DISGRUNTLED CABBIES
“To ensure we are discussing the same terms, when we and our clients refer to a “Geofence”, we are referring to a specific notification on the Uber app that appears when a driver is within a certain radius (1 mile, our clients suggest) of Weybridge station - the notification warns drivers not to come onto or near the hackney rank, and it asks them to leave the area in order to receive another job.
(l-r) Tahir Mahmood, Yasir Sarfraz & Miroslav Podlecki
Uber. They are welcome to contact me via email should they still wish, but I am not really sure how I can assist.
“We do not issue Uber with an operator licence, and consequently none of their drivers are licensed by this authority.”
And our solicitor replied to Uber London:
“Our clients are somewhat confused by your letter and would be grateful for clarification. In particular you say that:
1. A Geofence is already “active” (you do not say where, but we presume that you mean Weybridge station as that is the station in question) to mitigate the risks of an Uber driver using a hackney rank; and
2. That you are happy to meet with Elmbridge Borough Council to discuss the “set up” of a Geofence.
“We do not understand the above as they seem to be contradictory statements - do you mean that a Geofence is already active, or do you mean that you are prepared to make one and to liaise with Elmbridge Borough Council to do so?
“If you mean the former, then our clients have confirmed, via speaking to several Uber drivers operating in the area, that no such Geofence currently exits.
PHTM NOVEMBER 2024
“Likewise, customers booking Uber drivers should not be able to see drivers (on the app) who are within that specified radius. This is to ensure that Uber drivers do not disrupt the business of hackney carriage drivers or park illegally on the rank.
“We would be grateful if you could confirm that you are describing the same notification when discussing a Geofence. Please also confirm that the process to install such Geofence of 1 mile around Weybridge station is underway.
“We have copied in our contacts at Elmbridge BC licensing team, who have kindly agreed to assist, where required, with any discussions in installing the Geofence, as suggested in your letter.”
We are so frustrated and feel we are going round in circles. Uber has implied they could impose the Geo- fence once they have had a meeting with the council. What we don’t understand is why Elmbridge BC does not want to communicate directly with Uber and arrange this meeting to put an agreement in place as a matter of urgency and so protect their local taxi trade.
We have read in PHTM and seen on PHTM Facebook page that this problem is happening on ranks all over the country, yet few councils are taking direct action.
However, Elmbridge hackney drivers are not willing to lose our livelihoods. We will continue to fight against cross-border TfL Uber vehicles working in our borough and will persist in putting pressure on all involved to do something.
Thank you PHTMfor supporting our trade! Kind regards
Miroslav Podlecki On behalf of Elmbridge hackney carriage drivers
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