Uber getting booted from London

Uber is losing its license to operate in London, its biggest market, according to the city’s transportation authority.

Transport for London (TfL) said on Friday that it will not renew the ride-hailing service’s license to operate in the city when it expires on Sept. 30.

“TfL’s regulation of London’s taxi and private hire trades is designed to ensure passenger safety,” the regulator wrote in a statement. “Tfl has concluded that Uber London Limited is not fit and proper to hold a private hire operator licence.”

{mosads}The regulatory body charged that Uber did not properly report criminal offenses and challenged how its medical certificates are obtained. TfL also said that it did not find Uber’s explanation of Greyball — controversial software Uber used to circumvent regulator oversight — to be sufficient.

“I fully support TfL’s decision — it would be wrong if TfL continued to license Uber if there is any way that this could pose a threat to Londoners’ safety and security,” said London Mayor Sadiq Khan. “Any operator of private hire services in London needs to play by the rules.”

The decision is a big hit to the company; Uber will lose its biggest market, where it has 40,000 drivers registered.

The San Francisco, Calif.-based firm will still able to appeal the decision before the Sept. 30 deadline, and can operate in the city until then.

Uber did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

London’s regulators had reportedly received pressure to boot Uber by black-cab driver groups, former Uber drivers and politicians, according to Business Insider.

The groups reportedly cited Uber undercutting taxis, not paying enough in taxes and putting passengers at risk as reasons for kicking it out of London.

Uber has been kicked out of other cities including Austin, Texas, and Berlin over safety concerns as well. The company, in the past, has aggressively fought regulators in some cities over instituting tighter scrutiny of drivers who could pose a safety risk to riders.