Transportinfo.org.uk - today's transport news in the uk, hand picked for you each morning

Saturday, 23 September 2017

BBC News

• M4 relief road could end up in courts, Labour AM saysThere could be a legal challenge over the new motorway, a Labour AM claims.
• Outrage or relief?Transport for London (TfL) has said it will not renew the ride-hailing app firm Uber's licence.
• Wrong type of barrier causing delay to A9 road openingA small section of the safety barrier on the new stretch of dual carriageway did not meet specifications.
• Road-repairing budget set to run outAny repairs being carried out after October
• Uber London loses licence to operateRide-hailing app Uber is
• Vauxhall: Luton distribution centre marks 50th yearVauxhall's main distribution centre in Luton was one of the largest facilities in the country when it opened in 1967.

ITV News

• Hundreds of thousands sign 'save Uber' petition after decision not to renew company's London licence Hundreds of thousands of people have signed a 'save Uber' petition after Transport for London stripped the firm of its licence in the capital.

Financial Times

• Investors ride more than one cab with stakes in Uber and rivalsWhile car-booking companies battle for supremacy, investors hedge their bets
• Uber comes to end of ride at London’s City HallRegulator and mayor line up against ride-hailing service as ‘fit and proper’ operator
• Driven to despair — the hidden costs of the gig economySigning up with the likes of Uber or Deliveroo offers flexibility, but the isolation and stress can take their toll
• London Uber drivers in shock as some face unemployment‘Who is going to give me a job now?’ asks Pal Singh as he echoes concerns of others
• Uber vows to challenge loss of London licenceCompany deemed not ‘fit and proper’ operator over safety record and crime reporting

The Guardian

• Mixed reactions after Uber stripped of London license – videoTaxi company Uber was stripped of its London licence on Friday after it was deemed the company is not a 'fit and proper' private car hire operator. London mayor Sadiq Khan says he fully supports the decision to revoke Uber’s licence, but there was mixed reaction on the streetsUber stripped of London licence due to lack of corporate responsibility Continue reading...
• London’s Uber decision might be unpopular, but it’s the right one | Toby MosesUber is cheap, convenient and by and large safe, but it has serious flaws too. No company deserves a free pass just because it’s popularThe initial horrified response to Transport for London’s decision to remove Uber’s licence to operate in the capital seemed to be rather too focused on the mild inconvenience to its customers. There was a palpable sense that this tech unicorn was a serious source of progress in big city travel, and that its removal would be a step back into the wilderness. Of course, minicabs did exist before Uber, and will continue to after Uber is gone, but the revolution br...
• Uber deserved to lose its licence – Londoners’ safety must come first | Sadiq KhanOur city is a hotbed of innovation and entrepreneurship. That’s because it’s renowned as a place where everyone has to play by the same rulesFrom the steam engine to the web, Britain has a long history of inventing and embracing brilliant new technology, often with London leading the way with the very latest developments.In recent years, we have seen great leaps forward in areas such as green technology, medical innovations and contactless payments on the underground, but also with mobile phone applications that can make the lives of Londoners easier – whether it’s ordering food, renting a fla...
• More than 400,000 sign petition to save Uber as firm hits back at London banStrong online support for the ride-sharing firm as chief executive vows to show that it is a ‘great company meaningfully contributing to society’Hundreds of thousands of people have signed a petition calling for Transport for London to reverse its decision to strip Uber’s licence in the capital. The campaign Save Your Uber in London was set up by the ride-sharing firm on the Change.org website after it was announced on Friday that it would not have its licence renewed when it expires on 30 September. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Uber vows to fight TfL decision to block London licenceUber has vowed to appeal after Transport for London said it will not be issued with a new licence and was “not fit and properâ€� to operate in the capital.
• Fuel price cuts ‘a welcome relief’ after rises following Hurricane HarveySupermarket giants have cut fuel costs following a series of price hikes in the wake of extreme weather.
• Uber driver says 40,000 face financial disaster over London licence decisionThousands of Uber employees will have to deal with huge costs as they face unemployment after a “disastrousâ€� decision by Transport for London (TfL) not to renew the firm’s licence, a driver has said.

The Scotsman

• Councils in Scotland dismiss need for review of Uber operationsScottish councils have ruled out a review into the operational licence of controversial private hire firm Uber, despite transport bosses in London announcing the taxi-hailing app would not have its permission to work in the city renewed when it expires at the end of the month.

The Telegraph

• Uber ban divides opinion - how Telegraph readers, Londoners and black cab drivers reacted
• What does Uber losing its licence mean for Londoners - and when will the service shut down?

