TfL must commit to ‘meaningful action’ should they wish to secure black taxi future, says Cabvision
Cabvision has issued a stark warning about the future of London’s taxi trade, calling for urgent reforms and action from Transport for London (TfL) to prevent further decline.
The payment solution and rental fleet provider claims that without specific privileges for taxis, the industry will continue to shrink.
Speaking on the issue, a Cabvision spokesperson argued that TfL must grant taxis unrestricted access to all bus lanes, low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs), and bus gates. This, they say, is vital to maintaining a competitive edge against private hire vehicles (PHVs).
“I have drawn the conclusion that unless taxis are genuinely afforded special privileges to access all roads and bus lanes controlled by TfL that there can be no way to reduce the decline, let alone turn it around,” said the spokesperson.
The statement comes amidst growing concerns that the mandatory retirement of EU5-compliant vehicles by 2027 will exacerbate the problem. Cabvision believes that without these privileges, the taxi trade will struggle to attract new drivers, further diminishing its value compared to PHVs, which have gained significant ground through e-hailing apps.
TfL’s commitment to environmental targets has also drawn criticism. Cabvision has questioned the decision to impose green requirements on taxis five years ahead of PHVs, describing it as a burden that has not been matched with equivalent enforcement of PHV regulations.
In a social media post, Cabvision outlined five key criticisms of TfL; including what they see as a failure to challenge PHVs plying for hire, restricted road access, uneven implementation of environmental policies, lack of enforcement, and insufficient efforts to address the recruitment crisis.
The comments highlight increasing pressure on TfL to provide tangible support for the black cab industry. With the traditional taxi trade facing challenges from all sides, the call for meaningful action is growing louder. The Mayor of London announced that TfL will be revealing a fresh Taxi Action Plan in the new year.
