SUPER SATURDAY: 175% increase in London taxi card payments compared to previous week

Card payment data from ’Super Saturday’ showed a 175% increase in the number of payments taken in taxis compared to the previous Saturday.

The latest data, released by taxi payment solution provider Cabvision, shows the continued steady growth of card payment volumes in London since lockdown started.

In other data provided by taxi industry sources, Fridays have historically been the busiest day each week. However, according to Cabvision, Super Saturday’s card payment volumes were 22% highier than Friday 3 June.

Colts Cabs, one of London’s biggest licensed black taxi rental firms, has posted daily figures on the number of transactions completed via card payment terminals since cabbies started returning to work in May.

Whilst the number of transactions remains just a fraction of the number compared to pre-COVID-19 working levels, their data highlights the steady increase, especially during weekdays, which has given some drivers hope within the industry.

However, as lockdown measures ease, the volume of taxi drivers increases too. Drivers working may not see an increase to their own individual work levels until the number of drivers returning levels out.

The data supplied by Colts Cabs focuses on one of the four debit card transaction firms within the taxi industry. The data does not take into account work levels on the three other card payment providers, taxi apps, handheld payment units, radio circuits and cash work.

A Cabvision spokesperson said via social media: “Highest number of customers out this weekend since lockdown. Jobs per customer improved as well, so hopefully it was a better night for most.”