Taxi Driver Online

Not really sure what the point of this article is. OK, there's been some sort of convoy, and they're protesting about tints and bus lane access.

But the article could be a bit more pointed in that regard, instead of meandering into the decades-old stuff about HCDs v PHDs

Funny that there's no mention of the capping campaign, though.


Edinburgh private hire drivers organise slow-moving convoy protest against Edinburgh Council

https://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2025/08/ ... h-council/

EDINBURGH’S private hire drivers staged a protest against the council’s policy on private hires and what they see as a lack of “engagement”.

Over 150 gathered at Lochside Crescent in South Gyle at 9am yesterday and began a slow-moving convoy protest.

They crawled through the city, tooting their horns, and arrived at the council offices on East Market Street at around 10am.

Private hire drivers in the capital believe they are being viewed as second class drivers to the city’s black cab drivers.

Private hire drivers mostly operate using services like Uber, Lyft, and Bolt, and lack the formal training of more traditional taxi drivers.

Currently, private hire drivers are not allowed access to bus lanes for commercial use in the same way that black cabs are.

They are also required to remove factory-fitted window tinting in all their cars, which they say is costly and “unnecessary”.

The drivers subsequently staged the slow-moving convoy protest on Thursday morning in response.

A spokesperson for Edinburgh Private Hire Drivers United – who organised the convoy – said: “We are a vital part of Edinburgh’s transport network, providing hundreds of thousands of journeys every week, from school runs to late-night travel.

“Despite this, we are treated as second-class to the hackney trade and are repeatedly ignored on key issues.

“We want to be treated as part of the solution to Edinburgh’s transport challenges, not as part of the problem.

“We hope this action will finally get the council to listen to our concerns.”

Although private hire cars have become popular in recent years, there are still concerns that the drivers lack the expertise, training and nous of hackney carriage drivers.

Many took to social media to voice their disdain for the campaign underneath a post announcing the convoy.

One user said: “Well, if they want to become a public transport vehicle like a hackney, pass the test, replate the car or get a different car that fits hackney requirements and pay the public liability insurance.

A second opined: “You are treated second class to the hackney trade because you are second class to the hackney trade”.

A third stated: “As usual private hire want the privilege of a taxi while doing absolutely nothing to deserve it. You are private cars.

“Leave the taxi work to real taxi drivers.”

One user was isolated in their support for the private hire drivers: “The majority of driving will be all Uber drivers next year, get rid of all the hackney drivers and cabs.”

Although private hire vehicles have been permitted in Edinburgh since 1984, they have exploded in popularity in recent years after the introduction of Uber to the city and the subsequent expansion of other ride-sharing apps like Bolt and Lyft.

A spokesperson for The City of Edinburgh Council said:

“An open letter was delivered to council offices today by Edinburgh Private Hire Drivers United yesterday and the matter will be considered in due course.”

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But it's a good job the blurry photo of the convoy is too big to display on here.

And the photo of the council building makes the average equivalent from other areas look like the Taj Mahal