Mastering the knowledge typically takes students three to four years. Download your blue book runs and guide to taking the london knowledge. In may, london s guardian newspaper pitted a cabbie against a satnavequipped driver from uber, the new taxi company thats taking the worlds cities by storm by allowing passengers to book. Parallels the drivers of london s licensed black cabs must memorize every street to navigate the city. All licensed private hire vehicles have a distinctive transport for london licence disc in the front and rear windscreen. If you want to become a london taxi driver you must first complete the training and testing known as the knowledge. This is the only knowledge website with picture points.
In order to obtain this candidates have to pass through the world renowned knowledge of london. When he was doing blue book runs, mccabe would ride the streets all night, leaving when his wife got home from work at 9. For londons cabbies, job entails worlds hardest geography test. The knowledge all london taxi drivers are required to have a detailed knowledge of london within a 6 mile radius of charing cross. The time quoted is the time it took, but he was an experienced courier and ph driver when he started. The knowledge, londons legendary taxidriver test, puts. London s black cabs are easily recognized and a bit of a city attraction. All licensed london taxi drivers have to learn the famous knowledge and therefore have unrivalled knowledge of every street in london. Blue book runs are the basic training aid that sets out the foundation for learning the knowledge of london.
Londons taxis are worldfamous, in part because our taxi drivers know the quickest routes through london s complicated road network. The knowledge of london taxi knowledge test is considered one of the most rigorous examinations for taxi drivers in the world. Guide to learning the knowledge of london suburban drivers edition the guide to learning the knowledge of london is commonly known as the blue book. The knowledge, londons legendary taxi driver test, puts up a fight in the age of gps. Asher moses, a cabbie of 28 years, is the ceo of sherbet london, a dalstonbased company that rents taxis to drivers, manages a black cab fleet and arranges taxi ads. The knowledge of all 320 runs are contained in a blue book, all of which must be memorized if someone wants to. This is where the blue book is required, a handbook for budding taxi drivers which contains all of these routes and landmarks. There are 5 ways to get from las vegas to tequila by plane, train, bus, taxi or car. Blue book run 320 there are over 24,000 licensed taxi drivers in london. Unlike many other cities, the number of taxicab drivers in. It takes the average person between 2 and 4 years to learn the knowledge, a lot however depends on how much time and effort they are. The knowledge requires candidates to learn a total of 320 routes that crisscross london and are. As the brain remembers image more effectively than words we associate all of our points with pictures helping you to memorize points easier.
There are a number of knowledge schools that provide books, maps and. Its not a requirement but as a private hire driver you should do as a minimum the 320 blue book runs of the taxi london knowledge. So the appeal of the knowledge goes beyond the lure of selfemployment and a good wage to that of a heroic endeavour to boldly go where no man would think of going, if it wasnt in the blue book. If you are learning the taxi knowledge of london to become a licensed black cab driver you will need to complete the 320 blue book runs. Manufacturers, wholesale auctions, franchised and independent dealers, rental companies and financial institutions are among the data sources used to calculate new and used vehicle prices. Paperback if you are learning the taxi knowledge of london to become a licensed black cab driver you will need to complete the 320 blue book runs. These new transport for london approved runs have been professionally produced and offer the following features. What is the knowledge taxi test and why is the exam taken. London minicabs are now licensed by tfl london taxis and private hire. Private hire drivers, learn the 320 blue book runs uber. Similar to nadaguides, values published by kelley blue book rely on a constant flow of pricing information from various industry sources.
London taxi drivers go through stringent training to obtain their licence, they. Learn the knowledge of london transport for london. Licenced london taxi drivers are required to know every road and place of. Even if you never wish to become a london taxi driver.
Blue book runs to learn for the knowledge of london. It was initiated in 1865, and has changed little since. Las vegas to tequila 5 ways to travel via train, plane. And this is how the famous knowledge of london exam came about. London s cabbies say the knowledge is better than uber and a gps. When the candidate has completed his 320 blue book runs and. What is the knowledge taxi test and why is the exam taken by london s black cab drivers so tough. The 320 runs or, more accurately, routes contained in the blue book form the basis of learning the knowledge. The first book contains 80 of the routes, with the other three containing the other routes and example test maps as used by the pco. Knowledgepics helps individuals to revise and learn the blue book to become an all london taxi driver. Select an option below to see stepbystep directions and to compare.
Taxis can be hailed in the street and asked to go anywhere, so a thorough understanding of londons streets is essential. This chrysler pt cruiser looks like a london taxi autotrader. The routes contain 25,000 streets and around 20,000 monuments. Manor house station to gibson square, jubilee gardens to royal london hospital, dryburgh road to vicarage. The public carriage office pco, which regulates and licenses taxis and private hire commonly known as. This book contains the complete set of blue book runs that you will need for the knowledge of london. Mccabe went over the roof of the car, but suffered just a few scrapes and bruises. Routes in annex b there are 320 routes, known as runs which you should learn in detail as described below. If you want to earn the privilege of driving a london cab, you have to learn all 25000 streets off by heart.
