Black cabs come to a standstill over Games Lanes ban

Parliament Square came to a standstill yesterday as London’s black cabbies blasted their horns in protest over being banned from driving on the Olympics Games Lanes.

Over 200 black cabs turned up in Westminster just before 2pm yesterday afternoon to vent their anger. Drivers dispute that they should have the right to use the thirty miles of games lanes been set aside for Olympic officials and athletes.

The restrictions come into force as of Wednesday next week and drivers who contravene will have to pay a £130 fine.

˜There will be no access to these lanes for any traffic apart from the Olympics family. Taxis are excluded, which is unacceptable and wrong. This is a working city and we need to get around and do our job,˜ said Jonathan Myers, of the United Cabbies group union.
“Weve come to Parliament so MPs can wake up and hear what were talking about.˜

Transport for London transport commissioner Peter Hendy slammed the demonstration saying he had ˜no sympathy˜ for the action. A spokesperson for Transport for London said they had consulted with black cab drivers since 2009 and that certain parts of the Games Lanes would be accessible to drivers to pick up fares such as the Games Lane in Park Lane.

He said they would be able to access some of the special lanes to collect fares, including the nearside Games Lane in Park Lane, central London.

Some see the protest as completely irresponsible, causing unnecessary havoc whereas some cabbies have expressed they would rather keep away from London during the Games rather than put up with than frustration and hindrance the Games Lanes will cause them trying to find their way across the capital.