Taxi Driver Online

Couldn't be bothered with this last week, but not much news around because of the holiday

But spot the missing figure in the third paragraph - the paragraph with the figures for the rises.


Taxi fares rise in Salford

https://www.salford.gov.uk/your-council ... n-salford/

Proposals to increase ‘black cab’ (hackney carriage) fares have been given the go ahead by Salford City Council.

The request for a 'small increase' came from the Salford Hackney Carriage trade association to reflect the 50 per cent increase in fuel costs since the last fare increase in December 2018 and other cost of living pressures. The new costs will apply from today.

Depending on the time of hire and distance travelled, fares will rise by between 56 pence for a two-mile journey between 5am and 10pm and £3.64 for a two-mile journey at Christmas and New Year. The average national fare for a two-mile, tariff one journey in August 2022 was £6.46 according to a league table published by Private Hire Trade Monthly magazine.

Drivers say most hires are for short journeys on the cheapest tariff and added: “We are very aware that too much of an increase would have a detrimental effect on the trade so we’re seeking this small increase for now, with a view to a further review with a potential increase in 2023.”

Councillor Barbara Bentham, lead member for environment and community safety, said the last fare increase in Salford was in December 2018 when diesel prices were significantly lower at £1.33 per litre.

“We appreciate any increase in costs is unwelcome at present, but taxi drivers are an important part of our national transport system and they too have to make a living. Salford is not alone in raising fares and despite this small increase our fares remain below the national average,” she said.

Salford currently has 117 licensed Hackney Carriage drivers and 92 licensed Hackney Carriage vehicles.

The new fares are as follows [bottom part of page]:

https://www.salford.gov.uk/your-council ... n-salford/

Funny the way they provide figures for the rises over two-miles, but not the total fare figures for the actual run. Meanwhile, the PHTM national average figure for the two-mile run is quoted

Which the cynic in me thinks is because the council is trying to hide something, therefore doesn't state the actual figure. But even after the rise the two-mile T1 run is still only £5.80, so you'd think they'd be trying to highlight that rather than hide it, so I'm guessing the reason the £5.80 isn't stated in the text is simply an error.

On the other hand, they actually state that the Christmas and New Year two-mile run is hiked by £3.64, which you'd think they wouldn't want to particularly highlight, but I tend to ignore the festive fares myself just to keep things straightforward

To be fair, the council's press release does provide a very good summary of the increases in the form of a table.

Actually, scrap what I said earlier. In the press release they've actually given the rise for the Christmas five-mile run rather than the two-mile run, which is why the stated £3.64 rise seems so big (up from £20.76 to £24.40)

The actual two-mile rise at Christmas is £1.40 (up from £10.20 to £11.60).

And no doubt the fairies will be paying for your increases in living costs.

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IDFIMH