Uber will be allowed to continue operating in London after a judge overturned a ban in the U.K. capital on Tuesday.
Uber was granted a 15-month license, with some conditions.
The regulatory agency Transport for London (TFL) accused Uber last year of showing a “lack of corporate responsibility” in relation to “public safety and security,” and failed to renew a license that would allow the U.S. ride-hailing service to operate in London. Uber had been allowed to continue its business in London while it appealed last October’s ban.
At the end of a two-day hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Judge Emma Arbuthnot ruled Tuesday that Uber could operate in one of its most important cities.
“We are pleased with today’s decision. We will continue to work with TfL to address their concerns and earn their trust, while providing the best possible service for our customers,” Tom Elvidge, general manager for Uber in the UK, said in a statement.
Through the hearing, Uber was accepting of its past mistakes. The ride-hailing app’s lawyer said that TFL’s 2017 ruling pushed the company to make changes.
These included reporting serious incidents to the police rather than leaving it up to riders and drivers to do so. In January, it introduced a mandatory six-hour safety break for drivers after 10 hours of work.
London is one of Uber’s most crucial markets. More than 3.6 million people in London regularly use the Uber app, and around 45,000 drivers use the service.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi took over the reigns last year from founder Travis Kalanick, whose leadership was fraught with scandals involving allegations of sexism and bullying. Khosrowshahi has been cleaning up the company, particularly as it prepares for a massive initial public offering in 2019.
Khosrowshahi told CNBC in a recent interview that Uber is on track to go public next year.
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Source: Tech CNBC
Uber allowed to operate in London again after judge overturns ban