Uber drops UberPOP in Netherlands

Uber has given up the fight to keep UberPop in the Netherlands. The controversial taxi service, with which unlicensed taxi drivers use their own cars to drive customers around, will no longer be available in the country from Friday afternoon, Uber announced on Wednesday. According to Uber, the decision was made "because the service forms an obstacle to a constructive dialogue on modernizing existing laws and regulations". "With this step we hope to again get a constructive dialogue going with politics." Uber offered UberPop drivers the possibility to become drivers for the remaining services - UberZ, UberBLACk or UberLux - but expects that few will take this option "due to the high costs involved with meeting all legal requirements." UberPop was first declared illegal by the Environment and Transport Inspectorate and later by the court. This resulted in a number of UberPop drivers arrested and regular taxi drivers running them off the road. The Inspectorate also fined Uber for every UberPop driver caught. UberPop was available to only regular customers for some time, but this service will also no longer be available from Friday.