Black Cab trade boost proposed by London’s mayor

London’s mayor has announced a list of measures which are to support the black cab trade amid growing competition from the private hire sector.

Sadiq Khan has come forward and pledges that the number of taxi ranks will increase from 500 to 600 over the next four years with 20 more bus lanes operational for cabbies to use.

He went on further to state that he wants the Knowledge to be accredited as a formal qualification which would allow applicants to apply for study loans.

Come 2017 £5000 grants will be put in place to scrap old and more polluting taxis.

TFL will also feature taxi information via its online journey planner by summer 2017.

Mr Khan has also set out his intention to push ahead with the new rules for private hire drivers such as Uber.

The new rule includes drivers being required to pass an English test involving reading, writing and listening tests as well as more robust insurance regulations.

As previously reported Uber claims the proposals would pile “extra costs” for licensed private hire drivers and they are still going ahead with the High Court challenge against the rules.

Mr Khan has said he was “determined to drive up standards and improve safety for every passenger in London, while protecting the future of our iconic black cabs that provide a unique and invaluable service for London”

The plan has been welcomed by the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association however the RMT union, which represents taxis drivers, stated that it was “bitterly disappointed” that certain issues had not been addressed by the mayor such as ‘illegal plying for hire and abuse of regulations’