London black cab drivers have staged their largest protest in nine years over Transport for London’s decision to refuse their application for rank space outside The Shard skyscraper.
Hundreds of black cab drivers in the capital attended the protest, beeping their horns and displaying posters aimed at TfL, which lasted over an hour. The London cabs lined the streets from outside London Bridge station to the Elephant and Castle roundabout, south of the Thames River.
“No other choice”
The protest coincided with the opening of the exclusive Shangri-La hotel, which occupies floors 34 to 52 of the 1016 feet tall skyscraper. General Secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, Steve McNamara, said that the protest was only aimed at TfL and not at the owners of the hotel or building.
He said: “I’d like to apologise to anyone caught up in this but we felt we had no other choice.”
The Dispute
Transport for London has allowed taxi drivers to wait at a rank 120 meters away from The Shard and has installed a light signal that will allow the hotel concierge to call for a taxi as and when required.
But taxi bosses feel there is no reason why they can’t have a rank immediately outside the building which sits on a dead-end street.
McNamara said: “If we were trying to do this in Oxford Street I could understand TfL’s attitude. But that’s not the case. We’re not trying to solve the Middle East peace process; we’re just trying to put a cab rank in a blocked-off road.
“TfL only understand buses and bus timetables which is why we decided to blockade London Bridge station.”
Transport for London’s Response
TfL’s Chief Operating Officer for Surface Transport, Garrett Emmerson, said: “We are disappointed that some taxi drivers staged a demonstration today.
“We are aware of the taxi trade’s desire to have a rank closer to The Shard and have recently reached an agreement with the owners of the skyscraper that will enable a single taxi to rank directly outside the building.
“In addition a ‘taxi required’ light has been installed enabling The Shard’s concierge to signal taxi drivers on the nearby St Thomas Street rank to come forward and collect passengers.”