LONDON -- Hundreds of taxis brought parts of central London to a standstill Tuesday afternoon in a protest over what cab drivers have called the erosion of their business.
They say the situation with minicabs soliciting is out of control and have warned that the city's taxi industry is being deregulated by the back door, placing the blame at the feet of Transport for London (TFL) and London Mayor Boris Johnson.
TFL rejected the drivers' assertions, saying London's regulatory process is the envy of the world and instead claiming that the protest was really about Uber, which has faced its fair share of controversy in the city. The city's anger toward the ride-sharing app has increased in recent months.
This week, Maaxi, a new app that aims to help people book a single seat in a black cab, accused TFL of being in bed with Uber.
At 2 p.m. local time on Tuesday, central streets like Oxford Street and Holborn were blocked by drivers of black cabs who parked their vehicles on the busy thoroughfares, creating a knock-on series of traffic jams.
Taxi Demo : There are 400+ Taxis demonstrating in the Oxford Street area, severe delays on all approaches and the surrounding areas.— TfL Traffic News (@TfLTrafficNews) April 21, 2015
The United Cabbies Group, who organised the protest, called the event "the most successful" in years.
Thank you to the 2000 drivers who attended our Demo Gridlock from Lancaster Gate to Theobalds Rd @TfL DO YOU RECOGNIZE US NOW. WE R THE UCG— United Cabbies Group (@UnitedCabbies) April 21, 2015
With buses and traffic at a standstill, people turned to Twitter to vent their anger.
London one big traffic jam from City to Marble Arch. All those bus passengers boiling over #cabprotest bloody black cabs. #monopolists— Richard Webb (@Seewhatrich) April 21, 2015
Oxford Street becalmed by cabby blockade. Not quite sure of their point - that it's quicker to walk? pic.twitter.com/v3uWK9BbMX— Dan Radley (@DamnRadical) April 21, 2015
Black cab protests in Oxford Street. Not exactly scoring any brownie points..... pic.twitter.com/rOGSwHxwZU— Oli Johnson (@bookofoli) April 21, 2015
Apparently some naughty cab drivers have blocked Oxford street. U all need slapped legs and sent to bed with no supper. — Steve Whitman (@SteveWhitman1) April 21, 2015
Come on @TfL the #EnoughTFL demo had been a) peaceful and b) informative now do your damn job and support the #blackcab enough selling out!— The New Current (@TheNewCurrent) April 21, 2015
Black cab protest on Oxford Street. The very definition of counter productive #uber pic.twitter.com/I4CvM6xp9X— Bobby Chucas (@BobChucas) April 21, 2015
Bloody taxi protest in Oxford street! For fucks sake! #taxistrike— Rachael Parsons (@houseofparsons) April 21, 2015
This black cab protest on Oxford Street is bound to screw up my journey home I just know it— Joe Lanario (@JoeLanario) April 21, 2015
London's a sunshiny mess today! Now the @TheLTDA demo against @TfL is bringing Holborn to a complete standstill. pic.twitter.com/1mwM7iaRt4— Ben (@_BP83) April 21, 2015
Chaos on Shaftesbury Avenue and High Holborn as black cab drivers' protest causes gridlock. Avoid at all costs.— conordignam (@conordignam) April 21, 2015
so today we have no @centralline, the cabbies are protesting in Oxford Circus and yet more of Holborn destroyed. What next? Mothra??— Esther Harvey (@Punka1977) April 21, 2015
Today's black cab demo in London is about dissatisfaction with TFL not about Uber as widely misreported. Hacks do your research!— Duncan Barkes (@DuncanBarkes) April 21, 2015
Others were quite zen about the protest.
It has never been so quiet and comfortable on Oxford Street on a Tuesday at this time. No traffic or exhaust. pic.twitter.com/d1Ut2r1baO— Peter Eriksson (@peteroferiksson) April 21, 2015
And some tourists even managed to find an upside.
Well the tourists were making the most of the peace and quiet on Oxford street #EnginesOff pic.twitter.com/X9dPXaJsPs— GaryLDN (@GaryLDN) April 21, 2015