Drivers of London’s iconic black taxis have to memorize 25,000 streets and more than 20,000 landmarks before they can hit the road. It’s a requirement of “The Knowledge,” a legendary test of their driving savvy dating back to 1865, when horse-drawn carriages were used to navigate the city.
But private-hire drivers, including those who work for app-based, ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft drivers, don’t have to take the test. Drivers for the app-based services use GPS-enabled smartphones to help them find their way around, so an intimate knowledge of the city isn’t necessary, they say.
In the video above, by the our Post colleague Karla Adam, London black-cab drivers talk about the rise of private-hire drivers and what it means for the quality of service riders receive. According to estimates, there are 20,000 Uber drivers in London alone — a number that has been eating away at the taxi-driving work force in the city. In recent years, the number of drivers signing up for the Knowledge test fell by a third, Adam reports.
Advertisement
[The rise of Uber means less love for London’s traditional black cabs ]
But black-cab drivers think the test, which on average takes more than three years to pass, is a symbol of the city’s greatness that should be left alone.
“We’re the best city in the world and we should try and aspire to greatness in our cab driving,” said black-cab driver Tony Barker.
Research shows “The Knowledge” may stand up to its name. A 2011 study published by Current Biology showed qualified drivers experienced an increase in gray matter of the brain — involved in sensory perception and muscle control — and an altered brain structure.
The same changes were not shown in the brains of trainees who failed the test.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7uK3SoaCnn6Sku7G70q1lnKedZLumw9Jom6tll6e2pbjOnKJor6Bkf3F9lWhnamdgaXy2rsSrZJ2qmauys7%2BMnaanrF2drrexjK2mZqyRoLJuuM6nm6imo2K5prPEp5uaqqlisbO11aKloGWkmsC1ew%3D%3D