Taxi!

In London, the licensed black taxi cabs are permitted to drive in bus lanes whilst minicabs are not, except to pick up or set down pre-booked passengers.  In addition, it is only the licensed black taxi cabs that are permitted to use meters in their vehicles to charge customers based on distance and time. 

Both of these rights reserved to black taxi cabs are currently the subject of legal disputes.

One of the biggest private cab firms in London, Addison Lee, is pursuing a challenge to the bus lane rules.  The case is currently before the UK's Court of Appeal.  It has now referred to the EU's highest court the question of whether or not the rules which allow black taxi cabs but not private hire vehicles (i.e. minicabs) to drive in bus lanes, amounts to state aid.  State aid, which involves a benefit being conferred on a company via state resources resulting in a distortion of competition, is unlawful under EU law.  Addison Lee's position is that using the bus lane