STICKY TOPIC: Should suburban London Yellow Badge taxi drivers be allowed to take app hails in Green Badge areas?
The debate over whether suburban (Yellow Badge) taxi drivers should be allowed to accept digital app hails in central London has long divided the trade. The issue raises questions about fair access to work, the role of technology in the industry, and the long-standing boundaries that separate Green and Yellow Badge drivers.
A recent TaxiPoint poll gathered 611 responses from London taxi drivers in the first 48 hours. The results were pretty comprehensive—88% believed suburban cabbies should not have access to work in Green Badge areas via app-based hails.
At the heart of the issue is the difference in licensing. Green Badge drivers spend years mastering the full Knowledge of London, granting them the right to pick up fares anywhere in the capital. Yellow Badge drivers are licensed only for specific suburban sectors, where they can legally accept street hails and pre-booked fares. Under current rules, Yellow Badge cabbies can drop off passengers anywhere but cannot ply-for-hire in areas outside their sector via street hails.
The rise of taxi apps has added a new layer to the debate. Supporters of allowing suburban drivers to take app hails in central London argue that technology should modernise the industry, making it more flexible for both drivers and passengers. Some believe apps are a form of pre-booking that should not be restricted by existing sector boundaries.
Opponents, however, see it differently. They argue that app hails function much like traditional street hails, which are strictly regulated under taxi licensing laws. Allowing Yellow Badge drivers to pick up work in Green Badge areas would, in their view, undermine the distinction between the two licences and blur the lines of licensing.
Another concern is the impact on Green Badge drivers who rely on central London work. Many believe suburban drivers operating in the capital via apps would dilute earnings for those who have completed the full Knowledge. During the quieter ‘Kipper’ months, the first quarter of each year, work is harder to come by meaning debate on the topic is usually a hotter one.
With an overwhelming majority of London’s cab trade opposing the idea, the message seems clear. But is there a place for Yellow Badges mopping up the work unfulfilled by Green Badges during the busier months to keep passengers warm to service and not looking at ride-hailing options instead?
The debate is unlikely to disappear any time soon.
One London cabbie, commented on allowing Yellow Badge drivers to work the apps in central areas, saying: “Allowing this to happen just undermines all the hard work we had to put in to achieve the coveted Green badge. So no it definitely should not be happening.”
Another cabbie added: “Of course they shouldn’t, if they want to work those areas then they should become a Green Badge.”
One taxi driver said: “I genuinely don’t really care. If someone wants to take an app job and give 20% of it away, that’s their choice. A lot of drivers don’t take app work any more, so I guess the Yellow Badge drivers are picking up what Green Badges won’t do.”
