PUBLIC SERVICE: Taxis should ‘UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES’ pay future road pricing fees says trade rep

A London taxi representative has said black cabs should ‘under no circumstances’ pay any future road pricing fees should the scheme be introduced.

The comments follow the Mayor of London’s plans to explore road pricing schemes that could charge motorists by the distance travelled, time travelled and potentially the location of travel in the capital.

According to The Guardian in January, the Mayor Sadiq Khan suggested London should become a leader in introducing smart road pricing. A report found car journeys needed to be cut by more than a quarter to meet net zero emissions targets by 2030.

The plans have already prompted one taxi driver representative group, the London Cab Drivers Club (LCDC), to ask regulators Transport for London (TfL) to consider the role of black cabs as a public service. Officials were also urged to view the rapidly greener fleet of wheelchair accessible taxis as a ‘solution’ to congestion and air quality concerns in the capital.

Grant Davis, LCDC Chairman, said via LCDC.UK: “The point was made to TfL that under no circumstances should TfL and the Mayor be looking at Licensed Taxis to be paying any “pay per mile” scheme.

“We are Public Transport and as such if TfL and the Mayor are really serious about cleaning up the air quality in London and reduce private car usage, then we really are part of the solution and not the problem.”

Davis concluded: “This today was the start of a very serious conversation about road pricing and I know that I for one will be objecting at every stage in Licensed Taxis having to pay.”