In Britain, especially in its capital, there are two popular ways to use a taxi: hail a legendary Black Cab on the street or use an app such as Uber or Bolt. Both options have advantages and disadvantages, so residents need to understand when each option is more suitable.
Features and advantages of Black Cabs in the UK
Black cabs are one of the hallmarks of London and the whole of Britain. Taxis have certain advantages that passengers appreciate.
- Professional drivers with driving experience. Every black cab driver undergoes rigorous testing to verify their knowledge of all the streets of London and key landmarks. This guarantees that you will reach your destination even if your satnav is turned off.
- Accessibility. When it comes to central areas, it is much faster to hail a black cab than to call a car through an app. This also applies to busy areas and tourist attractions.
- Safety. Every driver is licensed and regularly undergoes professional checks. The cars are equipped with cameras and GPS trackers, making taxis the ideal choice at night or for passengers with children.
- Convenience for passengers with special needs and luggage. Black Cabs have enough space for luggage and passengers in wheelchairs.
- No waiting. All you have to do is raise your hand or find a taxi rank to get to your destination. If time is limited, a black cab is a real lifesaver.
However, like any service, Black Cab in Britain has some drawbacks. First of all, the high price of travel, but it is fully justified by comfort and safety. In addition, the cost depends on the length of the trip, which makes it impossible to determine the budget in advance. While it is easy to catch a car in large cities, this can be difficult in the suburbs (in which case ordering a taxi through an app is the best option).
Taxi-hailing apps (Uber, Bolt)
In any country, residents actively use taxi apps, and the UK is no exception. These are direct competitors to Black Cab, offering not only ease of use but also other features.
- Convenience and clear pricing. Just open the app on your smartphone, specify the pick-up point and destination. The price of the trip is displayed immediately. In addition, passengers can choose the class of car, which also affects the cost.
- Low price. Compared to black cabs, Uber trips are much cheaper, especially for long journeys. The apps often offer discounts, making trips even more affordable.
- Accessibility. Residents of suburbs or small towns may face the problem of finding an unlicensed taxi, and the mobile app solves this problem.
- Clear route and trip tracking. The app provides information about the driver’s rating, the car, and the route. For their own safety, passengers can share their geolocation with friends or family.
In addition to the well-known Uber and Bolt, there are a large number of different services in the UK that provide taxis, such as Ola, Free Now and others.
Black Cab or taxi app: which to choose in which situations?
Locals easily navigate situations where they need to choose between one taxi or another. But what about tourists? There are several situations that clearly determine the type of taxi to choose.
Hailing a Black Cab on the street is convenient in the following cases:
- in the city centre or near attractions (there are always taxi ranks in such places, and it is more convenient to go there than to call a car via an app);
- when travelling with children or large luggage (black cabs are much larger than regular taxis, so it is easy to fit a large suitcase or pram inside);
- when you are short on time or do not have an internet connection (just raise your hand or go to a taxi rank, give the address and get in the car to get to your destination);
- evening or night time (the presence of cameras in the cabin and a licence for each driver makes the trip as safe as possible, even at night).
As for taxis in the app, they are called:
- in the suburbs (a car via the app will save time searching for black taxis, which are rare);
- to understand the price (the cost of the trip is indicated before it starts, which is convenient for many passengers, especially if the budget is limited);
- for long or intercity trips (you can choose a comfortable class of car).
If you need to travel with a group, the app allows you to split the bill directly in the interface, which is convenient.
The best option would be to combine both options, depending on the situation. Most locals and visitors to the country do just that, taking advantage of both black cabs and taxis in the app.