Every black taxi in London will accept credit card payments starting this year's October

Beginning October, all 22.500 licensed cabs in the UK capital will be required to accept credit cards.

The decision took by the board committee of Transport for London will enable both Londoners and foreign tourists to travel easier on the city streets and comes as a strategic move to face Uber competition.

London mayor Boris Johnson commented:

“It’s great news that with a quick swipe of a card, millions of passengers will be able to pay for their journeys in London’s iconic black cabs.

“It’s an essential part of modern life and it’ll make paying for your journey swifter and simpler than ever before.”

As a future plan, Transport for London aims to improve the project and directly connect card payment devices and taximeters, to enable an even easier payment method for the inhabitants and tourists here, increasing travel mobility and facilitating payment of fares.

Garrett Emmerson, TfL’s chief operating officer added:

“We believe the acceptance of card and contactless payments will be a huge plus for both taxi drivers and their passengers.

“The TfL network is seeing more and more contactless payments so this would bring the taxi trade into line with other transport services in the capital.

“It means that customers no longer have to check whether they have cash for a journey beforehand and will open up taxis to potential new customers.”