London: Taxi drivers gridlock City of London over closure plans

photo Sammy Albon/Creative Commons (Click to enlarge)

Dave Wallis, Vice chair, RMT London taxi branch

London taxi drivers gridlocked the City of London on 12 January in protest at the closure of Bank junction to taxis, ending a 360-year-old trade in the area.

Our vehicles are built to enable people with disabilities to access places other vehicles can't get to. Especially with buses stuck in gridlocked traffic and the tube dangerously overcrowded during peak hours.

It is time that black cabs were recognised and supported as a mode of public transport. It is time that cuts to the tube were reversed.

Our previous mayor Boris Johnson attacked our iconic trade and Transport for London currently spends nothing on the 5% of people with disabilities traveling by wheelchair. It's a disgrace.

After our protest, if Transport for London and the City don't want to negotiate then there will be more action to follow.

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