Number of TfL licensed London black taxi drivers drops below 17,000 for first time in over FOUR DECADES
The number of licensed taxi drivers in London has plummeted below 17,000 for the first time in over four decades, according to new Transport for London (TfL) data.
Currently, 16,998 drivers hold licences in the capital, with approximately 15,000 authorised to operate across London on ‘green badges’, and the remainder holding ‘yellow badges’ for suburban areas.
In response to the declining numbers, the London Assembly recently united to pass a critical motion, urging the Mayor and TfL to tackle the mounting challenges facing London’s black cab industry.
This call to action highlights a 37% reduction in licensed taxis since 2011, a sharp contrast to the rise in private hire vehicles, which have surged by 57% in the same period. Only 0.4% of these private hire vehicles are wheelchair accessible, unlike the universally accessible black cabs, underscoring accessibility concerns for the city’s residents.
Yet, with rising costs of electric taxis, insurance, and charging facilities, support for cab drivers to make the transition has waned. The Government’s discontinuation of key funding initiatives, such as the Taxi Delicensing Scheme and reductions in the Plug-in Taxi Grant, is now creating financial obstacles for drivers who are yet to adopt ZEC vehicles.
