New regulations – like the need for a proper English test – have led to Uber taking legal action against Transport for London (TfL), the London taxi and PHV regulator.
Karhoo’s founder and CEO, Daniel Ishag, the new cab comparison app, which has more than 30,000 cars in the capital alone, has written a letter to the Evening Standard accepting that while not everyone in the industry will like every new regulation there has to be a level playing field for all. Uber, black cabs and PHV-operators. More than 50 fleets across the capital have signed the letter.
Also, at a time when Mayor Sadiq Khan is extolling the values of London, it is not a good time for the industry to be at loggerheads with the authorities, or seen to be fighting amongst themselves. Competition is good for everyone – consumers and fleets alike – especially in a city that is home to more than 8.6 million people, many of whom are constantly commuting and moving around the city.
Daniel Ishag’s letter:
„Any industry needs to find a balance between draconian legislation that stifles innovation, and regulations that protect both workers and customers.
We at Karhoo, the new innovative technology driven cab comparison app, provide a platform for more than 30,000 licensed taxis and private hire vehicles in the capital. They support the Mayor of London’s proposed new regulations for the private hire industry. We are in favour because, on the whole, they will help create a level playing field for all.
Licensed taxi and mini cab fleets have been hit hard by Uber in recent years and the perception of incumbent fleets in the industry is that Uber is allowed to play by a different set of rules – the industry needs rules that apply equally to all.
Fleets on Karhoo may not like some of the rules, the black cab trade may not like some of them and Uber obviously doesn’t like them, but no industry of this scale is going to have regulations that everyone likes.
The fleets don’t mind competition, if that competition is fair.
Legal action by Uber will be seen by consumers as the whole industry fighting against these regulations and that is not the true position. We agree London wants to prove it is „open for business”, but for the benefit of all.”
Karhoo
24×7 Stansted
A1
A1 Cars
Abbey Cars (London)
ACX Express Ltd
All Night Cars Ltd
Barkers of Croydon Ltd
Cascade Cars
Charlton Cars Ltd
Clayhall Executive Cars Ltd
Clock Cars Ltd
Clocktower Cars
Comcab London
Commercial Cars and Couriers Ltd
Dial a Car
eConnect Cars Ltd
Emess Cars
Express Car Service
Expressways Ltd
Five Star Car Hire
Fleet Minicabs
Goldline Car Services Ltd
Green Light Cars
Grove cars
Herts Cars Limited
HML Executive Ltd
Minicab4Hire
Keen Group
KVC Transport
Liberty Cars
Swift Cars
Local Cars
Location Cars
Mornington Cars
Oakwood Cars
One 2 One Cars
Premier Cars
Premier Minicab Services UK Ltd
Roadrunners Minicabs Ltd
S-Express
Sherbets Minicabs
SkyEx
Stage Two Mini Cabs
Star Mini Cabs Ltd
Swiss Cottage Cars/iRide
Unicorn Transfers Ltd
Waterloo Car Hire