LONG-TERM SURVIVAL: What is ‘Action 1’ of the new TfL Taxi and PHV Action Plan and how can it be achieved?
Updated: 1 day ago
Transport for London (TfL) has committed to reversing the decline of the capital’s taxi trade under a series of measures set out in its Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan 2025. The first priority, labelled ‘Action 1’ in the document, focuses on ensuring the long-term survival of the trade by improving access, infrastructure and recruitment.
The plan outlines a general policy of permitting taxi access to all bus lanes across London. This principle remains unless safety concerns, operational constraints or policy alignment with the Mayor’s Transport Strategy call for restrictions. In those cases, TfL has said proposals will be raised with stakeholders in regular forums, unless this cannot be done for practical reasons.
TfL has acknowledged that borough-level decisions also impact taxi movement and is urging London boroughs to match the access granted to buses, particularly in areas under their jurisdiction. While TfL oversees red routes and many major corridors, boroughs control a significant number of side roads and local streets. The ask is clear: where buses go, taxis should too.
The inclusion of taxis in bus lanes offers two practical outcomes. First, it provides black cab drivers with more efficient routing, reducing dead mileage and journey times. Second, it ensures that passengers using taxis continue to benefit from the speed and reliability expected of a premium service, particularly in areas where congestion has increased due to traffic calming or private vehicle restrictions.
Rank accessibility also falls under this first action. TfL has pledged to review the allocation, positioning and design of taxi ranks across London, with a specific focus on public transport hubs. The plan highlights the importance of ranks at rail stations, airports and key pedestrian locations. The aim is to increase availability, make ranks more visible and ensure passengers have convenient access to licensed taxis at high-demand locations.
Changes are also being explored to address a fall in the number of candidates applying for the Knowledge of London. This drop has long concerned the trade. The Knowledge is widely regarded as a rigorous test that ensures drivers possess an unrivalled understanding of London’s complex road network. However, length, difficulty and cost have been some of the factors that have discouraged potential applicants in recent years.
In response, TfL is reviewing the structure of the Knowledge to make it more accessible without lowering the standards required. Reforms may include a more streamlined approach to the process or digital enhancements to how the test is administered and supported. The goal is to increase applicant numbers while maintaining public confidence in driver competence.
As for delivery, the action plan does not fix specific deadlines or performance milestones for Action 1. However, it does suggest that stakeholder forums will be a key mechanism for monitoring progress. These forums, which involve representatives from the taxi trade and other transport sectors, will be used to raise concerns, table proposed changes and update on implementation.
The success of Action 1 will depend on cooperation across multiple bodies. Borough councils, often guided by different traffic policies and political priorities, may be hesitant to grant taxis full bus lane access. Similarly, changes to taxi ranks require coordination with rail operators, airport authorities and landowners, making timelines difficult to define or even achieve at all.
There is also the question of funding. Upgrading ranks and promoting the Knowledge may require resources not currently allocated. TfL will need to balance these needs against wider transport budgets that remain under pressure following the pandemic.
Still TfL has acknowledged the need to prevent further erosion of the trade’s reach and appeal. The black cab has long been a fixture of London’s transport system, offering a regulated and trained option for residents and visitors. The measures proposed suggest TfL wants to maintain this role, though much of the action now shifts to engagement, execution and borough-level cooperation, which is out of the regulator's control.
TaxiPoint will be running through each of the 14 Actions recommended in Transport for London’s Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan over the coming weeks. You can find coverage as it happens via our home page.
