Card payments in all black cabs in Reading from next year

All black cabs in Reading will be required to take card payments from passengers by next year, following a licensing committee decision made this week. A limited number of hackney carriages in Reading currently provide facilities for passengers to pay for their trips by credit or debit card. Following recent requests by members of the public for card payment to be made available in all black cabs however, members last night approved the installation of electronic payment devices as part of revised carriage licence conditions. Hackney Carriage drivers will also be asked to prominently display signage in their vehicles, making it clear that card payment is available. The revised conditions come into effect on January 2nd 2019. 

Councillor Tony Page, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Member for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport, said: “A growing number of people no longer carry cash and only use card payments on a day to day basis. It makes sense therefore to require all licensed black cabs in Reading to offer their passengers this choice of payment going forward. Cash payment will of course still be taken, but from January next year I’m pleased to say card payments will be an additional option in every hackney carriage in Reading.” Electronic payment devices approved by the Council will be used as part of the change, the cost of which will be covered by the hackney carriage owner as part of their licensing agreement with the Council.