Black cab drivers are wrong to protest against Uber
This week’s black cab driver protest in Central London against the American taxi app Uber is a disgrace and it should be called off argues Matthew Steeples.
London’s taxis are an iconic part of our city but they are overpriced and run in a fashion that now has been shown to be as arrogantly orchestrated as that of the late Bob Crowe’s National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers and Ken Livingstone’s tenure as the head of the Greater London Council.
The cabbies’ protest – to be held on Wednesday from 2pm – aims to bring the area around Trafalgar Square to a standstill and could cost London’s economy up to £125 million. Up to 12,000 taxi drivers are due to participate and they claim to be doing so because they believe Uber to be an “American monster” and “upstart cowboy” operation that is threatening their livelihoods.
Uber, I would suggest, however, offers consumers a quick, efficient and cheaper alternative to black cabs. London is a city where you cannot walk out of the door without spending a small fortune and though cab drivers don’t like it, Uber is offering just what we all demand. It is time that cab drivers accepted that their monopoly needs to be quashed and that we, the public, are right to seek out services that provide better value for money.
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How dare you attack taxi drivers. Uber is a disgraceful company with no morals. It is wrong that they have invaded London and taken on the salt of the earth taxi drivers who are so dedicated to our city.
Well said. This Steeple Times is a right wing pile of bollocks. Shame on those that believe this bull. I’ll be at Trafalgar Square with my cab at 2pm.
Uber is a much needed breath of fresh air for London ( … and you do not have to listen to right wing rants from a Millwall fan driving .. )
What utter rubbish. I am a taxi driver and those of you who suggest we are right wing ranters are wrong. I vote Labour and live in a former council house. Chew on that mate.
Uber is the best. It’s so nice to not pay through the nose for a journey – especially after doing the same journey in both black cab and Uber car. Plus the Uber drivers are always proper chatty and decent – so many black cabbies are on the phone through my whole journey and I’m sure some of them smoke in their cabs.
And the funny part in all this? By the black cab drivers striking they’re making even more people aware of Uber. It’s like two children fighting over a toy, except Uber isn’t being childish.
Plus the brand activation potential with Uber is unlimited.
I’m a taxi driver. You talk utter bollocks.
It is rather over the top, and as hilarious as Sid James’s wife in Carry on Cabby, she decides to punish him by establishing a rival taxi company employing sexy provocative young women. If there is a will there is a way. Don’t protest, rather fight back. It is the spirit of free enterprise.
Black cabs are expensive and too often driven by rude arrogant ex-printing union Neanderthals. Some of the chaps and all the ladies are very nice and try hard. They have had it their own way for too long. The Knowledge is an anachronism in an age of computer navigation systems and is just a ploy to keep people out of the industry. I particularly hate cabbies who won’t open the doors until you tell them where you are going or who grunt instead of speaking. So rude. Another bugbear is that if the fare is £10.20 the cabbies will insist on the 20p but if the fare is £9.60 they will be insulted if you don’t just give them the £10. Addison Lee try much harder and their drivers are at least courteous even if they are sometimes late (and expensive). In this megalopolis we are not spoiled for choice. Looking forward to using Uber.
I am taxi driver and I take great offence at your bullshit comment. Bugger off.
Uber doesn’t pay tax in the UK (I read). Shame on them. I’ll stick to the black cabs thanks. Pay your taxes Uber.
The Steeple Times: A title with no wit and no wisdom. In reality: A title that tries to destroy the reputations of innocent and good men like Sir James Savile, Rolf Harris, Stuart Hall and Max Clifford and one that attacks hard working taxi drivers. The Steeple Times should be sued by all of the above.
The Crown Prosecution Service brought charges against Sir Jimmy Savile, Rolf Harris, Stuart Hall and Max Clifford and the nasty solicitors of the victims that made matters even more complicated. Meat is meat and a man must eat. They have no understanding and tolerance for people attracted to children,, that is the political correct term? The above mentioned extraordinary gentleman destroyed their own reputations, without the help of Steeple Times. I doubt the taxi drivers will support your cause, no matter how angry they may be…
Thanks Eddy for illustrating my point so concisely.
keep it simple? You are simple
Jeez I wish those who so openly support Uber would do their homework – they make them sound so squeaky clean! Never mind all the lawsuits across the world, just in the UK they are trading illegally, banks are urging their customers to delete the app to avoid being subject to Uber’s fraudulent charges and this multi billion company has the nerve to avoid paying tax in the UK. If they are so fantastic, why don’t they follow the law & pay their rightful taxes like all honest workers do (can’t they afford it from their 18.2bn Dollar pot?)
They are being sued in the US by their own drivers (oops sorry, don’t call them drivers, they’re ‘Partners’ as Uber don’t want to take on any responsibility…) You might want to take a look at this investigation from their home country… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkpozT1Sjcw&feature=youtu.be and decide just how much you’d like to be associated with them.
Any business that openly supports this and similar outfits should themselves be avoided as having questionable morals!!
Uber is brilliant and I am glad the taxi drivers are finally getting the punishment they deserve: competition.