Guildford Borough Council has launched a public online survey to gauge reactions to proposed changes to taxi and private licensing in the area. The survey will run to Monday, January 11, 2021.  Among proposed changes are mandatory fitment of CCTV systems in all vehicles;…

The London Congestion Charge zone could be extended out as far as the North and South Circular roads as part of a deal for the UK Government to bail out financially crippled transport administrator Transport for London. The proposal, which London Mayor Sadiq Khan…

Teesside’s largest taxi operator Boro Taxis has stepped in to take over local rival Falcon Cars, which has been forced to fold in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Falcon Taxis said the ongoing crisis had hit the business hard and it was unable…

Transport for London is facing another lengthy court battle over a ride-hailing service’s operator’s licence after it emerged over the weekend that Ola, a key rival to Uber, has also been deemed not “fit and proper” to hold a licence. TfL has refused the…

Global chauffeur service Blacklane has launched a flat-rate 24/7 inter-city chauffeur service between London and six major UK cities in a bid to offer business travellers and long-distance commuters a safe and affordable way to avoid train journeys. The service operates between London and…

Westminster magistrates court’s decision to deem Uber “fit and proper” to hold a London private hire operator’s licence has been greeted with disappointment and anger in the taxi and private hire industry. In his ruling, deputy chief magistrate Tan Ikram said he had “sufficient…

A senior union boss has branded the time it has taken the Government to make mandatory the wearing of face coverings for taxi and private hire passengers as “monstrous”. Steve Garelick, GMB regional organiser logistics, gig economy & local government, said in a Tweet:…

A decision on whether or not Uber will be granted its London operator’s licence will be announced on September 28, Senior District Judge Tan Ikram announced at the end of the three-day appeal hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court. Transport for London refused to grant…

Another new ride-hailing app is taking on the London private hire sector before the end of the year. Wystle, based in London, is set to launch in the capital this winter, aiming to compete with Free Now, Bolt and – if the current court…

Transport for London has again extended the deadline for London private hire drivers to complete an English language proficiency test. Blaming the Covid-19 pandemic, TfL has moved the deadline forward by 12 months to September 30, 2021. But plans to draw up alternatives to…

Uber’s European head Jamie Heywood has admitted that the company made mistakes in London as part of his plea to a judge at Westminster Magistrates Court to renew Uber’s London private hire operator’s licence. In a statement to the court, Heywood (pictured) said: “We…

Addison Lee is fitting safety screens to 1,000 Ford Galaxy vehicles after the screens, developed by Ford, passed comprehensive testing to meet all Transport for London’s private hire regulations. Ford’s designers have used a material that complies with all regulations set out by TfL.…

Uber is looking to accelerate plans to convert its entire European fleet to electric power by 2040 by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Renault-Nissan alliance to source electric cars such as the Nissan Leaf (pictured) for its drivers at discounted rates. Uber…

Uber’s appeal hearing against the loss of its London licence has started, with the ride-hailing app claiming in court that London is a “safer place” with Uber operating. Transport for London has twice refused to issue a new operating licence to Uber, citing passenger…

Kia Motors (UK) has secured extra supplies of its strong-selling e-Niro electric car. Supplies of the car were extremely scarce in 2019, with just 800 vehicles imported. But production in Korea has been ramped up, and as a result, KMUK sold more e-Niros in…

With the taxi trade struggling to survive the loss of trade resulting from the Covid-19 epidemic, Darlington Borough Council is threatening to add further costs to operators by insisting that taxis are sprayed or wrapped in a particular shade of red. As part of…

Blackburn with Darwen Council in Lancashire has invested £64,000 to fit perspex screens in all of the borough’s 1,000 licensed taxis and private hire vehicles in a bid to protect drivers from the Covid-19 virus.  The project has been backed by Pennine Lancashire licensing…

There are few positives from the Coronavirus crisis as far as the taxi and private hire trade is concerned. But one might be the delay – perhaps indefinitely – of Clean Air Zones around the UK. While a cleaner environment is something everyone wants,…