Mayor of London rejects removal of taxi turning circle, claiming increased fares and journey times
Updated: Aug 6, 2023
The Mayor of London dismissed the idea of removing a black cab's iconic turning circle as it may ‘lead to longer journeys and increased fares for passengers’.
Sadiq Khan dismissed the idea of removing the iconic turning circle requirement for black cabs following a proposal put forth by London Assembly Member (AM) Caroline Pidgeon. The Lib Dem AM suggested that by removing the requirement from Transport for London's (TfL) conditions of fitness it could help reduce the cost of new taxis.
However, Mayor Khan highlighted that the turning circle is just one factor contributing to the price of a new London taxi. He emphasised that black cabs are specially designed or heavily modified to meet various licensing requirements, including the ability to perform U-turns on narrow streets and wide-ranging accessibility features for passengers with disabilities or mobility impairments.
Mayor Khan further explained that the turning circle plays a crucial role in ensuring passengers pay the lowest possible fare for their taxi journey. Taxi drivers, utilising their in-depth knowledge of London, can calculate the most efficient route for passengers in an instance. The turning circle allows them to swiftly alter their course, thus avoiding unnecessary detours to find safe turning points.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said: “The turning circle is only one of a number of contributory factors to the price of a new London taxi. A taxi is, typically, a bespoke vehicle or a vehicle that has undergone significant adaptations to meet licensing requirements, which include the turning circle (the ability to undertake a ‘u-turn’ on much narrower streets than most other vehicles) and a wide range of accessibility requirements to allow wheelchair users and passengers with disabilities or mobility impairments to more easily travel in London. “Transport for London (TfL) believes the turning circle remains integral to the overall design of the London taxi. The turning circle is a necessary requirement due to the ability for a London taxi to be hailed on street, where a passenger may flag down a taxi which is travelling in the opposite direction, and also the use of taxi ranks where the passenger may wish to travel in the opposite direction to the direction that the taxi is facing whilst waiting on the rank. “The turning circle also plays an important role in ensuring passengers pay the lowest possible fare for their taxi journey. Taxi drivers, using their Knowledge of London skills, will calculate the best route to get passengers to their destination and the turning circle helps to ensure they can quickly alter course to achieve this.
“For example, if a passenger engages a taxi from a rank facing south but their destination is north then the taxi can turn from the rank without having to travel a distance in the opposite direction to find a safe turning point. The absence of the turning circle may therefore lead to longer journeys and increased fares for passengers.“
