Meh. Its really not. Uber isn't actually a new idea in london, we've had app bookable minicabs for a long time, through addison lee(and others). Now, Addison

Meh. Its really not. Uber isn't actually a new idea in london, we've had app bookable minicabs for a long time, through addison lee(and others). Now, Addison Lee are almost as odious to their staff as Uber are. However the genius of AL is the finance agreement between the drivers and the company. The company lease you a car, and you have the option to work when ever you want. But you have to get booking through their master system. and it only costs you 25% of each fair. Plus the £300 a week rental of the branded vehicle. This means that the have 100% control of their employees, and if a driver under performs, they are still liable for rental of the Addison Lee branded car. As a business model its awesome. As a moral proposition its pretty shitty. Drivers are contractors, liable for inflated costs and because they have no employment rights are forced to work round the clock to break even. Uber just goes one step further cutting overheads and offloading risk onto the user instead. Car not road worthy? just 1-star it! got raped by the driver? just 1-star it! got kicked off because your disabled? just 1-star it (but don't do it too often, remember in uber's Randian vision, its your fault for being weak and holding back the strong.) Fortunately the minicab rules are quite comprehensive in london: you need to have a clean record, ID, and a road worthy car. Anything less and its finesville and jail for you.