Taxi Noir: A Brief Perambulation around Fleet Street
People think that because I drive my taxi around London all day I know all the best places to go, or know all the history. I don’t. I...
Taxi Noir. On Your Bike
Welcome to London, and the wild West End. Last summer there was an epidemic of people whizzing around London on motorised kids’ scooters. They were getting in everyone’s way...
Taxi Noir; Identity Crisis
Transport for London’s re-licencing rejection of Uber highlighted the practice of their drivers swapping ID. Passengers were being driven by people who pretended to be someone else – 14,000...
Taxi Noir: Brewing Up a Storm
As I sit at my PC typing this, the wind is howling outside. We’re advised not to venture out unless our journeys are essential. The port of Dover is...
Taxi Noir: Back 2 Skool
I’ve been trying to get out of the cab game for some time. To this end I’ve been working towards becoming a Health & Safety Adviser. I gained the...
Taxi Noir: Billionaires Row
I occasionally find myself driving my cab along one of London’s most upmarket streets; The Bishops Avenue. Some people say it’s in Hampstead, others Highgate. While it’s close to...
Taxi Noir: The Truth about Cats & Dogs
I joined the B-C-ing-U team half way through the year. When asked for the favourite article I wrote in 2019, I’d probably go for the light-hearted one about carrying...
Taxi Noir: Boris Johnson’s Channel Bridge
So, Boris Johnson has been mandated to govern the UK for another four years. I shan’t be drawn into making value statements on the outcome of the recent General...
Taxi Noir: Save the Trees
I hate working this time of year. I love Christmas, but I hate driving around London in my cab. I dread that moment in November when I’m stuck in...
Taxi Noir: Great British Pubs – The Bartons Arms, Birmingham
As an aficionado of traditional British pubs it’s always a pleasure to visit the Bartons Arms in Birmingham. This stunning pub presents an outstanding example of classic pub...
Taxi Noir: The Truth about Cats & Dogs
I’ve spoken a bit in recent articles about the passengers I pick up in my taxi, but not all our passengers are human, of course. We are obliged to...
Taxi Noir: Celebrity Passengers
One category of person that I didn’t talk about in my discussion of taxi passengers was the celebrity. People are always fascinated hearing about the famous people we pick...
Taxi Noir: Y Viva Espana
Many of us enjoyed a week or two away this summer. As ties with our European neighbours have become a bit strange with Brexit looming I was sensitive to...
Taxi Noir: Cab Passengers
This week I’m going to talk about relations with the passengers I get in my taxi. I’ve talked a fair bit about the Knowledge of London and the part...
Taxi Noir: Starting Out as a London Cab Driver
Cab driving in London is one of the most democratic occupations known to man. How many other occupations allow you to start training with no previous qualifications, then offer...
Taxi Noir: The Knowledge (Part 2)
Welcome to Part Two of a run-through of the Knowledge of London, the training that London taxi drivers have to go through to get licensed. The first part is...
Taxi Noir: The Knowledge
Last time I promised to say more about the training that prospective London taxi drivers have to go through: the Knowledge of London. Right, fasten yourself in, it’s going...
Taxi Noir: An Introduction
I offer a warm welcome to anyone about to read my first introductory piece – and of course a big Hello to my fellow contributors. My name is Chris...