‘REMAINS RELEVANT’: TfL backs RETAINING black cab turning circle rule despite Mayor of London ordering fresh review

Transport for London (TfL) continues to support the black cab turning circle requirement despite Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan instructing the transport body to examine whether the long-standing vehicle rule remains necessary.

A written response sent by Deputy Mayor for Transport Seb Dance to London Assembly Member Elly Baker on 25 August confirmed that the turning circle remains part of the Conditions of Fitness governing vehicles licensed as London taxis.

The letter seen by TaxiPoint follows comments made by Khan at Mayor’s Question Time, where he said TfL had been asked to consider whether relaxing the requirement could reduce vehicle costs and attract additional taxi manufacturers into the London market.

However, the latest City Hall response indicates that TfL currently regards the rule as an important operational feature rather than an unnecessary barrier to competition.

Dance said: “The turning circle requirement is a longstanding element of the Conditions of Fitness for London taxis. It was originally introduced to ensure that taxis could manoeuvre safely and efficiently on London’s streets, including in constrained locations such as narrow roads, taxi ranks, hotel entrances and transport interchanges.”

He added that the requirement had historically distinguished London taxis and contributed to their accessibility and operational flexibility across the capital.

The response said TfL keeps taxi licensing and regulation under review as a matter of good practice, but confirmed its present position remains in favour of retaining the existing specification.

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Dance said: “Transport for London (TfL) keeps all aspects of taxi licensing and regulation under review as a matter of good practice. They believe the turning circle continues to remain relevant and the two largest trade organisations have recently written to the Mayor declaring their support for the CoF in its current form, however I’m also aware that a small segment of the taxi trade feel a review is required.”

The organisations supporting the current Conditions of Fitness were not identified in the response but are believed to be the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA) and United Cabbies Group (UCG).

The wording places TfL’s existing assessment in tension with the Mayor’s recent public comments. Khan told London Assembly Member Alex Wilson that he had asked TfL to “think outside the box” about reducing the financial burden on drivers and said he could not, as a layperson, identify a strong reason for continuing with the requirement.

Wilson argued that the turning circle specification amounted to a market restriction because the LEVC TX is currently the only new vehicle approved for use as a London taxi. He said the lack of competing vehicles was contributing to high acquisition costs for working drivers.

Khan also said other manufacturers had expressed interest in supplying cheaper taxis if the requirement were changed. No manufacturers were named, and no proposed vehicles, prices or market entry dates have been made public, however the black cab Ford MAXiCab from Cab Direct has been heavily linked as a possible alternative should the existing Condition of Fitness change.

Dance said: “Should there be changes to relevant legislation, developments in vehicle technology, or compelling evidence that changes could benefit the taxi trade while maintaining the high standards of accessibility, safety and manoeuvrability expected of London’s licensed taxis, TfL could consider the issue in the future.”

He concluded in the letter to Baker: “At present, however, the turning circle requirement remains part of the Conditions of Fitness and vehicles wishing to be licensed as taxis in London must meet it.”

The latest response does not rule out a review permanently, but sets a relatively high threshold for reconsidering the policy.