London's Cabbie Crisis
London cab drivers hit by lockdown restrictions
During the coronavirus pandemic London taxi drivers can’t work from home, and there’s no work for them on the streets. With many cars destined for the black cab graveyard, how are the city's taxi drivers surviving?
The black cab is an iconic feature of the UK's capital. But London's famous cabs are at risk of disappearing, as coronavirus restrictions have drastically reduced the level of work available for drivers. 'Look at Oxford street now, how quiet it is. I mean, the pavements would have been full up with people, all of these shops, open', says black cab driver Dale. Demand for taxis is so low, that many drivers now barely make a profit in a day's work. 'Say you have to make 50 just to break even, you'll earn 30. And it'll cost you 20 pounds just to go to work', explains another driver. Just north of London, a 'graveyard' for unused taxis is filled with black cabs. 'Each one of these vehicles represents somebody's livelihood. It's a family without the income', says driver Evan.
FULL SYNOPSIS