CHALLENGING TRAINING - BECOMING A LONDON TAXICAB DRIVER! During training, would-be cabbies, known as Knowledge boys or Knowledge girls, must learn the 320 main routes through Central London and some 25,000 streets within a six mile radius of Charing Cross. They usually follow these routes around London on a motor scooter, and can be identified by the clipboard fixed to the handlebars and showing details of the streets to be learned that day. Taxi-driver applicants must be of good character, meeting strict requirements regarding any criminal record, then first pass a written test which qualifies them to make an appearance. At appearances, Knowledge boys and girls must, without looking at a map, identify the quickest and most sensible route between any two points in metropolitan London that their examiner chooses. For each route, the applicants must recite the names of the roads used, when they cross junctions, use roundabouts, make turns, and what is alongside them at each point. There are no short cuts to becoming a black-taxi driver, however. They spend years driving through London learning thousands of routes and streets. It is claimed that the training involved ensures that London taxi drivers are experts on London, and have an intimate knowledge of the city. Having taking many taxi rides in London, I agree!
Posted on: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 23:12:03 +0000
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