Taxi trade Q&A with London Assembly Member Elly Baker: “TfL’s Action Plan doesn’t go nearly far enough”
- Perry Richardson
- Jun 16
- 4 min read
Elly Baker, London Assembly Member and Chair of the Transport Committee, spoke to TaxiPoint about the current state and future of the capital’s taxi industry. In this wide-ranging Q&A session, Baker discussed the crucial role black cabs play in keeping London moving, the shortfalls of Transport for London’s (TfL) current Action Plan, and the wider challenges around regulation, recruitment and long-term viability of the sector.
How important is the viability of the taxi industry to London as a whole?
“Taxis are an absolutely vital part of London’s transport mix and should be treated as such. Crucially taxis cover journeys that cannot easily be done in other ways so that Londoners can continue to get around for work, social and family time. There is thankfully now more awareness of the need for taxis for those who are less mobile, especially given taxis are wheelchair accessible, but almost all Londoners will have found a time where a taxi is the best option. It is less discussed how important taxis are as an option for safe late-night travel, particularly for women and access to taxis when I needed them was so important to me when I was a younger woman. Put simply, if there are fewer taxis on the road these options are reduced, and for some Londoners this is a big impact.
“It’s also really important to recognise the role taxis can play in reducing congestion. If we are to have less cars on the road in London overall, which is of benefit to all Londoners if done in a realistic and managed way, reliable taxi services become more important, so that we know a private vehicle is an option for those journeys that need it.
“The taxi trade has also traditionally offered stable and skilled jobs, including for those who may not come through a traditionally academic route to work or have had other barriers. It used to be worth young Londoners doing The Knowledge and knowing they could build a stable life on the trade. It is a loss to London that we see less young Londoners having that opportunity.
Do you feel the Action Plan goes far enough to address concerns over driver retention and recruitment in the taxi industry?
“TfL’s Action Plan doesn’t go nearly far enough.
“The response from taxi drivers’ organisations speaks for itself, and these are the people who know the situation best. At a recent meeting of the London Assembly Transport Committee we heard powerfully what the situation was on the ground and how disappointed drivers were in the lack of action.
“Crucially I feel the Action Plan doesn’t properly address the huge cost barriers to entering the trade, and the lack of timely action on all the issues raised is a massive disappointment. The Transport Committee will be questioning TfL on this at its June meeting.
“Fundamentally TfL often acts like a passive regulator rather than taking its responsibilities as a transport authority seriously when it comes to Taxi and Private Hire, particularly when it comes to road access. There is positive language in the Action Plan, which I think is welcome, but we urgently need to see these warm words backed by real action.”
Both the Taxi and PHV sectors are focused on the need for a cap on the number of vehicles permitted to be licensed by TfL and take work in the capital. Is this something that should be backed and could future Devolution plans play a part in achieving this?
“Given we’re in the middle of a Transport Committee investigation on the Action Plan and what is missing from it, I do want to see what recommendations come from the evidence we receive. But personally, I think it’s bizarre TfL don’t seem to want the power to control private hire licensing.
“A cap could be so important to provide the right transport mix in London, and gives powers over congestion management on our roads, and as we’ve heard from drivers, has a real-life impact on the ability of taxi and private hire drivers to make a decent living.”
“To make a cap work however, we also need control over cross-border hiring and proper data-sharing from private hire platform operators. This is where devolution could help reduce conflict between taxi and private hire, allow both to play the right roles, and allow TfL to actively manage the transport system.”
Would it be beneficial to understand and benchmark why taxi drivers choose to leave the industry and if so, how could this be done?
“This could definitely be done - TfL could work with driver organisations to run surveys and gather this information. However, we do have a very vocal and well represented taxi trade in London which has worked hard to unite on key issues. I do feel that the problem is not that we don’t understand the what’s wrong, but that TfL isn’t taking the action needed.”
In your view can the taxi industry recover and stem the declining number of black cabs on London’s roads? What action will it take and from who?
“Yes, it is absolutely possible to turn this around. Londoners won’t forgive us if we lose taxis from London’s streets, or if they become just a tourist attraction.
“But it will take focused effort on the real causes of the decline, from regional and national government, and a genuine commitment from TfL to actually intervene with the powers they have, and lobby for the ones they need.”
