Citymapper
Request ID: FOI-3267-1819
Date published: 26 March 2019
You asked
Could I please request any records of phone calls, meetings, emails and any other type of relevant communication between TfL and the company Citymapper, which trades as Citymapper Limited. The timeline I would be looking for would be between 1 January 2018 and 4 March 2019.
I am specifically looking for records of conversations about:
- The Citymapper Pass, though it may not be described in emails with that precise phrase.
- Any discussions relating to competition between Citymapper and TfL.
- Any discussions relating to pricing of the Citymapper pass.
- TfL's reaction to the concept of the Citymapper pass.
- Any discussion around Citymapper's private hire taxi service.
The executives from Bird who may have been involved in conversations with TfL might be Azmat Yusuf, and Omid Ashtari. However there may be other Citymapper employees involved in these conversations.
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-3267-1819
Thank you for your request received on 4 March 2019 asking for information about communication with Citymapper.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we hold some of the information you require.
Please find attached an email chain between Citymapper and our Technology & Data team. In accordance with TfL’s obligations under Data Protection legislation some information has been withheld from the attached correspondence, as required by section 40(2) of the FOI Act. This is because disclosure of this personal data would be a breach of the legislation, specifically the first principle of Article 5 of the General Data Protection Regulation which requires all processing of personal data to be fair and lawful. It would not be fair to disclose this personal information when the individuals have no expectation it would be disclosed and TfL has not satisfied one of the conditions which would make the processing ‘fair’.
This exemption to the right of access to information is an absolute exemption and not subject to an assessment of whether the public interest favours use of the exemption.
Additionally, Vernon Everitt, Managing Director – Customers, Communication, & Technology, has had two conversations with Citymapper relating to their pass. Please find details below:
1. Telephone conversation with Azmat Yusuf on 8 February. General catch up in which Mr Yusuf mentioned that they were considering introducing their own ‘ticketing product’ but no further details were disclosed. There is no recorded information regarding this call.
2. Telephone conversation with Azmat Yusuf on 20 February. The TfL Press Office had started to receive telephone calls from the media about the ticketing product after Citymapper had conducted a media briefing. Clarification was sought on one point which was being put to TfL by the media in a way that we did not understand. Mr Yusuf was asked to explain the situation himself to the media outlet to make sure there was no misunderstanding. The following text message string is about this call on 20 February:
‘Azmat, can you call me urgently please? Vernon’
‘Azmat, I really need to speak to you now please. We have calls in from journalists asking us urgent questions. Vernon’
‘Spoke to ES, clarified point, no issue, hope they are trustworthy’ (Mr Yusuf to Vernon Everitt)
‘Thanks. I appreciate it.’ (Vernon Everitt to Mr Yusuf)
We do not hold any further information.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please feel free to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob
Senior FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London
[email protected]
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