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| Uber offers London black cab 'olive branch' | Uber offers London black cab 'olive branch' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Taxi hailing app Uber is to try to improve its relationship with London's black cabs by letting them use its app for nothing for 12 months. | Taxi hailing app Uber is to try to improve its relationship with London's black cabs by letting them use its app for nothing for 12 months. |
| The company said that from Tuesday, it would waive its 5% commission for black taxis for a year. | The company said that from Tuesday, it would waive its 5% commission for black taxis for a year. |
| But a cab drivers' association said it would be "amazed if any drivers decide to take up Uber's offer". | |
| There has been friction between Uber and some cabbies, who have said the app is "unfair competition". | There has been friction between Uber and some cabbies, who have said the app is "unfair competition". |
| Jo Bertram, regional general manager of Uber in the UK, said: "London's cabs are famous the world over because they are an iconic part of our city's transport infrastructure. | Jo Bertram, regional general manager of Uber in the UK, said: "London's cabs are famous the world over because they are an iconic part of our city's transport infrastructure. |
| "It's why the impact of apps like Uber on traditional taxis has generated such a heated debate in the capital. | "It's why the impact of apps like Uber on traditional taxis has generated such a heated debate in the capital. |
| "We believe that black cabs and Uber can coexist." | "We believe that black cabs and Uber can coexist." |
| Protest planned | |
| But Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association said: "With over 15,000 cabbies registered with specific taxi-hailing apps like Gett and Hailo, we would be amazed if any drivers decide to take up Uber's offer." | |
| The offer has been launched on the eve of a planned protest by cabbies affiliated with a separate drivers' association, the United Cabbies Group. | |
| Uber offers black cab 'olive branch' |