London’s black cabs are one of its most famous and recognizable features, and driving through the centuries-old city with a somewhat sarcastic, dry-humored cabbie is an experience that shouldn’t be missed.

But with the coming London Olympics, an MSNBC article is reporting that problems may arise “after taxi drivers had a request to raise fares by 22 percent turned down on Thursday.”

Because of London’s already narrow and congested roads, drivers are insisting they will stay at home or leave London during the Olympic Games rather than sit in the busy traffic.

The Licensed Taxi Driver’s Association union reported that thirty to fifty percent of members – which make up more than half of taxi drivers in London – stated they will not work during the games, citing reasons such as being “barred from using the 31 miles of Game Lanes designed to ferry athletes, officials, the media and VIPs to venues on time.”

Transport for London – the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in the city – has turned down the cabbies, as they were already permitted to raise their fares to cover rising fuel and insurance costs.

With the taxi union proposing drivers be allowed to impose weekend and night-time premium rates during the Olympics, which will ensure that some visitors on cheap flights to London use other means of London transport instead of inundating the roads, officials are hopeful an agreement will be reached that satisfies all parties involved during a most busy time for London.

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Source: MSNBC

Flickr Photo Credit: jtbarrett