Yahoo News London taxi protest: Black cab drivers stage demo against TfL and Uber
London taxi drivers descended on Elephant and Castle as part of a series of protests this week against TfL and Uber.
The protests, in response to TfL's reasons for revoking Uber’s licence and the minicab firm’s continued operation in London, are set to take place throughout the week in the capital.
On Monday afternoon the busy Elephant and Castle roundabout was brought to a standstill by black cabs, causing traffic chaos in the surrounding area.
TfL tweeted that all approaches to Elephant and Castle were affected.
Update: 1 of 2 - Demonstration - Elephant & Castle area - slow moving / stationary traffic on all approaches in the area including Westminster Bridge Rd eastbound, Blackfriars Rd southbound, London Rd eastbound & Newington Causeway southbound...
— TfL Traffic News (@TfLTrafficNews) January 15, 2018
Update: 2 of 2 - Demonstration - Elephant & Castle area - Q's on A2 New Kent Rd westbound, Blackfriars Rd southbound beyond The Cut, borough Rd in both directions, Kennington Park Rd northbound back to Penton Place & Kennington Lane eastbound back to Kennington Road.
— TfL Traffic News (@TfLTrafficNews) January 15, 2018
It advised motorists to use other routes.
Meanwhile buses serving the area were diverted or terminated earlier than usual.
What's happening at Elephant & Castle with the Taxi's the traffic is terrible #elephantandcastle #taxidriver #LondonBridge #london #Taxis pic.twitter.com/oybMwdcmMJ
— Tracy | FeminineCode (@thefemininecode) January 15, 2018
Photos from today's #TaxiProtest at Elephant and Castle #ITA pic.twitter.com/uOvBIZMVJj
— Sector magazine (@Sectortaxinews) January 15, 2018
Heads up - #Taxi protest on London Road causing traffic stand-still on surrounding roads #London #Waterloo #ElephantandCastle pic.twitter.com/NSr3ltDq35
— Rebecca Daddow (@RJDaddow) January 15, 2018
One person tweeted: What's going on in Elephant and Castle, been parked up for 30 mins."
@metpoliceuk what’s going on in elephant and castle, been parked up for 30 mins pic.twitter.com/h170c6ezjn
— Richard Rhooms (@VR6Rich) January 15, 2018
Another added: "Big black cab protest at Elephant and Castle. Roads blocked and big delays."
Big black cab protest at elephant and castle. Roads blocked and big delays
— Colin Melhuish (@colinmelhuish) January 15, 2018
A TfL spokesman said: "The law stipulates that operators can continue until any appeals process is exhausted.
“We urge the organisers to call the protests off."
Further protests will take place on Tuesday at 3.30pm in Marble Arch, on Wednesday at 12pm in Parliament Square, on Thursday at 3.30pm in London Bridge, with a final protest on Friday which is to be announced.
