A group of private hire drivers will stage a protest on Monday morning outside the City Chambers.
The drivers of the taxis – which are private cars designated with a round sign on the driver’s and passenger’s door – say they have issues about the condition of the roads, and the long term sustainability of the trade.
A spokesperson for the group said the drivers want to have a voice in decisions affecting them. He said: “Many feel these issues have been ongoing for some time without proper resolution, and there is growing concern across the trade about where things are heading. These concerns are now beginning to impact drivers’ livelihoods.”
The council decided against allowing private hire cars to use bus lanes (as black cabs are allowed to) even on a trial basis in November last year. But councillors decided they will look again at allowing private hire cars to use bus gates.
Bus operators said it would have an adverse effect on their journey times if more cars were allowed to use the lanes principally intended to allow quicker passage for the buses.
The new City Mobility Plan continues the policy of preventing private hire vehicles from using the lanes as a matter of policy. This began in the 1990s when the city introduced Greenways.
According to the council the private hire sector has grown significantly over recent years. This is due in part to apps which allow passengers to book taxis more easily.
Spokes the cycle campaign group objected to the proposal to allow private hire cars into the lanes which are used by buses, taxis and cycles, saying that it “could have a negative effect on the safety, or perceived safety, of this vulnerable group”, meaning cyclists.
Black taxi numbers have reduced since 2018 when there was a total of 1316 in the capital. As at September 2025 there were 1090.
Around 250 drivers attended a similar protest in August last year.
