Where are taxis in the Government’s future transport plans?
The UK Government has launched a public consultation to gather evidence for shaping the nation’s transport systems over the next decade. The call for ideas, available on the Government’s website, invites input on developing an integrated national transport strategy. Surprisingly, however, taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs) are absent from the conversation.
The omission raises significant questions. Taxis and PHVs are integral to the mobility landscape, often bridging gaps in public transport networks and serving as critical last-mile solutions. Their exclusion from this consultation appears to overlook their potential contribution to a seamless and inclusive transport strategy.
Central to this discussion is the concept of Mobility as a Service (MaaS). This emerging approach aims to combine various modes of transport into a single, digital platform, enabling users to plan, book, and pay for multimodal journeys. MaaS is heralded as a transformative tool for city planners, offering the promise of reduced congestion, lower emissions, and greater accessibility.
Taxis and PHVs naturally complement the MaaS model. They excel in offering flexible, on-demand services, especially for last-mile journeys that connect users to key transport hubs. Furthermore, they provide accessible travel options for those with mobility challenges—an essential feature for any inclusive transport system.
Yet the absence of taxis in the Government’s call for evidence raises concerns about whether their role is being fully appreciated in these long-term plans. Transport strategies should encompass all modes of travel, particularly those that ensure accessibility and flexibility, to deliver on the promise of MaaS. The Government’s consultation remains open for contributions.
