Freenow by Lyft launches £500 bonus to attract more female black cab taxi drivers in London
- Perry Richardson
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
Freenow by Lyft has launched a £500 incentive aimed at attracting more female black cab drivers to its platform in London, as the company marks International Women’s Day 2026.
The taxi app said female taxi drivers who complete their registration with the platform by 31 March 2026 will receive a £500 bonus and benefit from a six-week period of zero commission on bookings made through the app.
The initiative is designed to encourage greater participation from women in the capital’s black cab trade, where female representation remains low compared with male drivers. Industry data has long indicated that women account for only a small proportion of licensed taxi drivers in London.
Freenow by Lyft said the offer forms part of a broader effort to support drivers through flexible earning opportunities and improved benefits linked to platform work.
Taxi app introduces incentive for women joining the platform during March to coincide with International Women’s Day 2026.
In addition to commission-free introductory periods, drivers using the app can access accident and sickness insurance as well as parental and compassionate leave provisions.
The company also provides partner drivers with a range of discounts aimed at reducing operating costs. These include savings on electric vehicle charging through partnerships with OVO Energy, bp pulse and Octopus Energy’s Octopus Electroverse network.
The announcement comes as industry groups and operators continue to examine ways to broaden participation in the taxi and private hire workforce. Recruitment challenges, high training costs and long qualification processes have historically limited the number of women entering the London taxi trade.
Danny O’Gorman, UK General Manager at Freenow by Lyft, said: “Being a black cab driver can be a rewarding and fulfilling career. International Women’s Day serves as a vital reminder of the need for greater representation across the entire transport sector. To support this mission, we are proud to help more women enter the taxi industry by offering meaningful financial incentives alongside the unique flexibility and essential protections provided through our platform.
“As of February 2026, there were over 16K licensed cabs in London, and women account for just under 3% of London’s licensed taxi drivers. It’s vital the industry works together to make the profession more accessible and attractive to a broader range of people.”
