Black cabs Hackney carriage

1 black cabs

1.1 vehicle design
1.2 driver qualification
1.3 notable drivers
1.4 private users
1.5 in other countries
1.6 variety of models
1.7 use in advertising

black cabs

illuminated hire signage distinguishing feature of hackney carriage



a tx4 hackney carriage @ heathrow airport terminal 5

motorised hackney cabs in uk, known black cabs, although produced in variety of colours, in advertising brand liveries (see below). 50 golden cabs produced queen s golden jubilee celebrations in 2002 notable.

vehicle design

historically four-door saloon cars have been highly popular hackney carriages, disability regulations growing in strength , councils offering free licensing disabled-friendly vehicles, many operators opting wheelchair-adapted taxis such london taxi company (lti). other models of specialist taxis include peugeot e7 , rivals fiat, volkswagen, metrocab , mercedes-benz. these vehicles allow 6 or 7 passengers, although models can accommodate eight. of these minibus taxis include front passenger seat next driver, while others reserve space solely luggage.

many black cabs have turning circle of 25 ft (8 m). 1 reason configuration of famed savoy hotel: hotel entrance s small roundabout meant vehicles needed small turning circle in order navigate it. requirement became legally required turning circles london cabs, while custom of passenger s sitting on right, behind driver, provided reason right-hand traffic in savoy court, allowing hotel patrons board , alight driver s side.

the design standards london taxis set out in conditions of fitness, published transport london. first edition published in may 1906, public carriage office, part of metropolitan police. these regulations set out conditions under taxi may operate , include regulating taximeter (not compulsory until 1907), maximum age of taxi (not more 15 years), advertisements , turning circle of 8.535 m (28 ft).

as part of transported design programme of activities, in 15 october 2015, after 2 months of public voting, black cab elected londoners favourite transport design icon.

driver qualification

in london, hackney-carriage drivers have pass test called knowledge demonstrate have intimate knowledge of geography of london streets, important buildings, etc. learning knowledge allows driver become member of worshipful company of hackney carriage drivers. there 2 types of badge, yellow 1 suburban areas , green 1 of london. latter considered far more difficult. drivers own cabs opposed renting garage known mushers , have passed knowledge known butter boys . there around 21,000 black cabs in london, licensed public carriage office.

elsewhere, councils have own regulations. merely require driver pass criminal records bureau disclosure , have reasonably clean driving licence, while others use own local versions of london s knowledge test.

notable drivers

alfred collins, retired in 2007 @ age of 92, oldest cab driver , had been driving 70 years.

fred housego former london taxi driver became television , radio personality , presenter after winning bbc television quiz mastermind in 1980.

john worboys convicted serial rapist. known black cab rapist because drove london cab, convicted in march 2009 attacks on 12 women.

clive efford mp london constituency of eltham cab driver 10 years before entering parliament in 1997.

private users

oil millionaire nubar gulbenkian drove in custom-built gold , black car, designed vintage london taxi , powered rolls-royce engine, because had been told can turn on sixpence. other celebrities known have used hackney carriages both anonymity , ruggedness/manoeuvrability in london traffic. users included prince philip, cab converted run on liquefied petroleum gas, author , actor stephen fry, , sheriffs of city of london. black cab used in band oasis s video song don t in anger. black cabs have served recording studios indie band performances , other performances in black cab sessions internet project.

ghosthunting with... featured black cab owned host of show, yvette fielding. bez of happy mondays owns one, featured on uk edition of pimp ride. noel edmonds used black cab commute home deal or no deal studios in bristol. placed dressed mannequin in use special bus/taxi lanes , public not attempt hail cab.

the governor s official car in falkland islands london taxi between 1976 , 2010.

in other countries

a london taxi (tx1 model) in switzerland



a london taxi (tx4 model) in singapore

between 2003 , 1 august 2009, possible purchase london taxi model txii in united states. today there approximately 250 txiis in us, operating taxis in san francisco, dallas, long beach, houston, new orleans, las vegas, newport, rhode island, wilmington, north carolina , portland, oregon. there few operating in ottawa, ontario, canada. largest london taxi rental fleet in north america located in wilmington , owned british taxi company. cabs can seen in saudi arabia, south africa, lebanon, egypt, bahrain , cyprus, in israel, chinese-made version of lti s model tx4 built geely automobile available sale. on february 2010, number of tx4s started operating in pristina, capital of kosovo, , known london taxi.

after july 2009, new london taxis no longer available buy in united states. singapore has used london-style cabs since 1992; starting fairway . flag down fares london taxis same other taxis. smrt corporation, sole operator, has of march 2013 replaced fleet of 15 ageing multi coloured (gold, pink, etc.) taxis new white ones. these remain wheelchair accessible taxis in singapore , have been brought following outcry removal of such service.

as of 2011, 1000 of chinese-made version of lti s latest model tx4 ordered baku taxi company. plan part of program announced ministry of transportation of azerbaijan introduce london cabs capital, baku. move part of £16 million agreement between london taxi company , baku taxi company.

variety of models

a metrocab on westminster bridge

there have been different makes , types of hackney cab through years, including:

mann & overton—now london taxi company , including carbodies

unic sold in london 1906 1930s
austin london taxicab
austin fx3
austin/carbodies/lti fx4 , fairway
lti tx1, txii , tx4


mercedes-benz

vito w639


morris
london general cab co.

citroën


beardmore

nuffield oxford taxi
beardmore marks vii


metrocab (originally formed metro cammell weymann)

mcw/reliant/hooper metrocab



use in advertising

the unique body of london taxi wrapped all-over advertising, known livery .

in october 2011 company eyetease ltd. first introduced use of digital screens on roofs of london taxis purposes of broadcast advertising.