United Kingdom: Taxi driver protests in London January 18-19

Event

Black taxi drivers in London will hold anti-Uber protests on Thursday, January 18, and Friday, January 19. On Thursday taxi drivers will converge in their vehicles at London Bridge at 15:30 (local time) and intentionally drive slowly throughout the area to generate traffic congestion. Drivers will gather again at 15:30 on Friday, although the location of the protest has not yet been announced.

Context

Taxi drivers are unhappy over Transport for London's (TfL) handling of Uber's licensing and the firm's continued operation in the city. On January 17 a similar protest took place in the area of Parliament Square. Buses stopped running in Park Lane, Bayswater, and Edgware Road for more than two hours, while Grosvenor Gate was closed by the police.

Advice

Motorists are advised to avoid the area around London Bridge at the time of the protest and to allow additional time to reach their destinations.