<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"><head><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml><o:OfficeDocumentSettings><o:AllowPNG/><o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch></o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--></head><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:garamond, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px"><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_13110" dir="ltr"><span><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/business-41363923">http://www.bbc.com/news/business-41363923</a></span></div><div></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_14359"> </div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_14359" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/Vkapiyo/status/911171256044724231?t=1&cn=ZmxleGlibGVfcmVjc18y&refsrc=email&iid=93fff61a37184be1910660c7685c16ed&uid=628208981&nid=244+293670913" class="enhancr2_06b473cd-a6d2-3480-92b3-8ac6907d7aea" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_17723">Victor Kapiyo on Twitter</a><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_14359" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_14359" dir="ltr"><div style="margin-top: 18px; border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_17910"><b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_17911"><font size="3" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_17912">"Uber's use of secret software - called "Greyball" - which could be used to block regulators from gaining full access to the app, was also cited by TfL in its decision.</font></b><b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_17914"><font size="3" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_17915">The company rejected TfL's claims that it endangers public safety and said Greyball had never been used in the UK for the purposes cited by TFL."</font></b></div></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_17731"><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_14359" dir="ltr"><font face="Courier New, courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif" size="5" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_18070">Might the relatively equivalent NTSA know whether Kenya is "Greyball-ed". Might such investigations be part of its programming.</font></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_14359"><font face="Courier New, courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif" size="5"><br></font></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_14359"><font face="Courier New, courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif" size="5">Blessed day.</font></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_14359"><font face="Courier New, courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif" size="5"><br></font></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_14359"><font face="Courier New, courier, monaco, monospace, sans-serif" size="5" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_18072">Regards/Wangari</font></div><div class="signature" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_4605">---<br><font style="font-weight:bold;font-family:verdana, helvetica, sans-serif;" size="2" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_18035"><span style="color:rgb(127, 0, 63);" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_18036">Pray God Bless. 2013Wangari circa - </span><span style="color:rgb(127, 0, 63);" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_18034">"Being of the Light, We are Restored Through Faith in Mind, Body and Spirit; We Manifest The Kingdom of God on Earth".</span></font></div><div class="signature" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_4605"><font style="font-weight:bold;font-family:verdana, helvetica, sans-serif;" size="2"><span style="color:rgb(127, 0, 63);"><br></span></font></div><div class="signature" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_4605"><font style="font-weight:bold;font-family:verdana, helvetica, sans-serif;" size="2"><span style="color:rgb(127, 0, 63);"><br></span></font></div><div class="signature" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_4605" dir="ltr"><font style="" size="2" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_13114"><font color="#7f003f" face="verdana, helvetica, sans-serif" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_12748"><b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_12749"><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/business-41363923" class="enhancr2_6cf4c469-add9-ec7d-f9dc-4ddfcd700d8b" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_13113">What does the London Uber ban mean?</a></b></font><br></font></div><div><br></div><div id="enhancr2_6cf4c469-add9-ec7d-f9dc-4ddfcd700d8b" class="yahoo-link-enhancr-card ymail-preserve-class ymail-preserve-style" style="max-width:400px;font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" contenteditable="false" data-url="http://www.bbc.com/news/business-41363923" data-type="yenhancr" data-category="article" data-embed-url="" data-size="medium" dir="ltr"> <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/business-41363923" style="text-decoration:none !important; color: #000 !important;" class="yahoo-enhancr-cardlink" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"> <table class="card-wrapper yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="max-width:400px;"> <tbody><tr> <td width="400"> <table class="card yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;"> <tbody><tr> <td class="card-primary-image-cell" style="background:#000 url('https://s.yimg.com/vv//api/res/1.2/RICjqVImmi1ARPPGEnXqSw--~A/YXBwaWQ9bWFpbDtmaT1maWxsO2g9MjAwO3c9NDAw/https://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/5F25/production/_97975342_uberapplondonreuters.jpg.cf.jpg') no-repeat center center;background-size:cover;height:200px;position:relative;" background="https://s.yimg.com/vv//api/res/1.2/RICjqVImmi1ARPPGEnXqSw--~A/YXBwaWQ9bWFpbDtmaT1maWxsO2g9MjAwO3c9NDAw/https://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/5F25/production/_97975342_uberapplondonreuters.jpg.cf.jpg" bgcolor="#000000" valign="top"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:400px;height:218px;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;"><v:fill type="frame" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/vv//api/res/1.2/RICjqVImmi1ARPPGEnXqSw--~A/YXBwaWQ9bWFpbDtmaT1maWxsO2g9MjAwO3c9NDAw/https://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/5F25/production/_97975342_uberapplondonreuters.jpg.cf.jpg"/></v:rect><![endif]--> <table class="yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" valign="top" style="width:100%;"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background:transparent url('https://s.yimg.com/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV2/12/overlay-tile.png') repeat left top;height:200px;" background="https://s.yimg.com/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV2/12/overlay-tile.png" bgcolor="transparent" valign="top"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:400px;height:218px;position:absolute;top:-18px;left:0;"><v:fill type="pattern" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV2/12/overlay-tile.png"/><v:textbox inset="0,0,20px,0"><![endif]--> <table class="yahoo-ignore-table" height="185" style="width:100%;height:185px;min-height:185px;"> <tbody><tr> <td class="card-richInfo2" style="text-align:left;text-align:left;padding:15px 0 0 15px;vertical-align:top;"> </td> <td class="card-actions" style="text-align:right;padding:15px 15px 0 0;vertical-align:top;"> <div class="card-share-container"></div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <!