How many black cab drivers are in London?
There are currently around 21,000 black cabs in London, licensed by the Public Carriage Office. Elsewhere, councils have their own regulations.
How many streets do taxi drivers in London have to memorize?
25,000 streets
There are 25,000 streets in central London, laid out in a manner best described as willy-nilly. Anyone who wants to drive a cab must memorize them all. This arcane body of knowledge is called, in typical British understatement, The Knowledge. Mastering it takes more than three years, and physically changes your brain.
Do London cab drivers still do the knowledge?
As taxis can be hailed in the street and asked to go anywhere, taxi drivers must have a thorough knowledge of London. Anyone who wants to drive an iconic London cab must memorize them all: the Knowledge of London. The Knowledge was introduced as a requirement for taxi drivers in 1865.
Do you tip black cabs in London?
It is polite to tip 10 to 15% of the taxi fare for black cabs and licensed minicabs in London. However, most people simply round up the fare to the nearest £1 and tell the driver to “keep the change”.
How long does it take to become a black cab driver?
The process typically takes between two and four years to complete and has been described as like having an atlas of London implanted into your brain. Black cabbie hopefuls must then pass a written test and a series of oral exams before they can get their licence.
What race are most taxi drivers?
The most common ethnicity among Taxi Drivers is White, which makes up 56.8% of all Taxi Drivers. Comparatively, there are 20.6% of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and 9.2% of the Black or African American ethnicity.
Do London black cabs use GPS?
In their fight against Uber, London’s taxi drivers claim a distinct advantage: They must forgo GPS and navigate the huge city entirely from memory.
How do black cab drivers learn the knowledge?
The Knowledge is a series of tests which must be passed by all black cab drivers before they can get a licence to work in the capital. Black cabbies must study some 320 routes and 25,000 streets and get to know them all by heart.
Do black cabs take contactless?
All of London’s black cabs are now contactless, letting passengers pay for any journey using a compatible credit or debit card. The move is part of a steady modernisation of London’s fleet. In February 2016, TfL announced it would require all black cab drivers to accept card payments by October.