Are there female taxi drivers in London?

Traditionally highly male-dominated, the London taxi trade got its first licensed female cabbie in 1967, when Shirley Preston passed The Knowledge.



Yes, there are female taxi drivers in London, although they represent a small percentage of the total workforce. Currently, women make up roughly 1.5% to 2% of London's licensed black cab drivers. Historically, the profession was heavily male-dominated due to the grueling nature of "The Knowledge"—the legendary test requiring drivers to memorize every street and route within a six-mile radius of Charing Cross. However, Transport for London (TfL) has actively encouraged more women to join the trade through targeted recruitment campaigns. Today, female drivers are increasingly visible and are celebrated for their high standards of customer service and safety, contributing to a more diverse and inclusive transport environment in the capital.

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If you see that the light is on (you'll know if it is, it's a bright yellow light), then to hail the cab simply stand on the side of the pavement and extend your arm outward. There's no need to shout “taxi” and indeed, it's actually illegal to shout “taxi” whilst trying to hail a cab.

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In order to become a licensed London taxi driver, you must pass the difficult and gruelling Knowledge test, of which there is a 70% drop out rate and for which there are no study materials. In order to apply for the Knowledge, you must be: At least 18 years old (you cannot receive your license until you are 21)

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This morning, the popular rideshare company Lyft announced a new preference feature within the mobile app! Female and non-binary identifying riders can now select drivers who have the same gender. The new feature is called Women-plus Connect.

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Uber has a similar feature called Women Rider Preference, which isn't available in the U.S. and is offered only for female drivers to indicate their preference. It first launched in Saudi Arabia in 2019 and is available in 29 other markets, including Canada and Australia, the company said.

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