Uber has won its appeal to continue operating in London, a judge for the Westminster Magistrates’ Court has ruled. The company is being given a probationary license that requires a review every 15 months. The city’s transportation authority, Transport for London, declined to renew Uber’s license in September 2017. Uber continued operating in London after it appealed TfL’s decision last fall.
According to the decision, Uber will have to provide TfL with an independently-verified audit of its own operations every six months. The decision also lays out specifics that Uber must adhere to when it comes to reporting criminal activity by its drivers, complaints from users, or changes to the way it handles the data of drivers and passengers.
Tom Elvidge, the general manager of Uber in the UK said in a statement: “We are pleased with today’s decision. We will continue to work with TfL to address their concerns and earn their trust while providing the best possible service for our customers.”
TfL originally cited 25 concerns in its decision to ban Uber, most involving safety and regulation. They included the company failing to report serious crimes and skipping background checks for drivers.
Uber has been granted a 15 month licence to operate in London by Westminster Magistrates Court with a clear set of conditions. Uber remains strictly on probation, and @TfL will monitor it closely. No matter how big or powerful you are, you must play by the rules. pic.twitter.com/qUogPQ1kyp
— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) June 26, 2018
TfL said its stance had “moved to one of effective neutrality,” while Uber accepted that the agency’s decision last September was “fully justified.” Uber lawyer Thomas de la Mare told the court: “The onus is on us […] We accept that TfL’s decision was the right decision at the time.”
Since TfL revoked its license, Uber has made a number of changes to its service. It has pledged to report any “serious incidents” that occur during rides directly to the police, has introduced 24-hour telephone support hotlines, and added a “panic button” to its app that lets riders instantly call the police.
Uber has a large incentive to keep operating in London. The city is the company’s biggest European market and home to some 3.5 million Uber users. The battle between TfL and Uber is likely to affect decisions by local authorities elsewhere in the UK, including Birmingham, York, and Bristol, where the company has faced similar challenges.
