For decades, taxi and private hire licensing in England and Wales has been the responsibility of local authorities. Councils set vehicle standards, determine fare structures for hackney carriages, establish local licensing policies and enforce the rules within their own areas. While this system allows local decision-making, it has also created a fragmented regulatory landscape that many in the industry believe is no longer fit for purpose. The question of whether licensing sh

When TaxiPoint asked whether licensed taxis should embrace dynamic pricing or continue relying on the traditional taximeter, the response from drivers was overwhelming. The majority of cabbies backed the meter, describing it as one of the defining features of the licensed taxi trade. Replies such as “Always the meter”, “Meter forever!”, “Meter every time” and simply “Meter” flooded the discussion, with many arguing that regulated metered fares remain the fairest system for bo

Lyft is exploring how drivers could potentially invest in autonomous vehicle fleets operating in their local markets, offering an early glimpse into how professional drivers might participate in the next phase of the mobility industry. Speaking exclusively to TaxiPoint, Lyft Executive Vice President, Jeremy Bird revealed that some drivers in US markets are already asking how they can become owners and operators within the autonomous vehicle ecosystem, rather than simply com