London Cycling Commissioner 'DELIGHTED' as Supreme Court rejects taxi industry Bishopsgate appeal

London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner was ‘delighted’ as Supreme Court REJECTS taxi industry appeal application to allow access to one of the City’s main thoroughfares.

During the pandemic, Transport for London (TfL) introduced a controversial experimental scheme on Bishopsgate that banned through access to all cars, taxis and delivery vehicles on weekdays between 7am and 7pm.

The changes were heavily opposed by the licensed taxi industry as access through Bishopsgate at peak times diminished. It was argued that wheelchair users and other disabled passengers were now forced to take longer and more expensive routes around the Bishopsgate bus gates. The action resulted in a Judicial Review of the plans.

Despite initially winning the case, the Court of Appeal overturned the decision ruling in TfL’s favour in the summer 2021.

This week the Supreme Court ordered that permission to appeal be REFUSED, ending any further legal challenges.

A UTAG spokesperson said: “Our permission to the Supreme Court has not been granted. A disappointing decision and we will share a podcast we recorded tonight in the next few days with further details.

“Now we focus our attention on P4H (plying-for-hire) which is scheduled for the Court of Appeal next week.”

Will Norman, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said: “The Supreme Court has ruled on the appeal against the Bishopsgate case. The Court ordered that permission to appeal be REFUSED because the application does not raise an arguable point of law.

“I'm delighted this litigation is over & we can focus on making London's streets safer.”