Uber UK is still planning on launching the ridesharing UberPool app in London despite ongoing threats of restrictions in the capital.
Andrew Byrne, the start-up’s head of public policy in the UK & Ireland, claims the launch will go ahead in the coming months, despite TfL’s plans to impose new curbs on the company (via Telegraph).
Byrne told a Parliamentary committee the launch of the service, which aims to unite drivers heading in the same direction, could help with its goal to “end car ownership in London.”
Planned restrictions – designed to protect black cab drivers – on minicab firms such as Uber would outlaw carpooling in public vehicles, but Uber is pressing ahead anyway.
Pushing back against allegations that Uber represents a “race to the bottom” Byrne strongly defended UberPool’s merits as a vital tool in the battle against congestion.
He told the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee: “That is technology revolutionising an industry, with far-reaching consequences on how people get around.
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See also: 100,000 Londoners back Uber following TfL proposals
UberPool is currently available in a few major cities around the world, including Boston, LA, New York, Paris and San Francisco.
Would you like to see UberPool hit that capital? Share your thoughts below.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
