Uber will challenge plans by Boris Johnson to cap the number of minicabs operating across London, arguing that the move would mean “higher prices” for millions of travellers in the British capital.
The Mayor of London, who was elected as an MP this month, is pressing for new legislation that would limit the number of minicabs in the city.
The proposals, which are expected to feature in this month’s Queen’s Speech, are being seen as a direct attempt to curb the rise of the US taxi app group.
In a letter seen by the Financial Times, Jo Bertram, the head of Uber’s business in the UK, has requested the chance to debate the issue with the mayor directly.
She also complains that Uber is not yet represented on the board of Transport for London and has been shut out of other industry bodies from which it can better challenge the move.
“London is one of the great cities of the world and Londoners have embraced Uber’s technology; tens of thousands rely on us for their job and millions more use us to get where they need to go,” Ms Bertram said.
“Capping the industry’s ability to grow would mean higher prices and less availability for the millions of people who rely on Uber and services like ours to get around.”
Boris Johnson seeks to curb number of London minicabs
A London taxi is seen on a a taxi rank on the Aldwych in London, U.K., on Friday, May 4, 2012. Olympic tourists seeking to hire one of London's 9,000 black taxis during the events may struggle as drivers quit the streets in protest against travel restrictions. Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg
Boris Johnson wants to cap the number of minicabs operating across London, in an attempt to curb the rapid growth of Uber, the ride hailing app
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She added that new regulations should “protect people — their personal safety and their pockets — not hamper new innovations they value and that make their lives easier”.
Representatives for the Mayor of London’s office did not respond for requests for comment.
The letter is Uber’s first step in lobbying against the cap proposals revealed by Mr Johnson last week. “We must be able to take action against the threat posed by the massive increase we are seeing in the number of private hire vehicles,” he said.
Mr Johnson argues that the increase was to blame for greater congestion on London’s roads, more air pollution and the problem of illegally parked vehicles.
The number of minicabs in the capital has increased by nearly a fifth in the past year to more than 78,000. Uber has about 14,000 drivers in London, making it the largest provider of private hires in the city.
The rise has put pressure on TfL, caught between the popularity of Uber and incumbent taxi groups. The transport regulator is currently undertaking a review of the London taxi market.
London’s long-established black cab drivers have complained that a lack of regulation was skewing the market in Uber’s favour. The London Taxi Drivers Association has taken Uber to court alleging that the use of smartphones to log journey’s flags regulations.