Black Cab protest is already snarling up roads in central London including Whitehall as drivers demonstrate over TfL and private hire vehicles including Uber
If you're planning on travelling through central London this afternoon, you might want to avoid roads – Black Cab drivers went out on protest earlier today and it's taking a while to clear.
The protest was due to start at 2:30pm, but pictures and videos on social media showed that many cabbies had convened on Whitehall ahead of time.
It lasted until 4pm – although travel advice suggests it might take a while after that to clear.
The main roads expected affected are between Trafalgar Square and Transport for London's home on Victoria Street, however the sheer numbers of cars on the road meant much of central London was gridlocked this afternoon.
Read more: Why taxis are protesting TfL's private hire review today
https://twitter.com/MSmithsonPB/status/697453325042765824/photo/1
Campaigners told City A.M. they expected around 8,000 drivers to take part in the demonstration, which is directed against TfL and its review of private hire vehicles (PHV) such as Uber.
They claim the current proposals do not go far enough in regulating the service. TfL rowed back on its original suggestion to introduce a five-minute wait time last month.
https://twitter.com/UnitedCabbies/status/697424581439725572/video/1
Black cab blockade of parliament… pic.twitter.com/W78zBAVnfE
— Faisal Islam (@faisalislam) February 10, 2016
LIVE on #Periscope: Black cab demo starting , London , Trafalgar square 😃❤️ https://t.co/4TAO4ao2Bs
— DanBoy (@SatanicTaxi) February 10, 2016
Liberal use of car horns here on Whitehall at black cab protest against Uber! @LBC pic.twitter.com/p0Qo9mikPU
— Charlotte Wright (@charlotte_bbc) February 10, 2016
Bad spot for an uber driver at black cab protest in London @Ruptly @RTUKnews pic.twitter.com/K5jJn3ANfv
— Jon Scammell (@JonScammell) February 10, 2016
This is not the first time London has been brought to a halt by protesting cabbies – and not everyone was feeling sympathetic towards their argument.
What, apart from angering ppl and destroying residual goodwill, do black cab drivers hope to achieve from their anti-Uber protest in London?
— Daniel Hamilton 🇺🇦💪 (@danielrhamilton) February 10, 2016
if you need a black cab in the next hour or so, you’ll find them all in whitehall. currently snaking down charing cross road…
— Simon (@simon3862) February 10, 2016
Read more: Black cabs and Uber can co-exist in London
Uber has also weighed in.
Tom Elvidge, general manager of Uber in London, said: "This protest was sparked when Transport for London dropped plans for bureaucratic new rules on licensed private hire drivers, such as five minute minimum waiting times. But Londoners made clear they didn't want to be slowed down with more than 200,000 opposing those proposals.
"We believe black cabs and services like Uber can coexist in the capital. That's why earlier this week we announced that black cab drivers can use our app to get extra custom with zero service fee paid to Uber for a year. By making the most of new technology we can all improve services for passengers and keep London moving."