London Banter - View Single Post

[email protected] · October 1st 15, 08:54 PM posted to uk.transport.london

In article ,
(tim.....) wrote:

One of the points I have issue with is the prohibition of "ride
sharing" (by customer choice).

Personally, I think that it should be encouraged, I can't understand
the Taxi "industries" dislike of it.

When travelling in e.g. Germany/Sweden/Finland (all personal
experiences), on arrival at the airport I can go to the taxi pick up
and chose to share a ride with other people going my way (at the
appropriate discount).

ISTM that there would be more punters for long distance rides if this
was available in the UK. I'm buggered if I'm going to walk up to the
rank for a 150 pound taxi for a journey I can do by train for 20
quid, but if offered the opportunity to share the ride with 2 others
for 50 quid each I would happily take it.

Why is the aversion to this so great that the authorities think that
they have to legislate against it, not for it (as other countries do)?

I agree that should be easier (it's not impossible, outside London at least,
now) but it's nothing to do with Uber as such. It needs changes in taxi law
much of which goes back to the days of horse-drawn hansom cabs.

--
Colin Rosenstiel