Glasgow taxi drivers could be forced to accept card payments after more than 80 per cent of people who responded to a public consultation backed the change.
Councillors will meet on Wednesday (11 November) to decide whether to introduce new licensing conditions requiring the city’s black cab drivers to accept credit and debit cards.
The move follows growing complaints from passengers who find themselves unable to pay for journeys because some taxis only accept cash.
Glasgow City Council received 1,666 responses to its consultation, which ran between February and June this year.
Of those who answered the main question, 83.16 per cent supported making card payments compulsory, including almost 78 per cent who strongly agreed with the proposal.
Just over 14 per cent opposed the change.
Currently, taxi drivers in Glasgow are not required to accept card payments, although many already have machines installed in their vehicles.
If councillors approve the changes, drivers could be required to have a working card payment device available whenever they accept passengers.
Cash payments would still be permitted, meaning customers would retain the choice of how to pay for their journey.
A report prepared for the council’s Licensing and Regulatory Committee states: “Members will be aware from the consultation responses received that 83.16% of respondents were of the view that taxi drivers must accept payment of fares by credit/debit cards.”
Supporters of the change argued that fewer people now carry cash and passengers increasingly expect to pay by card or contactless methods.
Some said the existing arrangements could cause delays at taxi ranks, particularly late at night, when passengers discover that a driver cannot accept their preferred payment method.
Others suggested mandatory card payments would improve passenger safety by creating a transaction record and making it easier for people to get home.
The proposal has also attracted opposition from some taxi drivers.
Concerns raised during the consultation included the cost of purchasing card readers, transaction fees charged by payment providers and the potential for technical problems.
Drivers also warned that declined payments could leave them unable to collect fares at the end of journeys.
Some respondents argued that taxi drivers are self-employed and should retain the right to decide which payment methods their businesses accept.
Councillors will consider whether any new conditions should require drivers to provide receipts when requested and explain what happens when payment devices stop working or mobile networks are unavailable.
Draft conditions would require drivers to ensure their card machines are working before accepting fares and to inform passengers of any technical problems as soon as they become aware of them.
The council would not specify which card payment provider drivers must use, leaving operators free to choose their own equipment.
If the changes are approved, councillors will also have to decide when the new rules should come into force, including how they would apply to new licences and renewals.
Glasgow’s Licensing and Regulatory Committee will consider the proposals at City Chambers on Wednesday morning.