Private hire drivers in Edinburgh demand same access to bus lanes as taxis in open letter to council

Private hire drivers in Edinburgh are calling on the City Council to address what they describe as ongoing inequality in the city’s licensing and access policies. A letter sent by Edinburgh Private Hire Drivers United sets out a series of demands aimed at ensuring fair treatment across the local industry.

The group, formed in 2023, says it represents a wide cross-section of the city’s private hire trade. Members argue that while they share the same responsibilities and licensing standards as Hackney carriage drivers, they continue to be treated differently by the authorities.

One of the central concerns raised is the continued exclusion of private hire vehicles from Edinburgh’s bus lanes and gates. The group says this forces drivers onto longer routes, increasing congestion and emissions in contradiction to the Council’s stated environmental aims.

The letter also criticises the current policy on factory-fitted tinted windows, which the Council has banned from licensed vehicles. Drivers say this policy is outdated, costly, and based on assumptions that cast doubt on the robust vetting already required to hold a licence. They say alternative safety measures, such as mandatory CCTV, have been proposed but not acted upon.

A key message throughout the letter is the growing role private hire vehicles play in the city’s transport network. From school transport to tourism and late-night travel, the group says its members carry out hundreds of thousands of journeys every week and should be included in future decision-making.

The group is now asking for formal recognition and a role in shaping future policy affecting their trade. They are calling for equal access to road infrastructure, a reversal of the factory tint ban, and a seat at the table when regulatory changes are discussed.

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The full open letter to the Members of the City of Edinburgh Council reads:

Dear Members,

This letter sets out clearly what Edinburgh Private Hire Drivers United are asking for and why.

Founded in 2023, our group was created to unite drivers across the private hire trade and present our concerns to the relevant authorities with one clear voice. While many of our members are also involved in other organisations, this group exists to bring together drivers from all parts of the industry.

Trade representatives have repeatedly engaged with council officers and elected members on the issues raised below, but with no progress to date. Drivers now feel that the only way their concerns will be taken seriously is through the collective action we are undertaking today.

The private hire industry is a vital part of Edinburgh’s transport network. Every week, we complete hundreds of thousands of journeys: transporting vulnerable children to and from school, providing safe late-night travel, supporting the tourism industry through airport transfers and tours, and ensuring residents and visitors alike can move around the city efficiently. We are not a marginal part of the system — we are integral to it.

All private hire drivers now undergo mandatory training both at application and renewal stage — a requirement we fully support. We also pay the highest vehicle testing fees in Scotland and operate under some of the strictest licensing conditions in the country. We accept these responsibilities and take pride in maintaining high standards. Yet, despite this, we continue to be treated as second-class compared to the Hackney trade.

Hackney vehicles enjoy access to bus lanes and bus gates. Private hire vehicles, which are licensed to the same standards and pay the same fees, do not. This forces us to drive longer routes, adding to congestion and emissions on key city streets. We ask the Council to reflect on how this policy aligns with its stated ambition of reducing car kilometres and cutting emissions.

Another pressing issue is the ban on vehicles with factory-fitted tinted windows. Almost all modern vehicles are manufactured with these, and replacing them costs drivers thousands of pounds. The justification we have been given — that such windows increase the risk of sexual assault — is not only deeply insulting to licensed drivers, but also suggests a lack of confidence in the Council’s own robust background checks. We have proposed solutions, including mandatory in-vehicle CCTV to enhance passenger and driver safety, but these have so far been ignored.

What we are asking for is simple: to be recognised as part of the solution to Edinburgh’s transport challenges, not part of the problem. The taxi and private hire trade is evolving rapidly, with private hire now providing the vast majority of services — a trend we expect to continue. It is time to rethink the role of our industry in Edinburgh’s transport system.

In summary, we are asking for:

• Access to bus lanes and bus gates

• A relaxation of the window tint policy to allow factory-fitted tints

• A formal role in shaping all future policy decisions affecting the transport sector

We hope this letter, alongside the action being taken today by drivers, will lead to renewed engagement between the Council and the private hire trade, and that our concerns will be addressed urgently by the relevant committees.

Yours sincerely,

Edinburgh Private Hire Drivers United