Would-be mayors Zac Goldsmith and Sadiq Khan warn on future of black cabs Without efforts to balance the playing field the capital will lose its "iconic" black cabs, Tory MP and London mayor hopeful Zac Goldsmith has warned.
Mr Goldsmith said London's taxis were famous around the world and remained an "absolutely vital" part of the capital's transport system.
The MP for Richmond Park called for "more clarity in the regulatory system" as he voiced concerns that black cabs would be "extinct in a matter of years" without action.
Labour's chosen mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan argued that both TfL and the Government had failed to enforce existing legislation, but also failed to provide new regulations to ensure new entrants to the market operated fairly.
He said: "Rather than a race to the bottom in deregulating the black cab, shouldn't there be innovation of regulation of the private hire vehicles and Uber in particular to make sure there is a level playing field?"
Mr Khan, MP for Tooting, warned the rise in numbers of private hire vehicles in London would lead to problems of further congestion, pollution, illegal parking and "the death of the black cab as we know it".
He urged the Government to bring forward legislation which provided a clear definition to protect the distinction between taxis and private hire vehicles.
He said: "It's really important that the minister responds, it's really important the current mayor responds because if they don't the next mayor will."
Mr Goldsmith said costs were piled onto black cabs by regulation and they were the most regulated taxis in the world by far, while standards among private hire vehicles needed to be raised.
He said: "I think nothing personally of depositing any one of my children in a black cab at any time knowing absolutely that they'd be safe. And it's hard to put a number on all that, but it is worth something and the tragedy is that their days could well be numbered.
"If trends continue I don't think there's any doubt that they will be extinct in a matter of years."
The Tory MP and environmental campaigner said black cabs could ply for hire, wait at ranks, had fares and stringent service standards set by TfL, while private hire vehicles had to be pre-booked, could not legally ply for hire, did not have fares set by TfL, or pass The Knowledge.
He said: "The emergence of Uber has turned the system on its head, because of the speed of the Uber App their cars are effectively hailed by users...The one key advantage enjoyed by black cabs has simply evaporated."
Black cabs, Mr Goldsmith said, should be helped to switch to contactless payment systems, adding there was a case for subsidising the process. He added they were already adapting fast so from 2018 all new black cabs would be zero emission capable.
He said: "I think we do need to try to find a way to maintain the two tier system that distinguishes between cabs and taxis," adding: "I absolutely do not want to deny people the choice that they clearly want and need in London so there's no question of banning Uber, but I do think there is a need to have more clarity in the regulatory system."
Mr Goldsmith said: "It is (an) unarguable fact in my view that without efforts to balance the playing field we will lose the black cab in London, and London I have no doubt will be a lot poorer for it."
Transport Minister Andrew Jones said black cabs were the "gold standard" right across the world.
Responding to Mr Goldsmith's Westminster Hall debate on the future of black cabs in London, Mr Jones said that currently there was no legislation in London or anywhere else which allowed the number of private hire vehicles to be limited.
Officials, he said, were working closely with TfL, adding: "I think we need to look at this issue and develop the evidence required to consider whether... legislation needs to change."
New technology, he noted, was challenging traditional operating boundaries between the taxi and private hire trades and was "straining the relationship" between TfL and the industry.
He said: "The Government is fully aware of changes and challenges that are affecting the taxi and private hire vehicle industry in London and elsewhere within the country."
Mr Jones added he could not yet give a date for when the Government would be responding to the Law Commission 's report on the issue, but added the work had been "extremely powerful".
source:
http://home.bt.com/lifestyle/motoring/m ... 4003903088
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