• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

News and entertainment worth sharing – York and North Yorkshire

  • News
  • Things to do
  • Radio
  • Community
  • More
    • Food & drink
    • Business
  • About
    • Comments
    • Advertise
    • Contact us
  • Radio
  • WIN
  • Vouchers
  • Listen live »
City of York Council voter ID campaign

Watch: Uber drives the wrong way up York city centre street

Wed 20 Feb 2019 @ 7:03pm - News, Politics, Transport
YorkMix

Uber drivers still operate in York

This is the moment when an Uber driver emerges on to a busy York junction – the wrong way along a one-way street.

The driver emerged out of Blake Street into oncoming traffic from St Leonard’s Place, before turning left onto Museum Street.

The footage – only the latest to show traffic violations by Uber drivers unfamiliar with York – prompted taxi drivers to say how worried they are about the dangers this poses to residents and visitors.

Cycle Heaven
Cycle Heaven #Ad

As Richard Newby, a private hire and Hackney carriage driver in York for 20 years, said: “How long before someone gets seriously hurt in York by drivers operating unlawfully in an area they have no knowledge of?”

The video was taken at about 12.30am on Saturday 2 February.

Danger to others


Uber have not had a licence to operate in York since the council voted to not to renew it in December 2017.

But Uber drivers licensed elsewhere can still work in the city.

Mike Palmer, secretary of the York Private Hire Association, told YorkMix:

  • With so many out of town vehicles operating illegally and regularly for Uber in York we are used to their low standard of driving.

    With these people relying on their sat navs instead of local knowledge it’s hardly surprising they are a danger to other road users.

    You can’t see what’s happening through the five foot window when you’re looking at a five inch screen, can you?

More worrying than basic driver errors are “the serious issues surrounding the jobs they do where they pick up off the street without a booking. These jobs are uninsured and in the event of a crash would any damages ever get paid?

“I wonder if the cyclist involved in a collision with a Leeds Uber near Clifford’s Tower at Christmas, or the Wakefield one who crashed on Monkgate roundabout were covered?”

Very worried

Taxis line up on Lendal Bridge in a 2017 protest against Uber
York taxi leaders commissioned a legal opinion from a barrister who specialises in licensing issues, which argues that out-of-town Uber vehicles and their drivers are illegally operating in York.

The council is still waiting for its own legal guidance. Mike said:

  • We’re very worried about the consequences of all these dangerous drivers.

    As professionals on the streets, we are the ones who see the safety of the roads getting lower, and know these drivers are ripping passengers off by taking the longer routes.

    We’re doing everything we can to help people who aren’t aware of the help they need, or the reasons for it.

When offences are reported the council does carry out investigations, he said. But, “as with everything, the department which deals with these complaints is overworked and underfunded”.

Related YorkMix stories
  • Taxi drivers call for ‘toxic, unregulated’ Uber to be banished from York
  • Holy moly! Potholes increase by 500% in York
  • ‘We want bustice!’ Petition calls for public inquiry into York’s public transport

Wed 20 Feb, 2019

2 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Terminator
3 years ago

I saw one go down the bus lane from Morrisons car park to James street about 3 months ago no regard for a bus or passengers if there was one there.

0
Lord mike
4 years ago

Quite agree i saw local taxi driver over take a line of cars at the hospital and nearly knocked a person down on the zebra crossing that the traffic had stopped for.

0

Footer

YorkMix
News 01904 848 766
Email YorkMix news »
5-6 King's Court, Shambles, York  YO1 7LD
YorkMix Radio
General enquiries 01904 375 029
Studio/competitions 01904 375 030
Email YorkMix Radio »
Selby Superbowl, Bawtry Road, Selby  YO8 8NA
YorkMix is a trading name of YorkMix Media Ltd
Registered in England
Company number: 07814727
VAT number: 154 0364 34
© York Sound Ltd

Copyright © 2023 YorkMix Media Ltd

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
wpDiscuz