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Still want to be a London cabbie?

Still want to be a London cabbie?

7 comments

·August 17, 2025
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helsinkiandrew

https://archive.ph/FxojC

danpalmer

The article mentions Waymos and other self-driving taxis, but I think this is also a generational issue.

I would never consider getting a black cab because my perception is that they are expensive, opaquely priced, and with little oversight. I'd instead get an Uber where I know the price up front, it's cheaper (I think), and I can get in touch with someone if there's an issue.

My parents though got black cabs for years so would probably consider it over Uber, or at least alongside Uber as an option.

Uber killed the black cab, it just takes decades to change the habits of millions of people.

jonwinstanley

It’s not yet guaranteed that Uber will kill off black cabs but who knows.

I read that all Uber rides are subsidised by the huge amount of investment they’ve received as they try to gain market share. Maybe at some point prices will return to similar to cabbies?

Also I find Uber to be sometimes manipulative, they regularly lie about how long it will take for your car to arrive and how surge pricing is enforced.

I’m not saying I don’t use Uber, I do, but I’m not certain Uber is definitely going to win long term.

danpalmer

I think this was all true 10 years ago, maybe still 5 years ago, but Uber is a public company now, their pricing has gone up, they're not necessarily subsidising anymore (although this fluctuates and depends on the region as they try to balance the marketplace).

izacus

Last time I had to use Google Maps to manually guide the cabbie to my hotel in central London. Then they charged me a ludicrous fee for the drive.

Sooo... no thank you, getting Uber next time. At least there the driver uses a nav app.

p0w3n3d

I've been to London recently and was prepared to take the cab but we failed to understand that the blue light is "occupied" and the yellow is "free to hire". Getting to the airport it's easier and cheaper via Uber than a train/bus when you're a 4 ppl family. I would never consider cab to airport, because I don't know how much is it. And the luggage...

pixxel

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