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Some bad reviews have the power to change an entire industry. For London’s taxicabs, that moment was the Exhibition of 1851. The fair’s Crystal Palace in Hyde Park was an engineering marvel, and the entire populace wanted to experience the glass structure close up. The problem? Many cabmen at the time, transporting fairgoers in their hackney carriages, had a lot of difficulty navigating the massive city, leading to many complaints of delays to city authorities. The resulting solution led to the creation of one of the most difficult exams in the entire world: the Knowledge.
Crafted in 1865, the Knowledge became a compulsory assessment for all licensed cabdrivers in the city of London. Requiring the memorization of 25,000 streets, 20,000 points of interest, and 320 routes within a 6-mile radius of Charing Cross, it’s a test that, at its mention, can still send shivers down a seasoned cab driver’s spine. For most of London’s prospective drivers, it takes about three to four years to complete, due to the sheer amount of knowledge required. To help sear the city map into their brains, most cabbies will learn the streets by riding a bicycle or moped, learning the routes through muscle memory.
Once an applicant feels ready to begin the process, they must go through a series of seven stages to obtain that coveted London license. Starting with a self-assessment of the first 80 routes in London’s Knowledge Blue Book, candidates then have to pass a written examination. Passing through those hoops, three to five oral “appearances” with an examiner have to be scheduled to test one’s ability in finding the fastest route between two coordinates. Finally, after passing a suburban exam, a student of the Knowledge can finally become a London black taxicab driver. Are you sweating? Because we are sweating.
With the sheer amount of time needed and the difficulty of the subject, one could compare this process to acquiring a law or medical degree. The resulting cab network, however, is one of, if not the best, in the world. Any local or visitor in London can hop into a cab, ask to be driven to a specific destination, and get there swiftly without ever needing a phone app. Even to Crystal Palace.
