Valerie Shawcross CBE AM, Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee said;
“The Transport Committee welcomes Transport for London’s (TfL) announcement that taxis will have to accept card and contactless payments from next year. Making the acceptance of card payments more attractive to cabbies was one of the important recommendations made in our ‘Future Proof’ report into the taxi and private hire industries - and it is clearly common sense.
Passengers will no longer have to worry about carrying cash and it is very positive news for drivers. We heard evidence from New York during our investigation, where the introduction of card payments boosted business - so this gives licensed taxi drivers a golden opportunity, in a hugely competitive market.
The elimination of customer surcharges for card payments and the reduction in transaction fees paid by drivers should all add up to a better, more efficient service for customers.”
Notes to editors
- Valerie Shawcross CBE AM, Chair of the Transport Committee, is available for interview – see contact details below.
- Read ‘Future Proof’.
- London Assembly Transport Committee.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Alison Bell on 020 7983 4228. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.