Times Online

• Jaguar Land Rover comes to defence of its original [Subscription]Only days after ambitions for a “spiritual successor” to the Land Rover Defender were revealed, it has emerged that the maker of the original has threatened to put a dent in the plans.
• Uber app could be barred in 40 towns and cities [Subscription]Uber’s future across the UK was thrown into doubt last night after councils confirmed that they would consider the outcome of the decision to bar the company in London.
• Passengers declare black cab boycott over Uber licence ban [Subscription]The mayor of London was at the centre of a public backlash after transport authorities banned Uber from operating in the city.

Mail Online

• Car used to film bad parking caught blocking a pavement Mother of three Laura Arlington, 32, saw the car on the pathway in Rochester, Kent close to a secondary school.

Birmingham Post

• This is Birmingham City Council's response after Uber is axed in London Transport for London says Uber is not fit and proper to operate there - this is what Birmingham says about the firm

Bolton News

• Why one stretch of road resurfacing cost half a MILLION pounds HALF a million pounds has been spent on resurfacing a main road in Horwich — and the price tag has been described as 'indicative' of the current problems facing Bolton's highways department.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Council 'continuing to monitor' Uber's Bradford operations after London revokes firm's licence Bradford council is

London Evening Standard

• Uber London ban reaction as it happened: TfL strips app of its licenceUber has been stripped of its licence to operate in London.
• 'London just got more expensive': Uber users hit out at shock TfL licence decisionFurious Londoners have hit out at the decision to strip Uber of its licence.
• Uber licence ban in London is good for the city, says black cab boss Steve McNamaraThe leader of a group representing the capital's black cab drivers today said the Uber licensing decision was "a good thing for us, a good thing for London and a good thing for Londoners".
• Uber ban: Londoners call for boycott of black cabs after TfL decisionA dramatic move to strip Uber of its licence today sparked calls for Londoners to boycott black cabs.
• Uber alternatives in London: From Gett and Kabbee to MyTaxi, apps you can use after shock TfL banThe ride-sharing app's operating licence has been revoked in London
• Uber petition calling on London ban to be reversed backed by more than 200k people in hoursA petition set up by Uber calling on Transport for London to reconsider plans to ban the firm has been backed by more than 200,000 people in a matter of hours.
• Electric alternatives to your fossil-fuelled SUVThe dawn of the electric age doesn't mean you necessarily need to trade in the ride-height and comfort of your SUV
• Uber: Major UK cities have no plans to follow London in banning taxi-app Cities across the UK have said they have no plane to follow Transport for London's example in stripping controversial taxi-app Uber of its licence.

Manchester Evening News

• Rival minicab firms leave customers bemused after merging then splittingClub Cars and New Moon are engaging in a text message battle to compete for business

The York Press

• York drivers pleased over Transport for London's Uber ruling THE licence for controversial travel app will be retained in York, despite being revoked in London.

Wales Online

• This is the advice on whether you should lock your car doors when you're driving Should I lock my car doors while driving? Will my doors unlock if I crash? All of these questions answered

Other Regional Press

• Northamptonshire council report highlights A43 safety concernsSafety improvements, including closures of dangerous junctions on the A43, have been highlighted in a report by South Northamptonshire Council (SNC).
• CONCERNED: Parents’ fears on school transport A school and council chiefs have reassured concerned parents about what they claim were
• Petrol prices hit six-month high with drivers in drivers in small rural towns left reeling by price storm UK petrol prices have hit a six-month high as drivers in small rural towns have been left reeling by a price storm that has added 4p to a litre and more than £2 to a tank of petrol, according to the latest AA Fuel Price Report.

Buying Business Travel

• TfL rejects Uber licenceUber's London licence will not be renewed

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Licensing decision on Uber London Limited (Image Source: Daily Mirror) Transport for London (TfL) has informed Uber London Limited that it will not be issued with a private hire operator licence after expiry of its current licence on 30 September. TfL’s regulation of London's taxi and private hire trades is designed to ensure passenger safety.  Private hire operators must meet rigorous regulations, and demonstrate to TfL that they do so, in order to operate. TfL must also be satisfied that an operator is fit and proper to hold a licence. TfL has concluded that Uber London Limited is not fit and proper to hold a private ...

Other News Sources

• Transport for NHS patients is ‘improving’PATIENTS have given a mixed response to a new transport service across Sussex.
• Uber vows to take TfL to court over London ban Uber has slammed TFL for London licence move as legal battle looms
• M3, M4 and A3 planned roadworks and closures over the weekend and next weeA lot of work is planned for the M3 and M4