Cab firms tell Uber to accept rules ‘that level playing field’

The letter was organised by cab app Karhoo

Dozens of London-based minicab firms have called on Uber to abandon its legal challenge to new rules that require some drivers to sit a written English test.

In a letter to the Evening Standard, the 55 cab firms said they supported Transport for London’s regulations because “they will help create a level playing field for all”. The companies include black-cab firm Comcab and minicab fleets such as Skyex and Goldline.

They all use the Karhoo price comparison app, which was set up in May to help local minicab firms fight back against competition from the San Francisco-based tech giant.

In the letter they say: “Licensed taxi and mini cab fleets have been hit hard by Uber in recent years and the perception of incumbent fleets in the industry is that Uber is allowed to play by a different set of rules — the industry needs rules that apply equally to all.”

The letter, organised by Karhoo founder Daniel Ishag, comes days after Uber launched a judicial review of the TfL regulations, which are due to come into force in October.

One requirement is that any driver from a non-English-speaking country sits a two-hour written test, costing £200.

Tom Elvidge, Uber’s general manager for London, said: “We’re particularly disappointed that, after a lengthy consultation process with TfL, the goalposts have moved at the last minute and new rules are now being introduced that will be bad for both drivers and tech companies like Uber.”

Signatories

24x7 Stansted

A1 Cars

Abbey Cars (London)

ACX Express Ltd

All Night Cars Ltd

Barkers of Croydon Ltd

Cascade Cars

Charlton Cars Ltd

Cheam Station Cars Limited

Clayhall Executive Cars Ltd

Clock Cars Ltd

Clocktower Cars

Comcab London

Commercial Cars and Couriers Ltd

Dial a Car

eConnect Cars Ltd

Emess Cars

Express Car Service

Expressways Ltd

Fairway & Kenwood Car Service Ltd

Five Star Car Hire

Fleet Minicabs

Global Transfers Ltd

Goldline Car Services Ltd

Green Light Cars

Grove cars

Herts Cars Limited

HML Executive Ltd

International Chauffeurs Limited

Keen Group

KVC Transport

Liberty Cars

Local Cars

Location Cars

Metro Express Minicab

Minicab4Hire

Minicab4You

Mornington Cars

Oakwood Cars

Olympia Center West

One 2 One Cars

Premier Cars

Premier Minicab Services UK Ltd

Roadrunners Minicabs Ltd

S-Express

Sherbets Minicabs

SkyEx

Speedy Cars (UK) Ltd

Stage Two Mini Cabs

Star Mini Cabs Ltd

Swift Cars

Swiss Cottage Cars/iRide

Unicorn Transfers Ltd

Waterloo Car Hire

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