5 Interesting Facts and Figures About London Taxis You Might not have Known

No one would mind overlooking even the images displaying these black beauties that run on the streets of London. Fly to London, and you can see thousands of these cabs whizzing through the roads to serve you with convenience. Every city exudes its culture through its artworks and infrastructure, which also includes these cabs. London holds pride in the vintage black cars that run in the bustling town as one of the most significant creations. They do, to a great extent, signify the culture that has been carried on for decades. Tourists that travel the world have always recommended a trip on the black taxi cab for the wondrous experience. Several factors make this taxi cab stand out from the others. Let us have a closer look at what the interesting features of the black taxi cabs are.  

1.      The Knowledge for a Taxi Driver

2-4 years have to be invested by the would-be drivers to learn more about the future rides they have to face. This test of “The Knowledge” they possess is conducted before permitting them a license to drive through the London city. Through these years, they have to gain knowledge about the 320 routes in Charing Cross that maps through an area of 20,000 landmarks and 25,000 streets that is enclosed within a six-mile radius. All those who pass this test will receive a green badge. The drivers that cover the suburban areas are given a yellow badge, which will also not permit them to enter the areas that are assigned to the green badge-drivers.

2.      Not Just the Black Beauties

Everyone might be familiar with the black taxi cabs that run the streets of London. No image or footage backdropped in London fails to capture these vintage beauties on the road, making the city a whole lot more magnificent. But there are taxi cabs in London of various other colors as well, which include red, blue, green, and yellow.  

3.      Money Running on Wheels

The cabs might be just a mode of transport to you, which everyone uses for daily purposes. Each time you enter a taxi, you are in one of the most splendid settings in London that mint a huge sum of money. With about 21,000 black taxi cabs running in London, there is no margin for losses.

4.      History of Hackney Carriage

It was the Corporation of Coachmen who received the very first taxicab licenses in London, in 1639. Later, in 1662, the hackney carriages were also approved to run the streets with the horses taking people over to their destination. 1908 witnessed the launch of motorized cabs, and by 1925, hansom cabs weren’t considered as the primary cab service of London.  

5.      Height of Traveling

Hackney carriages used to carry hay for the horses, which was among the first rules to have passed regarding the cabs. Height of the cab had to be checked before permitting them to run on the streets. The rule demands the height of the cab to be sufficient enough to accommodate a passenger wearing a bowler hat....

28 March, 2020 No comment

London Black Taxi Cab Etiquette- How to Ride in a London Taxi

Not many tourists will know that cabs too demand an etiquette to be driven with comfort. It may come as a surprise even to the natives that by hiring a taxi, their duty isn't done because there is more to the ride than just the apparent convenience you feed upon. Hailing a cab has to be followed by a small conversation with the driver to let the chains loose, and try wearing politeness on your face and exuding it through every action of yours. But the baffling question that arises is that of the necessity to do so.   People who have traveled to different parts of the world suggest practicing this etiquette that needs to go into the ride that you take in any city. London is said to have an entirely different culture that entails a different requirement of etiquettes while taking a cab. Although you need to stick to these norms while taking one of the black taxis in London, there isn't plenty of them that you need to keep in mind. Here are the procedures that anyone hiring a London black taxi cab must follow.

 Procedure and Etiquette

• You must check for the light on top of the cab before hiring one. Like in other cities, London has also followed this rule of having to switch the light's activity depending on its availability. When the light on top of the cab is on, it is available for hire.
• In many countries, there exists a practice of calling out “Taxi” to hail one for a ride. You don’t do that to hail a taxi in London; a wave will do.
• Queues are meant to be kept, and this is mandatory to be followed while in London. When you are at the booking counter for a cab in an airport or train station, make sure to maintain the queue and be patient with the procedure. Refrain from making insensible decisions of jumping the queue for selfish deeds.
• Before you enter a cab that has stopped for you, make sure that you ask the cab driver politely if he/she can take you to your destination. It is among the basic etiquettes that you need to follow while taking a ride on a taxi in London.
• The cabs will have an intercom system installed inside it, which you can find near to the seat. You can use it to communicate with the driver. While you do so, try to be polite with him/her and say hello. Be friendly with them by conversing with them about light matters.
• Leaving a tip for the driver at the end of the trip is always a good practice. Round up the fare to the nearest pound or add 10% of the fare to it and pay the total. However, it is up to an individual on how much they tip the driver; you could pay more if the ride were an enjoyable one.

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01 April, 2020 No comment