Ground Transport Group - Cabs Across Bank asks for your help to restore Taxi access to restricted routes in central London

Cabs Across Bank (CAB) is campaigning for Licensed Hackney Carriages to have access across Bank Junction and other currently restricted streets in the City of London 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year – 24/7/365.

CAB believes that Licensed Hackney Carriages (also popularly known as “Black Cabs”) should be able to go where buses go including use of bus lanes and other routes or manoeuvres permitted for buses authorised by Transport for London.

CAB would like to see similar restrictions lifted elsewhere across London.

Black Cabs are an integral part of London’s public transport system and lifting restrictions is important:

For accessibility – to provide access everywhere for those with mobility challenges
For safety – to ensure they are available across London all hours to ensure safety of women or vulnerable users
For tourism and hospitality – Black Cabs are world-renown for being safe and trusted by visitors to London
For businesses – who rely on Black Cabs for fast, readily available transport. They are a reason why businesses choose the City and Central London to have offices

Black Cabs are increasingly pollution free with around 50% now all electric representing an environmentally friendly transport alternative.

The data is clear in that whilst Black Cab availability has returned to near pre-Covid levels in the West End and other parts of London, the ability to hail a cab in the City of London remains a significant problem during the day and at night. In particular around Bank Junction and the surrounding areas.

Here is what some drivers are telling us:

I’ve been a London Taxi Driver for over 30 years and with Taxis not allowed through Bank Junction its embarrassing telling disabled passengers and people with luggage and other heavy goods you have to go all around the houses for their destination sometimes doubling the fare its not right. (Steve H)
As an experienced Licenced Taxi Driver, I have serviced the whole of London for many years. I normally work in the evenings in to the night. In years gone by, the City of London, especially around Bank Junction was a great place to visit and service and many a satisfied Customer I picked from there and transported to all over London and many times further afield. In the last couple of years, I have stopped travelling to get work in the City of London. This is due to the limited access and huge inevitable delays in other road around Bank Junction. Its just not worth the effort. I now tend to stay in the West End where there are less restrictions. On two occasions in the last year I have picked business passengers up in the West End and transported them to Hotels in the City of London. Both times I was I formed of the difficulty they experienced hailing a Taxi when in the City of London. One Customer said it took him 35 mins to get a Taxi the previous day. These business people said in future they would not stay in the City as the Taxi service was very poor. These are comments from Business people. I don’t service the City anymore due to earning less money in the City. (William B)
35 years driving a taxi. For the last 3 years I refuse to go anywhere near the city mid afternoon into the evening I keep well away [from the City] (Alfie)
I will always take a customer to the city when asked. Some destinations are extremely difficult to access and once I have completed my job I will always leave the area as quickly as possible. The chance that I may get a job that in the past could have been completed without any problems now may entail such a diversion that often passengers will ask “why have we gone the long way “! I would love the opportunity to drive more in the city and in the past was a great source of work, it’s such a shame that myself and colleagues feel they are being purposely pushed away from being able just to do their work in the best fashion. (CJW)
As a London cab driver, I now try and steer clear of the city. The ridiculous road restrictions make once simple journeys much longer and therefore more expensive. Having to explain to every passenger why you are taking them ‘the long way’ is tiresome. (Steven)
I’ll take a fare to the city with an explanation (if needed) about any route deviation due to restrictions and usually an apology about the traffic. Once that fare is done I turn off my light, and drive back out of the City. If someone approaches me wanting a cab, I tell them that I’m unavailable. I have no interest in working in the City. The restrictions cause traffic and mean that longer congested routes are the only options available. I’d rather leave the City and work where I can actually move. (Name supplied – wishes to remain Anonymous)

If you are Cabbie and you are being driven away from the Square Mile we would like to hear from you. Please email with your experience.

Please support the Black Cab trade by emailing your support and reasons why you would like to see Black Cabs having access across Bank Junction and permitting them to go where buses go.

Please email: [email protected]
For further information on why this is important click here.

We will use your responses to provide evidence to the City of London Corporation and Transport for London to improve your ability to find and hail taxis in the City.

CAB is not aligned to any trade body or user group. It has been established to gather evidence from taxi users to support the opening up of Bank Junction to Black Cabs 24/7/365.

Thank you for your interest and help.