TfL unveils 14 new measures as part of five-year strategy to back taxi and private hire sector in London
Transport for London (TfL) has announced a new five-year action plan aimed at addressing challenges faced by the capital’s taxi and private hire industry.
The Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan outlines 14 measures to support the licensed trade as part of London’s wider sustainable transport network. It follows significant changes since the first plan was published in 2016, including a fall in the number of licensed taxis and drivers, growing safety concerns, and the continued need to improve air quality.
The plan confirms that taxis will retain access to bus lanes where possible. TfL will also push boroughs to allow black cabs to use bus lanes on local roads.
TfL is seeking further powers from Government to tighten enforcement. This includes action on cross-border hiring, issuing fixed penalty notices, and regulating booking platforms.
Driver training is also being expanded. New voluntary online courses will cover customer service, safety, and wellbeing. Disability Equality Training will be introduced, developed with input from disability groups.
Efforts to modernise The Knowledge are also set to continue. Earlier updates included a published list of 6,000 potential assessment points. A revised Blue Book is in progress, alongside discussions with the trade to explore further use of technology and improve the process.
Taxi rank provision will be reviewed, focusing on location, layout, and access at transport hubs. TfL also intends to push for ongoing government support, including retaining the plug-in taxi grant and removing VAT from wheelchair-accessible vehicles and public charge point usage.
The plan has been shaped by feedback from the taxi and private hire trades, councils and passenger groups. TfL will now work with these partners to implement the proposals.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the new plan is designed to support the trade through a challenging period and maintain high service standards for Londoners and visitors.
Khan said: “London’s black taxis have a rich history and play a vital role in keeping London moving and providing an accessible door-to-door service, and I want to ensure they keep doing so for years to come.
“At a time when the taxi trade and private hire industry face huge pressures, this new action plan will help to bolster and protect them, retaining and attracting more drivers to the trade and ensuring high safety standards for both passengers and drivers, building a better, fairer London for all.”
Christina Calderato, TfL's Director of Strategy, said: “London’s taxi trade and private hire industry are crucial to the success of the capital’s transport network. The actions set out in this new plan will enable us to attract taxi drivers from all backgrounds, ensure passengers’ and drivers’ safety, ensure consistently high standards and continue to reduce the environmental impact of taxis and private hire vehicles. We’ll continue to work closely with the taxi trade and private hire industry and our partners to ensure that London has safe, accessible and green taxi and private hire services, recognised across the world."
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