London bans Uber; firm can stay while it appeals

Citing its failure to disclose serious crimes and the use of “Grayball” software to evade regulatory oversight, London banned Uber today.

The company has 21 days to appeal the loss of its license to operate cabs, during with Uber is permitted to continue doing business.

London’s Licensed Taxi Drivers Association praised the decision. “Since it first came onto our streets Uber has broken the law, exploited its drivers and refused to take responsibility for the safety of passengers,” a spokesman told the Independent.

Uber’s London manager vowed to challenge the decision, arguing that it would hurt 40,000 Uber drivers in the city. “To defend the livelihoods of all those drivers, and the consumer choice of millions of Londoners who use our app, we intend to immediately challenge this in the courts,” he said.

There’s no love whatsoever in London for traditional cabbies, but Uber’s such a vile company that this is likely to bring it to heel as it did in other European cities. That said, never underestimate the political power of consumer convenience—especially in a city whose leaders don’t seem to understand why Uber is so successful.