Norwich Daily Photo

Saturday, July 28th, 2007

The Red Cab

The Black Cab is more fondly known as the London Black Cab. This mode of transport and their drivers have earned the reputation of providing the best taxi service in the world.

Each driver is required to know the city where they operate inside and out. They need to pass a rigorous exam of knowing the city layout before given a license to drive one of these beautiful and distinctive vehicles. In some cases, it can take up to four years to acquire in depth knowledge of London before the badge is awarded to them. You’d probably see a lot of them in London on motorbikes with a map route in hand, learning the best routes. No excuse for getting lost. They also undergo a Criminal Records Bureau check and their character tested.

Black cabs are the only taxis allowed to be hailed for hire in London and other cities. They used to come only in black. Now they are painted in an assortment of colours, thus the red beauty in the photo.

Each can carry 5 passengers. They are also slightly more expensive than mini-cabs which you need to book in advance. The first time I ever rode one on 8 May 2003 definitely brought home the truth – I was in England!