TAXI DEMAND CHANGING: Sunday busier than Wednesday for the first time according to card payment data

Demand for taxis proved to be HIGHER on Sunday than on Wednesday for the first since card payment data started to be collected.

According to data collected by Cabvision, a taxi card payment solutions firm, demand for black cabs surged higher during the half-term school break.

Taxi driver work levels were hit hard in the lead up to Christmas when governments were forced to impose restrictions to stem the rising number of Omicron cases.

Since the turn of the new year, cabbies had to tackle the seasonal downturn in work, coupled with lower journeys caused by restrictions still in place.

Since Omicron coronavirus restrictions were dropped, demand has steadily returned during a period historically known as ‘Kipper Season’.

There is now widespread optimism that taxi sector demand will grow fast after half-term holidays. New flexible working practices adopted by many large employers in the city means footfall and demand for taxis have varied during the week.

Cabvision said: “Processing data is so hard to predict in the covid era.

“Last week, Sunday was a busier day than Wednesday, this is the first time that has ever happened.”

Cab driver Greg Dorrington was optimistic for the coming weeks and months in the taxi trade. He said: “Usually, February half term worst week of the year, was busy every night.

“Maybe covid, so domestic tourists, but London was busy.

“Usually a ghost town - come summer when tourists back in full swing - could be mental 6 weeks holiday could become the opposite to the norm.”