Black cab drivers stage a protest over taxi app regulations

Hundreds of black cabs joined together outside Transport for London Headquarters in central London to protest over unlicensed minicabs. The taxi drivers staged the demonstration in Westminster on Tuesday 22nd May, which caused severe traffic around the area, in a demand for tougher restrictions on minicab drivers. Some protesters left their vehicles and blocked the road, holding placards which read 'Enforce the law' and 'TfL killing our trade' as police redirected traffic.

 Len Martin, chairman of United Cabbies Group, claimed TfL lacked a clear policy on services based on apps, such as that provided by online taxi-booking firm Uber. He said in a statement: “Unless TfL develop a policy to control these apps and how they work, what will they enforce? It will become even more of an out-of-control free-for-all than it is now. This is a real and present danger now and it’s getting worse by the day.”

However, Garrett Emmerson, chief operating officer for surface transport at TfL said “There is absolutely no justification for this protest because we are already doing the very things they are calling for. Just like the previous protest on Oxford Street, it will achieve nothing other than to disrupt life and business in London.”

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