New TfL taxi Action Plan sets ‘no clear plan’ on how it will reverse decline in taxi driver numbers, warns FREENOW
FREENOW are the latest to criticise Transport for London’s (TfL) new taxi Action Plan warning it has ‘no clear plan’ on how it will actually reverse the decline in taxi driver numbers.
FREENOW UK’s General Manager, Danny O’Gorman, has warned that without intervention, the capital could see the end of the black cab within 20 years.
The comments come in response to Transport for London’s (TfL) recently published 2025 Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan. While the plan acknowledges the shrinking number of licensed taxi drivers, critics argue it lacks any solid proposals to stop the decline.
O’Gorman said the industry’s ageing workforce and falling driver numbers “paint a grim picture for the future of London’s taxi industry”. He also criticised the plan’s failure to provide a strategy for retaining or attracting new drivers.
Recent research from the Centre for London has added weight to the concerns, suggesting the black cab could disappear entirely within two decades if trends continue.
FREENOW is calling for urgent steps, including changes to the Knowledge of London, keeping its quality but reducing barriers for new drivers. The firm is also pushing for financial support, such as interest-free loans for newly qualified cabbies.
The Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA) also hit out at the action plan, branding it a “missed opportunity” and saying it fails to deliver meaningful support for the trade.
O’Gorman, said: “A staggering 1,000 black cab drivers are leaving the trade each year, and this, combined with an aging driver population, paints a grim picture for the future of London's taxi industry. Despite the Taxi and Private Hire Action plan recognising this sustainable drop in cab numbers, it sets out no clear plan on how it will actually reverse this decline.
"Last week, a report by the Centre for London revealed that Black Cabs could become extinct within two decades. At FREENOW, we advocate for the swift implementation of targeted measures, including a clear strategy to retain and attract drivers, a revision of the Knowledge of London while preserving its gold standard and the introduction of financial incentives such as a new interest-free loan scheme for newly qualified drivers.
"Action must be taken now to safeguard the future of this vital service, which many depend on. It is essential that the Mayor of London and TfL outline clear and measurable actions and that they remain open to altering these measures if they prove ineffective."