--[if gte mso 9]></v:textbox></v:rect><![endif]--> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <table class="card-info yahoo-ignore-table" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:95%;max-width:380px;border:1px solid #e0e4e9;border-bottom:3px solid #429be8;margin-top:-40px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;"> <img class="card-object-1 yahoo-ignore-inline-image ymail-preserve-class" src="https://s.yimg.com/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV2/23/logos/bbc.png" height="32" style="min-width:32px;border:1px solid #e0e4e9;margin-top:3px;" data-id="b57e4fc9-22cc-583a-58f2-cafbe2bcee93"> </td> <td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:16px 12px;width:99%;"> <h2 class="card-title" style="font-size: 16px; line-height:19px; margin:0 0 4px 0;font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;word-break:break-word;">What does the London Uber ban mean?</h2> <div class="card-description" style="font-size:11px;line-height:15px;color:#999;word-break:break-word;">Taxi-hailing app Uber faces losing its London licence after a ruling from regulators in the capital.</div> </td> <td style="text-align:right;padding:16px 12px 16px 0;"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </a></div><div><br></div><div class="signature" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_4605"><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 28px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_4641"><br></div><h1 style="border: 0px; color: rgb(30, 30, 30); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 2rem; line-height: 1.125; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_16056">What does London’s Uber ban mean?</h1><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_16057"><div style="border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(219, 219, 219); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 8px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; vertical-align: baseline; min-height: 37px; overflow: auto; width: 645px; display: table;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_16058"><div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; display: table-row;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_16059"><div style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; -webkit-box-align: center; align-items: center; display: table-cell; float: left; min-height: 44px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_16060"><ul style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin-top: 12px; margin-right: 4px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; vertical-align: middle; list-style-type: none; display: inline-block; float: none;" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_16061"><li style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 2px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; display: inline-block;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_16062"><div data-seconds="1506090019" data-datetime="22 September 2017" data-timestamp-inserted="true" style="border: 0px; color: rgb(90, 90, 90); font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.8125rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.23077; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0; padding: 0px 0px 0px 28px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: url("../../../img/news--icons-sprite.png"); background-position: left -4011px; background-repeat: no-repeat;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_16063">22 September 2017</div></li> <li style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-image: initial; color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 2px 0px 2px 0.2em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em; vertical-align: baseline; display: inline-block;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_16064"><span style="color: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; clip: rect(1px 1px 1px 1px); overflow: hidden; border: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; !important; min-height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_16065">From the section</span><a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/business" data-entityid="section-label" style="border: 0px; color: rgb(166, 27, 27); font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.8125rem; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.23077; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(17, 103, 168, 0.3);" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_16066" class="enhancr2_30d32871-06da-9eb7-1247-d70b36fa67f5">Business - BBC News</a></li></ul></div><div><br></div></div></div></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 28px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_4641"><b style="" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_17894"><font size="3" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_17893">Taxi-hailing app Uber is set to lose its London licence at the end of the month after a ruling from regulators at Transport for London (TfL).</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 23px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_4642"><b><font size="3">However, the US tech firm has said it plans to appeal against the ruling.</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_4643"><b><font size="3">That has made it unclear whether Uber will stop being available to its 3.5 million customers in London.</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_4644"><b><font size="3">Uber also has more than 40,000 drivers in London, who now face an anxious wait to find out the fate of the company's licence.</font></b></div><h2 style="border: 0px; color: rgb(30, 30, 30); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_4645"><font size="3">What has Uber done wrong?</font></h2><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_4646"><b><font size="3">TfL has <a href="https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2017/september/licensing-decision-on-uber-london-limited" style="border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(17, 103, 168, 0.3);" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_4647">ruled it will not renew</a> Uber's private hire operator licence after it expires on Saturday 30 September.</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_4648"><b><font size="3">The body, which operates London's public transport network and regulates taxis in the capital, said Uber was "not fit and proper" to hold the licence. London mayor Sadiq Khan backed the decision.</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_4649"><b><font size="3">There were potential public safety and security implications from the way the company is run, TfL said.</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_4650"><b><font size="3">It pointed to Uber's approach to: reporting serious criminal offences; obtaining medical certificates; and background checks into drivers.</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_7949"><b><font size="3">Uber's use of secret software - called "Greyball" - which could be used to block regulators from gaining full access to the app, was also cited by TfL in its decision.</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_7950"><b><font size="3">The company rejected TfL's claims that it endangers public safety and said Greyball had never been used in the UK for the purposes cited by TFL.