London’s Uber decision might be unpopular, but it’s the right one | Toby Moses
Uber is cheap, convenient and by-and-large safe, but it has serious flaws too. No company deserves a free pass just because it’s popular
The initial horrified response to Transport for London’s decision to remove Uber’s licence to operate in the capital seemed to be rather too focused on the mild inconvenience to its customers. There was a palpable sense that this tech unicorn was a serious source of progress in big city travel, and that its removal would be a step back into the wilderness. Of course, mini-cabs did exist before Uber, and will continue to after Uber is gone, but the revolution brought about by the company’s use of technology is undeniable. The question is: at what cost?
Progress isn’t always a good thing. It does not have to be accepted regardless of its consequences – whether to the safety of passengers, the living conditions of its drivers, the traffic on our roads, or the amount of tax collected by the exchequer.
The likely outcome of all of this isn’t that Uber will be driven from our roads for ever – or even at all
Related: Uber stripped of London licence due to lack of corporate responsibility
Source: Guardian Transport
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