Transport for London is asking if passengers should be able to pay for black taxis by card, as part of plans to help cabbies compete with car-booking company Uber.

TfL said there is currently no requirement for taxis to accept card payments, and only around half of drivers do, despite a recent survey suggesting 83 per cent of passengers would like to be able to pay by card.

The consultation is seeking views on whether card payments should be accepted.

There is no intention to stop taxis accepting cash payments or for taxis to become cashless, Tfl said.

TfL said its cashless proposal had been endorsed at a meeting with deputy mayor for transport Isabel Dedring, senior taxi trade representatives and car providers.

TfL's taxi and private hire general manager Helen Chapman said: "Card payments have become a central part of the lives of Londoners over the past few years - something that has only increased since the introduction of contactless payment.

"We are always trying to find ways we can improve the services that we offer to our customers and, with only half of taxis currently accepting cards, we are keen to hear whether passengers and drivers feel that this would be a worthwhile change."

The announcement comes a day after the release of video showing London Mayor Boris Johnson in a four-letter exchange with a black cab driver.

Upset at what they see as Mr Johnson's lack of action against Uber, cabbies have mounted protests, claiming Uber does not pay UK taxes and is not subject to the same restrictions as traditional black-cab operators.