</font></b></div><h2 style="border: 0px; color: rgb(30, 30, 30); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_7951"><font size="3">So could Uber shutdown in London?</font></h2><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_7952"><b><font size="3">Uber has 28 days to lodge an appeal, and the firm has said it will do just that.</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_7953"><b><font size="3">Fred Jones, an executive for Uber UK, told the BBC that Uber would appeal against the decision through the courts and continue operating beyond 30 September.</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_7954"><b><font size="3">That could see Uber carrying on its operations for months to come, the BBC understands.</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_7955"><b><font size="3">TfL said Uber can "continue to operate until any appeal processes have been exhausted".</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_7956"><b><font size="3">Nigel Mackay, a lawyer at Leigh Day law firm, which has challenged Uber over its working practices, said Uber's appeal "could go all the way to the Supreme Court".</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_7957"><b><font size="3">"This could be a lengthy process and the timeline is very difficult to predict. Essentially, how long is a piece of string," he added.</font></b></div><h2 style="border: 0px; color: rgb(30, 30, 30); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_7958"><font size="3">Is there a loophole?</font></h2><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_7959"><b><font size="3">Could passengers in London still legally book an Uber even if the firm lost its TfL operating licence? In theory, yes.</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_7960"><b><font size="3">In England and Wales, passengers can book a private hire vehicle from anywhere they like - just so long as the driver, the vehicle and the operator are all licensed by the same authority, and the booking is processed in that authority's area.</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_7961"><b><font size="3">That doesn't need to be the same place the passenger wants to be picked up or dropped off. Uber has lots of licences outside London, and app-based services like Uber can process bookings almost anywhere they like.</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_7962"><b><font size="3">TfL aren't happy with this state of affairs and say they're lobbying the government to tighten up the rules.</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_7963"><b><font size="3">But for the time being, even if Uber lost their London licence, a passenger in the capital could book an Uber licensed in, say, Brighton - and it would be completely above board.</font></b></div><h2 style="border: 0px; color: rgb(30, 30, 30); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_7964"><font size="3">Can Uber's rivals capitalise?</font></h2><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_7965"><b><font size="3">London's traditional black cab drivers have fiercely opposed Uber's presence in London.</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_7966"><b><font size="3">And Uber - which was granted a five-year licence in London in 2012 - has proved a big threat to minicab firms too.</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_12698"><b><font size="3">TfL's decision provides a big opportunity for those minicab firms to win back customers, said Joseph Evans, an analyst at Enders Analysis.</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_12699"><b><font size="3">"If they fail at appeal and they can't get a licence to operate in London, obviously it's a huge opportunity for rivals," he said.</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_12700"><b><font size="3">"Behind the scenes, without many people noticing, minicab firms have rolled out very similar tech at competitive prices," he added.</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_12701"><b><font size="3">They now offer app booking, quicker pick-up, better transparency on where drivers are, and mobile payments.</font></b></div><h2 style="border: 0px; color: rgb(30, 30, 30); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; margin-top: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_12702"><font size="3">Hasn't Uber hit trouble elsewhere in the world?</font></h2><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_12703"><b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_17851"><font id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_17850" size="3">Yes. Uber left the Texas city of Austin last year after it lost a referendum requiring strict background checks on its drivers.</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_12704"><b><font size="3">The company has since returned after making some changes, and the same could happen in London, predicts BBC North American tech correspondent Dave Lee.</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_12705"><b><font size="3">Uber has also run into trouble in major European cities, including in Paris, Brussels and Madrid.</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_12706"><b><font size="3">In June 2014, taxi drivers across Europe went on <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-27802112/taxi-strikes-across-europe-over-mobile-service-uber" style="border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(17, 103, 168, 0.3);" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_12707">strike in protest</a> at what they regarded as a lack of regulation of the mobile taxi-booking service.</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_12708"><b><font size="3">In September that same year, a court in Frankfurt, Germany, ruled that the firm lacked the necessary legal permits to operate under German law. Uber later withdrew its services from Frankfurt, Hamburg and Dusseldorf after its business was hampered by regulations.</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_12709"><b id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_21514"><font size="3" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_21513">New laws for drivers <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-39419728" style="border-width: 0px 0px 1px; border-top-style: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(220, 220, 220); border-left-color: initial; border-image: initial; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; line-height: 1.375; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration-line: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(17, 103, 168, 0.3);" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_12710">introduced in Denmark</a> in 2016, including mandatory meters, also saw the company pulling out after less than three years of service in the country. The firm said in a statement that "regulations need to change" in order for it to operate.</font></b></div><div style="border: 0px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-family: Helmet, Freesans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.375; margin-top: 18px; vertical-align: baseline;" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_12711"><b style="" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_17898"><font size="3" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1506128789603_17897">Uber was banned in Italy earlier this year after a court in Rome upheld a complaint by taxi unions that the firm represented unfair competition for traditional taxis. The ban was later annulled following an appeal by the firm.</font></b></div></div></div></body></html>