UBERK CHICAGO

An Uber passenger was subject to the most uncomfortable ride of his life where his driver seemingly received oral sex from a prostitute, and the company attempted to apologize by offering him a mere $10 credit.

Aner Manuel claims he was stuck in an Uber for two miles while an intoxicated prostitute groped and performed oral sex on the driver.

The horrified customer posted footage of the 'most dangerous and inappropriate ride ever' on social media after the incident in Chicago around 3am on July 17.

In the clip, a woman is seen kissing the driver and then lowering her head into his lap, while mood music plays over the stereo.

After the ride-hailing service allegedly offered him a $10 credit, Manuel posted the video online to prompt Uber to appropriately respond to the complaint.

The video, believed to have been filmed on Snapchat, shows an alleged Uber driver looking at a phone's map while a woman in the front seat begins to kiss him.

As the man drives, he continues to kiss the woman but tells her to stop when she aggressively grabs hold of his shirt collar.

The video cuts to the woman seemingly performing oral sex on the driver as he looks at directions and drives the car.

Manuel can then be heard telling the driver to pull over so he can exit the car.

In a Facebook post, Manuel clarified that his ride wasn't an UberPool and said he thought maybe the front seat passenger was a family member.

He wrote: 'As I approached my Uber, I noticed there was a passenger in the front seat. I double checked to make sure I didn't select UberPool, and then approached the car.

'I assumed it may have been a family member of some sort. As we pulled off the female in the front (who was clearly on drugs) attempted to open the door and could not even sit straight as the vehicle was in motion.'

Manuel continued: 'She then began to grope him and grab him. They began to kiss and she began loosening his belt.

'As we got further and further from my pickup location I had no idea where I was, so I had to stay in the car. She then proceeded to perform oral sex.
'This was my last straw. I asked the driver to drop me off. Since I've contacted Uber and they refunded me for trip and gave me a "$10 credit".

'They've seen this video and are still "investigating". They have been extremely bad at answering any messages I've sent, and I demand something gets done. This is not okay!'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4726962/Uber-driver-filmed-receiving-oral-sex-prostitute.html
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Hull Private Hire Association says 'dangerous' shortage of taxi drivers down to tough council registering rules

People are walking long distances late at night rather than wait for a taxi


A "dangerous" lack of taxis in the city could be fixed if Hull City Council relaxed the way new taxi drivers are registered according to Hull Private Hire Association.

Magnus Murray, secretary of the group, says a chronic shortage of taxi drivers means people are opting to walk long distances because they cannot book cars late on some evenings.

Mr Murray said some party-goers were told they would have to wait for hours on Saturday evening for a taxi.

The owner of 706 Cars said: “People are having to wait hours for taxis and it isn’t safe. It’s not just on weekends either. There can be lots of drivers working but there is such a demand at the minute that we just need more in Hull.

“When people are having to walk for miles because they are unable to get a taxi it is dangerous. We need more drivers, at least 300 hundred drivers would be needed to help sort this out.

“But it’s not even just a City of Culture thing. Last year we told the council there would be problems but they didn’t sort it."

But Mr Murray said taxi companies would be able address this shortage if it was made easier for new drivers to register in the city.

Currently, all new drivers in Hull need to pass a BTEC as well DRS checks in order to register.

Mr Murray says the process is costly and time consuming, putting unemployed people off entering the industry and addressing the shortage.

http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-east-yorkshire-news/hull-private-hire-association-says-234150
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UBERK UK.

The growth of app-based Uber is meaning that traditional taxi firms are losing out, according to new research.

The turnover of the top 100 UK taxi and minicab firms has fallen for the first time in five years, as Uber increasingly strengthens its market share, research by accountancy firm Moore Stephens has found.

Turnover for these UK taxi firms dropped by £16 million between 2015-16, the first time the industry's profits had dropped since 2011-12.
It comes after recent reports in the New York Times about the 'cabby wars' taking place on London streets. There are around 40,000 Uber drivers currently operating in London, compared with 21,000 traditional London cabbies. Uber's fares are often up to 30 per cent cheaper than traditional black cabs – adding to the competition cab drivers are facing.

Phillip Bird, of Moore Stephens, told The Times: "Uber has offered value and convenience to the customer, so traditional taxi companies in cities need to consider how they deal with that."

Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) said in response to the news: "Uber has so far been given free rein to squash its competitors and the time has come for the government to bring forward legislation to level the playing field by creating national minimum licensing standards, and giving local authorities the power to cap the number of private hire vehicles in our cities.

"Until this happens, the taxi and minicab industries, and drivers, will continue to suffer at the hands of Uber."

https://www.aol.co.uk/cars/2017/07/24/uber-squeezes-traditional-taxi-firms-market/
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CAMBRIDGE DRIVERS ABOUT TO GET THE BLUES

Blue taxis and training for drivers as Cambridge looks to improve taxi service

A ban on licensing older cars could also be on the way as public consultation launches.

The city’s taxis could all turn a fetching shade of “Cambridge blue”, and drivers may be trained to recognise child exploitation as councillors discuss changes to improve services in the city.

A consultation will be launched to see what the public makes of a raft of ideas, which are intended to make Hackney Carriages in the city better.

Amongst the things the public is to be consulted on is a ban on licensing any vehicles more than four years old, which the council says is an opportunity to improve poor air quality in the city.

The consultation will also look at whether or not taxis should have to carry first aid kits and fire extinguishers.

Councillors also agreed to consult the public on a request to drop the stipulation for drivers to carry first aid kits and fire extinguishers.

A letter to the committee from taxi driver Michael Peacock said that in 23 years, he’s never had to use his fire extinguisher or first aid kit. He said the stipulation to carry them should be dropped as he would be liable if someone suffered an allergic reaction due to the use of one.

Cllr Moore, however, said: “The point of fire extinguishers and first aid kits is not that they have never been used, you hope they should never be used. If you have a fire extinguisher you can help if there’s a disaster, and if you have a first aid kit, you can patch people up.”

Cllr Jeremy Benstead says he has been calling for some time for a standardised livery for taxis.

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/blue-taxis-training-drivers-cambridge-13378221