Uber has been given a 15-month reprieve in London by a British court.
Uber has been granted a 15-month probationary license by a British court on Tuesday, which will allow it to continue operating in London.
The ride-hailing service argued successfully that Uber had made significant changes to its business and corporate culture after Transport for London, the city’s regulatory body for public transportation, declared Uber unfit to serve the city. The agency said Uber had failed to vet its drivers, who had been involved in a series of sexual assaults.
Uber’s “approach and conduct demonstrate a lack of corporate responsibility in relation to a number of issues which have potential public safety and security implications,” Transport London said in its decision.
However, Uber was allowed to continue operating in London during the appeal process.
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Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has made an impact on the company in the short time he's been there.
If Uber had lost its appeal and its license to operate in London it would have been locked out of one of the world’s largest markets. But during the past nine months, Uber has taken steps to clean up its act in the hope of winning back its license.
Tom Elvidge, general manager of Uber in the United Kingdom, told the London press after the ruling the company was “pleased” with the Westminster Magistrate’s Court decision on Tuesday and planned to continue working with Transport for London “to address their concerns and earn their trust, while providing the best possible service for our customers.”
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Uber also had argued it was a critical part of the city transit network, noting four in 10 trips start or end near a train station or London Underground stop, helping provide a solution for the first or last mile in getting between places.
The Silicon Valley also is adding an around-the-clock support hotline for passengers and drivers, limits on driver hours and advisory groups, and taking steps to make sure drivers can use only Uber in the area where they are licensed, among other changes.
(To see more about Uber shutting down its self-driving operations in Arizona, Click Here.)
One Change.org petition to “save Uber in London” racked up more than 850,000 signatures.