‘BEST PLACED’: Taxi trade urged to lead recruitment drive for new Knowledge applicants as Mayor of London warns over black cab driver decline
- Perry Richardson
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
The Mayor of London has urged the taxi industry to take a more active role in recruiting the next generation of black cab drivers, as concerns continue over declining driver numbers and the future availability of accessible transport across the capital.
Responding to a question from Green Party London Assembly Member Caroline Russell about the impact of falling Knowledge of London student numbers, Sadiq Khan said the trade itself was best placed to promote the profession and encourage new entrants.
Khan said: “The taxi trade is well placed to promote the profession and encourage new entrants, and I encourage trade bodies to actively and positively support this, highlighting the essential role black cabs play in delivering accessible transport across London.”
The Mayor’s comments place responsibility not only on policymakers and regulators, but also on taxi representative organisations to help reverse a long-term decline in driver numbers that has become one of the sector’s most pressing challenges.
Sir Sadiq Khan has called on London’s taxi trade to take a leading role in attracting new drivers as concerns grow over the long-term impact of declining black cab numbers on accessible transport services.
Khan said the issue is already recognised within Transport for London’s Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan, which identifies falling driver numbers as a key challenge facing the industry. He pointed to measures including reforms to modernise the Knowledge of London while maintaining the standards associated with the profession, alongside wider efforts to improve the long-term viability of the trade.
The question from Russell focused on the implications for disabled Londoners. London’s black cab fleet remains the only transport service in the capital made up entirely of wheelchair accessible vehicles that can be hailed directly from the street.
Acknowledging those concerns, Khan said: “I recognise the vital role that London’s black taxis play in providing a fully accessible door-to-door service and the importance of sustaining driver numbers to meet the needs of disabled Londoners.”
The Mayor also accepted that continued declines could have wider consequences for accessibility. He said: “While there remains a substantial fleet of wheelchair accessible taxis, TfL recognises that any sustained reduction in driver numbers risks having a disproportionate impact on those who rely most on this service.”
The response comes amid ongoing debate about how best to attract new drivers into the profession as Knowledge of London student numbers remain significantly below historic levels. Industry leaders have repeatedly argued that recruitment and retention will be crucial if the trade is to maintain service levels and continue providing the accessible transport network relied upon by thousands of Londoners.
