Article by T H

London taxi cabs have been around for over 100 years and are still one of the best methods of transport in London. To use a London taxi cab, you just have to wait for one to come past with the ‘for hire’ light on and wave them down. Tell the driver where you want to go and off you go.

London taxi drivers are well known for being the best in the world. They have all completed the course required to become a taxi driver known as ‘The Knowledge’. The knowledge can take anything from 2 years to 5 years to complete and sometimes even longer.

My personal experience of London taxi drivers has always been good. they are friendly, helpful and always like to have a good chat. I recently used a London taxi cab to get from Heathrow airport to my house after being on holiday. I pre booked the taxi through the website below

The driver was waiting for us when we came through customs and escorted us to the taxi and the journey home was very pleasant. I will definitely be using them again.They also do tours and other long journeys.

Taxi drivers are so well trained that if there is traffic, they will simply find a different route. They know pretty much everything there is to know about London.

The Taxi and Private Hire office is the body responsible for licensing taxicabs within Greater London. Taxi and Private Hire is part of Transport for London and is responsible for licensing the familiar London taxicab or “black cab” and also licenses private hire or minicab services. “Black cabs” were traditionally coloured black, but this is not a requirement and cabs are painted in other colours, sometimes bearing advertising; however they are traditionally called black cabs as distinct from minicabs. The drivers are sometimes referred to as “black cab drivers”, causing occasional accusations of racism from those unfamiliar with “black cabs”, where “black cab driver” is a “cab driver” who is black.

All black taxis have to pass the ‘Conditions of Fitness’. This means that they must have a 25ft (7.6m) turning circle so the cab can U-turn off a central rank, that the passenger compartment must be high enough that a bowler-hatted passenger can sit in comfort, and that the entrance must be level with the floor, and not above 15in (38cm) from ground level. Cabs must also all be wheelchair accessible.

To ensure the taxis pass the Conditions of Fitness, and that they are safe to carry the public, they all have to pass a test three times stricter than the MOT1 for private cars every year. For instance, the tyres on a private car need only to be legal at the time of the test. A taxi will be assessed for wear and tear up to the next test. If the tires will not last a year, they will not pass. Taxis are also assessed by inspectors doing spot checks in the street. If the car fails, it will not be able to ply for hire again until it has been back to the passing station for a retest.

Taxis do not have to be black. They are allowed various forms of advertising on the panels of the cars, namely: single door advertising, double door advertising (the doors on each side must match), and full body advertising, called livery. Nothing is allowed on the boot, because the license plate and the registration number must not be obscured.

Fascinating Facts

Taxis were banned from driving through Hyde Park in 1685. This was due to the unruly behaviour of some ladies in a hackney coach. The ban was lifted in 1687, only to be reinstated in 1711 due to ‘several disorders’ being committed. That time the ban lasted until 1924.

Taxi drivers are not legally obliged to give change. If a large note is offered the driver is entitled to take the cash, and offer to post the change to the passenger’s home address.

The ‘Knowledge of London’ was introduced in 1851 by Sir Richard Mayne after complaints that cab drivers did not know where they were going. Passing the Knowledge involves detailed recall of 25,000 streets within a six-mile radius of Charing Cross station. The locations of clubs, hospitals, hotels, railway stations, parks, theatres, courts, restaurants, colleges, government buildings and places of worship are also required. It can take three years to pass the test, including the six months it takes to be tested.

Only one percent of London’s taxi drivers are women.

The original ‘stage coaches’ were certain hackney carriages whose drivers travelled in stages, ie, they would drive short distances, along a fixed route, picking up fares at defintite stopping points. As this part of the trade grew, they eventually became omnibuses, and then the bus transport system we have today.

The London Taxi Drivers’ Fund for Underprivileged Children was started in 1928 when 12 London taxi drivers took children from a local orphanage to London Zoo. Now the charity takes the children to Disney Land, Paris, France for a few days. This Researcher’s father David was the first non-London hackney carriage to take part. You can find out more information about London taxis here London Taxi CabsLondon Taxi Cabs

Unsentimental Traveling Around Sure of myself Sure of it now But you were standing there so close to me Like the future was supposed to be In the aisles of the grocery And the blocks uptown I remember Remember it well But if I’d forgotten could you tell? In the shadow of your first attack I was questioning and looking back You said, “Baby, we don’t speak of that” Like a real aristocrat. Compound to compound lazy and safe wanted to leave it wanted to wait. When the taxi door was open wide, I pretended I was horrified By the uniform and gloves outside, of the courtyard gate. You’re not a victim, but neither am I nostalgic for garbage; desperate for time. I could blame it on your mother’s hair, or the colors that your father wears, but I know that I was never fair, you were always fine.
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