For Uber, it is a battle over the nature of its business – ride-sharing app or, as TfL says, a minicab firm subject to the same rules as other minicab operators. In a city where the cost of housing means many people travel long distances to work unsocial hours for low pay, Uber’s low fares and generally prompt service have been a lifeline. To them, TfL will look as if it has bowed down to pressure from the capital’s infamously protectionist black cabs. If it wants to go on doing business in London in the long term, it has a straightforward remedy – obey the rules. Many Uber users trust and rely on the app when public transport is out of reach.

Source: The Guardian September 22, 2017 17:26 UTC