Overview

• Uber has launched cash payment options for car rides in UK cities outside London, marking a significant shift from its previously cashless model.
• The rollout follows successful 18-month pilots in Birmingham, Leicester, Nottingham, and Stoke, where cash payments were found to benefit certain groups of riders.
• Drivers can opt out of accepting cash due to safety or logistical concerns, and Uber will issue credits to customers if drivers cannot provide change.
• London remains excluded from the rollout as local authorities continue to review the cash payment option for the capital.
• The Treasury Select Committee has warned that the rise of cashless services risks marginalizing vulnerable populations, including the elderly and domestic abuse survivors, who often rely on cash for financial independence and privacy.