Removal of Licensed Taxis/Black Cabs from the Mayor’s Transport Strategy 2018
Request ID: FOI-2814-2122 Date published: 30 March 2022
You asked
I would like the following information under The Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the removal of Licensed Taxis/Black Cabs from the Mayor’s Transport Strategy 2018.
‘Proposal 26’ from the Mayors Transport Strategy published in 2010 states:
The Mayor, through TfL, and working with the London boroughs and other stakeholders will support improvements to the taxi service through a number of measures, including:
1. Continued highway priority for taxi services, for example, access to bus lanes
2. Reduced taxi vehicle emissions and development of low emission taxis
3. Provision of parking and waiting facilities, including rest facilities
4. Provision of ranks and facilities at interchanges
5. Taxi marshalling
6. Action against touting and illegal cabs
7. Improved driving behaviour, to be encouraged through the licensing procedure of taxi drivers
8. Ensuring regulated taxi fares changes allow drivers and owners to continue to recover the costs of providing the taxi service and provide a sufficient incentive for taxi provision to meet demand, in particular at night
9. Continuous process improvements to provide a modern and cost-effective licensing service
All documents appertaining to any discussions the Mayor/GLA or TFL have had which resulted in the removal of Licensed Taxis/Black Cabs from the 2018 strategy.
Documents including but not limited to emails, meeting notes and policy documents.
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-2814-2122
Thank you for your request received on 10 March 2022 asking for information about the removal of licensed taxis from the Mayor’s Transport Strategy (MTS) 2018.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Licensed taxis/black cabs have not been removed from the MTS. Taxis are referred to in the “FOCUS ON: TAXIS AND PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLES” section on page 208 of the 2018 MTS which you can find here: https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/mayors-transport-strategy-2018.pdf . The MTS states that taxis are an important mode of transport that provide an accessible, door-to-door service for Londoners and visitors, and Policy 20 seeks to ensure London has a safe, secure and accessible world-class taxi service.
Further detail is contained in the Taxi and Private Hire Action Plan 2016: https://content.tfl.gov.uk/taxi-and-private-hire-action-plan-2016.pdf
If this is not the information you are looking for please feel free to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
