The number of taxi ranks on London’s streets is to grow by 100 to make it easier for passengers to find a black cab.
Transport for London is also looking at finding sponsorship for late-night marshals at ranks to improve customer safety. Some of the new ranks, which will bring the total across London to 600 by 2020, will be opened outside Underground stations to fit in with the 24-hour Tube.
Transport bosses believe expanding the network of ranks outside mainline railway stations, hotels and night-time hotspots will reduce the likelihood of touting and of Londoners using “bogus” cabs, as well as making it easier for disabled passengers.
They also plan to improve services in outer London, creating more “island” ranks that allow suburban taxi drivers to pick up passengers from the edge of their licensed area. TfL chief Sir Peter Hendy, responding to a London Assembly transport committee report on taxis, said: “We are not complacent and recognise that both the taxi and private hire trades must move with the times and keep pace with technological advances.”
Under TfL’s Safer Travel at Night campaign 94 minicab touts were arrested last year and 3,600 minicabs and taxis were checked.