Taxicabs are regulated throughout the united kingdom, but the regulation of taxicabs in. Part nine, remembering my first day as a london cabbie id finally been awarded the coveted green badge. Taxi driver candidates known as knowledge boys and, increasingly today, knowledge girls are issued a copy of the socalled blue book. Until the 19th century london s taxi drivers were unregulated. It takes the average knowledge boy, as theyre known, four years of intensive study to pass and be awarded the legendary green badge and with it the right to drive a hackney carriage a black cab. Get tips on how to tackle the blue book runs and taxi knowledge at how2become. He could have done it a little faster but he lost his focus part way through. In order to secure a taxi license in london, you have to pass a thorough test, proving that you know the city like the back of your hand. Blue badge style founder, fiona jarvis, was recently invited to the rca helen hamlyn centre, as they wanted disabled input on the karsan concept vi. You will also find minicab offices on most high streets. She said that one good thing about this is the door identification for partially sighted and the fact the wheelchair faces front and not back as in taxis today which sometimes makes me car sick. Created specially for the knowledge knowledgepics helps individuals to revise and learn the blue book to become an all london taxi driver.
Where do i find a copy of the london taxi knowledge blue. It takes the average person between 2 and 4 years to learn the knowledge, a lot however depends on how much time and effort they are willing to dedicate in learning it. Taxi drivers and the importance of the knowledge visitors to the london olympics can be assured of one thing their cab driver will know where they are going thanks to a rigorous test that. We are very excited to announce that our new style set blue book runs, containing 40 runs are now available to buy in store and online. To become a london taxi driver you need to send us an application. Little however is known about the regulation by anyone outside the trade. The knowledge, the fabled london taxi exam, amounts to learning the minutiae of over 25,000 streets and over 120,000 points. Following satisfactory character and medical checks, you will be sent a knowledge of london introductory pack.
How to become a london taxi driver knowledge of london. The knowledge of london runs and points recommended for you. However, one thing which people visiting the capital might sometimes fail to notice is the amount of moped riders zipping around the capital with a map fixed to the handlebars, occasionally stopping to make notes or mark something on the map. Learn how to pass the london taxi knowledge and become a london taxi driver. It formerly traded as london taxis international and carbodies it operated a coachbuilding business on holyhead road, coventry.
The knowledge of all 320 runs are contained in a blue book, all of which must be memorized if someone wants to gain their qualification. Would you advise learning the blue book runs in order or does it not matter as. They approached lti london taxi international about sending some cars over. For over four years, id fantasised about driving the iconic london black cab, and now, like. Taxicabs are regulated throughout the united kingdom, but the regulation of taxicabs in london is especially rigorous with regard to mechanical integrity and driver knowledge. Kelley blue book values blue book values kbb vs nadaguides. Black cabbies in the capital must learn some 320 routes through 25,000 streets off by heart in. These routes, know in the trade as runs can be found in the guide to learning the knowledge of london more commonly known as the blue book, even though for decades the cover has been pink, which is issued to anyone who wants to become a cab driver. There are infact four bluebooks that are used when learning the knowledge. London taxi knowledge blue book runs as part of the london taxi driver knowledge test you will be required to learn the blue book runs.
The knowledge of london 5 the equipment you need to learn the knowledge this guide to learning the knowledge of london has become known as the blue book and provides the basis from which to work. The knowledge, londons legendary taxidriver test, puts up a fight. All licensed london taxis have a fully regulated taximeter to ensure the price you pay is fair, accountable and visible at all times. All vehicles available for prebooking by london minicab drivers must hold a. Mannor house station to gibson square blue book run 2 duration. The routes are simply a list of journeys and the following three are example runs. These are issued by the public carriage office and in total there are 320 to learn.
After half a century making short runs of limited demand bodies for major manufacturers it was obliged to replace these now moribund. The metropolitan police were given the task of overseeing london s taxi drivers, making sure they were fit and proper and had sufficient knowledge of london to do their job well. This is where you will find a list of the 320 routes across london, as well as other information to help you during your studies. The problem is, london taxis are a bit on the pricey side, and it wouldve been expensive to bring them here, make them lefthand drive and legalize them. If you have not yet applied to become a licensed london taxi driver then you should visit the. Find out more about the process and how to get your own blue book at tfl. London taxi drivers are licensed and must have passed an extensive training course the knowledge. Londons cabbies say the knowledge is better than uber. If you want to book a private hire vehicle or minicab by telephone then most hotels and hostels will have a list of reputable, licensed operators. The knowledge is the test that drivers of london black cabs must pass to show. The person on the top didnt do the blue book before signing on the kol. A copy of the guide to learning the knowledge of london the blue book. The knowledge, londons legendary taxidriver test, puts up a.
All london drivers, also known as green badge drivers, need a detailed knowledge of london within a. No shortcuts to cab drivers knowledge the guardian. Peter allen on how london taxi drivers learn the names of the citys 25,000 streets. The london taxi company was a taxi design and manufacturing company based in coventry, england. This is why taxi drivers have to learn and pass the worldfamous knowledge. Taxi drivers and the importance of the knowledge telegraph. It consists of 7 stages, including a selfassessment, a written exam, 3 oral exams, a driving exam, and a series of talks to test your knowledge of london s roads, landmarks, and destinations. Londons traditional black cabs socalled, despite being of various colours and advertising designs are specially constructed vehicles designed to conform to the standards set out in the conditions of fitness. The knowledge comprises 320 routes which stretch across london.
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