The number of London taxis and their licenses plummeted in the capital from 18.900 on June 7 to 15.000 on November 8, according to Transport for London (TfL). The rental companies for these black typical taxis are forced to rent fields and farmland scattered around the outskirts of the city from farmers to massively stock vehicles returned by the drivers.

The Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association (LTDA) believes that only 20% of taxi drivers are still driving their vehicles. We are now in a position where London could lose this icon. We are an integral part of this city's DNA, ”said McNamara.

Secretary General Steve McNamara said taxi drivers currently earn "starvation wages" that are around a quarter of normal wages. Drivers are doing desperate things like selling their taxis for well below market value to get through the next few months. The pandemic is a complete nightmare for most taxi drivers. The state of affairs is for many driversMany have not received any income since March.

North London-based rental company GB Taxi Services sees occupancy of its fleet of 100 black taxis plummeting from 95% before the crisis to just 10% today, despite halving fees to encourage drivers to keep their vehicles . 

GB Taxi Services is one of two companies using an area of ​​farmland in Epping Forest, Essex. There are now 220 unwanted taxis stored there alone so that they can stop paying for the insurance. To make matters worse, they were also visited by intruders who stole catalytic converters and particulate filters from about 50 taxis. Another rental company, Sherbet London, has rented a parking space to store 400 unoccupied taxis, accounting for two-thirds of the fleet.

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London taxi and bus
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