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BLACK CABS ARE BACK FOR GOOD: City of London votes to make Bank Junction taxi access permanent after huge public backing
Black taxis will retain east-west access through London’s Bank Junction following a decision by the City of London Corporation’s planning committee to make the trial arrangements permanent.
City of London councillor Keith Bottomley CC confirmed the committee’s decision following a meeting in which he spoke in favour of retaining access for licensed taxis through the redesigned junction.
The decision follows a year-long trial and public consultation which attracted 3,939 responses. According to Bottomley, 88% of respondents supported allowing black cabs to travel east-west through Bank, including 68% of respondents who walk.
The vote represents a significant development for London’s licensed taxi trade, which has campaigned for improved access through the Square Mile following restrictions introduced as part of the Bank Junction transformation.
The junction has been subject to substantial changes in recent years, with restrictions on motor vehicle movements introduced to improve pedestrian safety, reduce collisions and prioritise public transport.
The permanent arrangements will allow black cab drivers to continue using the permitted east-west route, providing more direct access for passengers travelling through the City.
Bottomley said on LinkedIn: “At the planning committee today I spoke, along with others, in favour of making the trial of allowing black cabs back through the transformed bank junction permanent. The committee voted in favour.
“A safer, more accessible Bank Junction should not come at the expense of the people who rely on taxis to access the City.
“The argument in my view is about getting the balance right between pedestrian safety, public transport, accessibility and the continued vitality of the Square Mile.
“Black cabs are an essential part of London’s accessible transport network.”
Evidence presented during the trial also indicated an increase in taxi availability around Bank. Bottomley reported that the number of available taxis rose from 548 to 878 in a June year-on-year comparison, an increase of approximately 60%.
The figures suggest improved taxi availability in the area during the trial period, although they do not establish how much of the increase was directly attributable to the revised junction arrangements.
Pedestrian waiting times were also reported to have remained broadly unchanged. An additional nine seconds recorded during one morning peak period was not considered significant, according to Bottomley’s account of the evidence.
However, the decision comes alongside continuing concerns about road safety at the junction.
Bottomley acknowledged that the reported annualised casualty rate had increased from 5.67 to 9.0. He cautioned that the available information was limited and partly unverified, adding that no recorded collision involved a taxi and only two casualties occurred on the affected east-west corridor.
The councillor also recognised the concerns raised by pedestrians and cyclists, calling for continued monitoring and intervention where necessary.
The decision is particularly relevant to wheelchair users and passengers with mobility difficulties who depend on London’s accessible black cab fleet to reach businesses, offices, shops and other destinations across the City.
Restrictions at major junctions can require taxi drivers to take longer routes, potentially affecting journey times, metered fares and the availability of vehicles in surrounding streets.
For drivers, retaining the east-west route provides greater certainty over permitted movements through one of the Square Mile’s principal transport interchanges.
The committee’s decision also provides a potential reference point for future discussions about balancing pedestrian and cycling infrastructure with licensed taxi access elsewhere in the capital.
Bottomley concluded: “We should not ignore the legitimate concerns of cyclists and pedestrians.
“And we should continue monitoring, improve safety measures and intervene where necessary.
“But we should not solve one accessibility problem by creating another.
“The City must be a place for everyone – those who walk, those who cycle, those who use public transport and those who depend on black cabs.
“Keep Bank moving, keep it safe, but keep it accessible. I’m pleased that we have decided to make the taxi arrangements permanent.”
