It appears Londoners are not happy with Transport for London’s decision to strip Uber’s licence in the capital after more than 500,000 signed a petition urging them to reverse the ban.
Save Your Uber in London was set up on the Change.org website after it was announced the firm would not have its licence renewed when it expires on September 30.
The petition quickly gained more than half a million signatures, 24 hours after the decision was made public on Friday morning. The petition followed a short time later.
Londoners took to Twitter to share their views shortly after the announcement was made, some posting hilarious memes.
how're we going to get places now!? If anyone suggests I'll have to speak to taxi drivers again I'll have a tantrum #uber pic.twitter.com/N2ySDMjFzV
— Matt James (@matt_james89) September 22, 2017
Me jogging a few miles towards my house after a night out so I can reduce the black cab fare #Uberban #uberlondon pic.twitter.com/h82YdjhUcO
— Anu (@anu_akinola) September 22, 2017
After #Uber ban in London, this is how people will go to home 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/V43PxB7cIa
— Md Asif Khan (@imMAK02) September 22, 2017
We're not happy about it at WildBrain HQ, but hey, we can have some fun with it too! #UberBan #DustingOffOurCars pic.twitter.com/DDIwzN0Ljw
— WildBrain (@WildBrainKids) September 22, 2017
Kajal Odedra, UK director at Change.org said: “That is the fastest growing petition we’ve seen in the UK this year.
“The speed with which this grew shows how powerful online campaigning can be.
“In just 24 hours we’ve seen hundreds of thousands of people start and sign petitions on either side of the Uber/TFL debate.
“Sites like Change.org show how quickly the voices of ordinary citizens can become part of a debate between corporations and Government departments – a debate that previously would be held behind closed doors.”
Sign the petition to save your Uber in London and 40000 drivers’ livelihoods https://t.co/tKcbZNw9Wp #SaveYourUber pic.twitter.com/TJXcUTaICb
— Uber UK (@UberUK) September 22, 2017
Uber, which is used by 3.5 million people and 40,000 drivers in London, has hit back, saying it will appeal and claiming the move “would show the world that, far from being open, London is closed to innovative companies”.
A union representing Uber drivers said its members face going bust as they rely on money from fares to pay for their cars.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he wants London to be “at the forefront of innovation and new technology” but insisted that companies must “play by the rules”.