Was just about to post this myself, it's an excellent summary of what the dispute is really about. Also includes some history; I hadn't realised that Hailo was British in origin, or that TfL had the same legal structure as a local authority.
Except that, like other articles I've read about the dispute, it talks only about Uber/ULL and its transgressions in isolation. Stats about number of offences are provided, but without context. Where are the comparable numbers for other minicab firms (of which there are many)? Are ULL's offences per ride/mile higher or lower than the worst/best/median minicab firm?
Well, yeah, they're the only ones currently trying to renew their license.
> Where are the comparable numbers for other minicab firms (of which there are many)?
Utterly irrelevant when it comes to renewing Uber's license. Much like if I was to apply for, oh, a pharmacist license and using "But Frank has dealt more meth than I have!" as justification. Utter nonsense.
(Also the operation of "greyballing"!)
On a broader note, as with all Uber discussions, we will get to the pained point of unfair treatment of Uber by incumbents and regulators. Contrast that with the general SV ethos that one should break the rules to win. Given both of those, would it be fair to say that Uber getting chided and blocked here (and there, and there, and there) is an indication that maybe they're not that good at breaking rules? In other words, who is out there succeeding who is under the radar and is not being scorned for a cavalier approach to rule-breaking?
Deliberately and systematically evading investigation is a clear sign of bad faith. Mea culpas and time-to-fix-it are good faith arrangements; they've screwed that pooch hard.
Is that what other minicab firms do?
Uber seem to be reporting crimes where they are the victim (the article says they report a lot of small fraud) but not crimes where others are the victim.
Which leaves an interesting thinking experiment: would Uber report a murder? The victim obviously can't report it. It would be illegal for Uber to do anything to assist the murderer in escaping the law, e.g. by cleaning the car etc; but would they actually report it?
No, but there is a requirement as part of London's minicab license to do so in "severe" cases, and to report to TfL in less-severe cases.
Except Uber is a company not a person and not reporting crimes left them without a license.
If they still have their license, I believe they do.