London's Famous Black Cabs to Be Available on Uber

Starting from the beginning of 2024, people will be able to call the famous black cabs in London via Uber. Those are very popular with tourists and Londoners and are a historic part of the capital's transport network. Uber reports this on its website.

"We work with taxi drivers around the world, and the message we hear from them is clear: Uber and taxis are better together. Black cabs are an iconic part of the capital, loved by Londoners and visitors alike, and we are proud to work side by side. The partnership is mutually beneficial: helping London's taxi drivers earn more, expanding travel options for passengers and improving the efficiency of London's transport network," commented Andrew Bram, General Manager of Uber UK.

The company says that the first London cab drivers have already registered with Uber. All new taxi drivers will not pay a commission for the first six months.

The taxi network says that this move makes London the last major city where local taxi drivers are working with Uber. Taxi drivers in Paris, New York, Rome, and major cities in 33 countries also use Uber for their rides.

However, according to the BBC, the London Taxi Drivers' Licensed Association (LTDA), which represents cab drivers in London and has more than 10,000 members, said that Uber had not consulted with it before making its "unilateral statement".

LTDA general secretary Steve McNamara said that joining Uber would "tarnish" the reputation of the historic transport network. He said the association's drivers "don't need this partnership" and that London's taxi drivers are already experiencing record demand and plenty of work.

"We don't believe our members would even consider joining Uber," he said. McNamara claims that the carrier has a disregard for passenger safety and workers' rights in London.

But Uber claims that a "small number" of taxi drivers have signed up, and it hopes to have "a few hundred" by January.

Uber was launched in London more than a decade ago. At the same time, BBC correspondent Tom Edwards, who writes about transport in the English capital, claims that for years the black cab community has hated Uber. Cabs were supposed to be the only taxis you could find on the street, but apps and smartphones changed that, and people started hailing Uber. Many taxi drivers thought this was unfair.

Uber has also not always had a good relationship with the London authorities, Edwards says. In 2017, it lost its licence after Transport for London, a local government organisation, accused the company of a "lack of corporate responsibility" that had "implications for public safety".