So it looks like that came in around 2016 - https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2016/october/all-london-black-cabs-to-take-cards-and-contactless-p

So it looks like that came in around 2016 - https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2016/october/all-london-black-cabs-to-take-cards-and-contactless-payments-from-mond https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2016/octobe... I wouldn't be surprised if it was TFL trying to force the black cabs to modernise and compete with uber.