Accessibility on Autopilot: The Push for Inclusive Autonomous Taxis in London

In a recent debate on the Automated Vehicles Bill, Lord Blencathra put forth a compelling argument that could redefine the future of autonomous vehicles in the UK. He suggested that all autonomous vehicles should be modelled around the London black taxi, a statement that not only nods to the iconic status of these vehicles but also highlights a critical issue: accessibility. 

A Tradition of Accessibility 

The Rt Hon. Lord Blencathra

The London black cab is more than just a vehicle; it's an icon renowned for delivering a professional and accessible service. While the original accessibility feature was that they had to be tall enough to accommodate a passenger wearing a bowler hat, this has evolved in recent years. Most importantly, all black cabs are and must be wheelchair accessible.  

This is even more important considering the growing number of Private Hire Vehicles (PHVs) in the Capital. As it stands, there are around six times more PHVs in London than taxis. Of the 92,285 PHVs, only around 500 of these are wheelchair accessible, which is about 0.5%. This discrepancy has only been exacerbated by the rise of app-based PHV services, leading to a decline in wheelchair-accessible vehicles on the roads. 

The picture isn’t much better nationally, with a mere 2% of PHVs across the UK being wheelchair accessible. While the number for taxis is much higher (58%) this is still significantly less than 100% of London taxis.  

The Case for Black Cab-Styled Autonomous Vehicles 

As a wheelchair user, Lord Blencathra is well-suited to highlight this issue. He stood down as an MP in 2010 due to worsening multiple sclerosis and has been a vocal advocate for accessibility.  

He highlighted the stark contrast between the accessibility of traditional black cabs and the majority of private hire vehicles (PHVs), particularly for disabled individuals.  

He argues that the incredible accessibility of black cabs makes them the perfect template for autonomous vehicles. In a lively discussion of the Autonomous Vehicles Bill, Lord Blencathra said: 

“My concern today is about automated vehicles for hire as cabs. I have never used Uber in my life. I believe it is a disreputable company which does not pay its drivers properly. Its untrained drivers do not have a clue where they are going, and, if I may say so carefully, many seem to be recent arrivals in this country; they cannot find their way to the end of the street without a satnav, and then they stop wherever the satnav tells them to stop or pick up, such as on zebra crossings or in the middle of the road—the dropped kerb that wheelchair users use is one of their favourites. My main concern is that if black cabs in London, or converted Peugeots or Fiat Doblòs in the rest of the country, are wiped out by Uber’s Toyota Priuses, we in wheelchairs will never get a cab again. I do not rate Uber Access as credible if you want to hire a car this decade. 

“Has my noble friend the Minister heard of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee? It is part of his department. I have in my hand a piece of paper produced by the department. It says that taxi services must be fully accessible for all disabled persons. It calls for WAVs—wheelchair accessible vehicles—for all, and commends London cabs, 100% of which are wheelchair accessible. It goes on to say that, in the country as a whole, only 58% of taxies are wheelchair accessible vehicles, as are only 2% of private hire vehicles. I shall quote verbatim one paragraph from the department’s wheelchair accessible committee: 

“Concerningly, the situation seems to be deteriorating. The launch of Uber and other app-based systems for booking PHVs has resulted in an increase of over 4% in the number of licensed vehicles. But they are nearly all PHVs and, in London, there has been a reduction in the number of licensed taxis which has resulted in an overall fall in the number of WAVs on the road”. 

“That is what will happen throughout the country if the Government permit all automated vehicles to become PHVs or taxis without building in a wheelchair accessible requirement.”