bad idea.
19.
Right call. https://t.co/bvDcy6OGWp
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) September 22, 2017
Perhaps the upshot will be that everyone wins.
20.
I'm willing to bet £6.43 on Uber winning their appeal provided they improve their safety record. In which case everyone wins.
— Greg Jenner (@greg_jenner) September 22, 2017
Here’s hoping.
