The taxi drivers in London protested and brought Westminster to a stand still on July 17, 2012 over their ban from the dedicated Olympics traffic lanes. More than 200 of the popular black cabs arrived in the Parliament Square just before 2 pm as they blared their horns.
The taxi drivers were protesting against the organizers who developed the Zil Lanes which is available only for the Olympics officials, athletes and other approved vehicles. Jonathan Myers of the United Cabbies group union said, “There will be no access to these lanes for any traffic apart from the Olympics family. Taxis are excluded, which is unacceptable and wrong. This is a working city and we need to get around and do our job.”
Myers rubbished the claims that the London Athletes would be delayed and potentially miss the events without the dedicated lanes. The group union leader said that he hoped about 1,000 cabbies would assemble in the square by 4 pm which would have a huge impact on Tuesday night’s rush hour.
On the other hand the Transport for London criticised the protest calling it a ‘completely irresponsible protest’. John Mason the director of taxi and private hire said that they have worked tirelessly with the groups that represent the majority of hard working taxi drivers with as much access as possible.
