Transport for London (TfL) has published a consultation on suburban taxi licensing as part of Mayor Boris Johnson’s pledge to listen more to the taxi trade.
Frequently voted by tourists the best in the world, London taxi drivers are also famed for the detailed ‘Knowledge’ test that every driver has to pass before gaining his first license.
The Knowledge
‘The Knowledge’ is so in-depth that psychologists have shown that passing the test can result in a measureable enlargement of the spacial part of the brain! Would-be cabbies work in their own time to learn literally thousands of streets, places and landmarks, so they can instantly plan the best way to get a fare to their destination.
In fact, there are two different levels of the Knowledge – each identified by a different license badge displayed on their vehicle. The all-London test is a massive undertaking, with most successful applicants qualifying after around three years of hard graft. The alternative is a suburban license, which limits the learning required to a specific surburban area and can be attained in around half the time.
Controversy
Suburban drivers are, in turn, limited to plying for hire in their home area. Inevitably perhaps, there has been a feeling among all-London drivers that some surburban drivers don’t always obey this restriction. This eventially led to a crackdown mounted by Transport for London last year.
The current consultation, however, is pitched not as an attack on surburban drivers but an effort to better define the two roles.
Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, explained: “Cabbies in suburban areas face a unique set of challenges and rightly want their voices to be heard.
“At the last election I made a clear pledge that we would listen to what the taxi trade had to say and that is precisely what this consultation is all about. The overarching aim, of course, is to deliver a better suburban taxi system that benefits drivers and the passenger they carry expertly from A to B.”
Prior to publishing the consultation document TfL organised two workshops, attended by London taxi drivers, to help collect their views and to understand key issues. The proposal was then released with an exhaustive list of questions for stakeholders. Amongst the consultation questions are three potentially contentious points:
- Should suburban drivers who wish to become all-London drivers be allowed to enter the examination system at an advanced stage?
- Should TfL introduce or amend regulations to allow taxi drivers to accept private hire, radio circuit or app bookings when outside their home license area?
- Should TfL introduce or amend regulations to allow radio circuits and app providers to give bookings to taxis regardless of the taxi’s location (potentially constrained to the Greater London area) without becoming private hire operators?
Division
There are many in the London taxi trade, however, who feel that the proposed changes will not benefit the industry as a whole.
Dial-a-Cab chairman, Brain Rice, holds concerns over the proposals. He believes that changes to the current structure will cause division between the two licence types.
Mr. Rice said: “Over the past forty plus years there has occasionally been some animosity between Yellow Badges and Green Badges but in recent times this doesn’t seem to have come to a head.
“The last thing we want is for a division between Yellow and Green Badge licence holders but it does seem to be heading that way. Perhaps that might suit some but it would be very unfortunate for the trade as a whole.”
Mr Rice is pushing for taxi drivers to voice their opinion on the consultation and reinforcing the importance of not relying on others to represent their views.
“There are some really contentious issues contained in the survey and I urge you to participate, as this topic could actually alter the future of our trade,” urged Mr. Rice.
Taxi Drivers Association
The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) will also be submitting a formal response to the consultation. It also favours keeping the rules and boundaries that are currently in place.
Commenting on the question of allowing suburban drivers to accept bookings via radio circuits and apps LTDA general secretary, Steve McNamara, said: “This suggestion would appear to undermine the entire Knowledge system.
“It will, in effect, negate the need for an extensive knowledge of an area for a hail accepted via an app, whilst insisting it would be illegal to do the same job via a street hail.”
Mr. McNamara continued: “This is blatantly unacceptable and unnecessary. If you want to work the central area, either on the street or through an app or radio circuit, you have to have the necessary Knowledge that we are world renowned for and what makes us the best in the world.
In fact, the consultation paper makes it very clear that TfL has ruled out any suggestion of suburban drivers working in town at night in times of short supply, for this very reason.”
McNamara stressed that the LTDA will be making it clear to TfL that they need to do all and everything they can that assists suburban drivers to increase their earning potential and secure their future in the areas for which they are licensed.
“At the same time, we oppose any suggestion that erodes or weakens the gold plated standard that London taxi drivers set and which is acknowledged as being a result of the Knowledge of London examination process.”
To comment on the consultation visit Transport for London here before the 11th April.