Taxi Driver Online

Can't be bothered with the number crunching here, but apparently it's a nine per cent increase, and it's the first for several years, so in the current climate the headline below seems to overdo things a tad.

But apart from that, not much to see here


Taxi fares in Bristol to see huge hike as fuel prices and cost of living surge

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bris ... ts-wrapper

The changes will come into force later this summer pending consultation, meaning many will face a higher cost for their journeys


Image: Bristol Post

Taxi fares in Bristol are set to see a huge hike as drivers struggle with the cost of living crisis.

Rising inflation, particularly affecting fuel prices, means taxi drivers are finding it harder to make ends meet from the trade. This summer fares in hackney carriages, the blue taxis in Bristol, will increase by about nine per cent, depending on when and how far the journey is.

Bristol City Council approved the fare increases, pending a two-week public consultation, at a cabinet meeting yesterday (Tuesday, July 12). Council bosses said taxi drivers had also been hit hard by coronavirus lockdowns and hospitality businesses closing.

Councillor Don Alexander, cabinet member for transport, said: “The trade has been hit hard by the impact of the pandemic, with the Government’s closure of hospitality in particular having a big impact on drivers’ incomes. It’s in this context that the trade has proposed changes to the fares charged by hackney carriages licensed by Bristol City Council.”

For a one-mile journey, day rates would rise from £4.40 to £4.80, night rates from £5.50 to £5.70, weekend day rates from £5 to £5.40, and weekend night rates from £5.60 to £5.80. For a three-mile journey, day rates would rise from £8.40 to £9.20, night rates from £10.10 to £10.70, weekend day rates from £9 to £9.80, and weekend night rates from £10.40 to £11.

Taxi fares haven’t risen in Bristol for four years, with the last rise taking place in October 2018 when some fares rose more than 11 per cent. The previous rise before this took place in 2013. The current rise will likely take effect this summer.

Cllr Alexander added: “I’m aware that these increases come at a time of huge pressure on household budgets, and I’m aware that fare rises will be a particular concern for regular users of taxis in the city. We have worked closely with the trade to ensure any fare rises are balanced and reflect the levels of demand for taxi services at different times.”

So fares rise by a higher % for day rates than night rates?

That makes so much sense.

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IDFIMH

9% last year, 10% this year.

Bristol taxi fares set to rise by up to 10 per cent

Taxi fares in Bristol are set to rise by up to 10 per cent, just a year after they last shot up by about the same amount. Drivers of hackney carriages – the city’s blue taxis – are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, soaring inflation and fuel prices and have asked the city council to increase journey rates, which are set by the local authority.

The rises depend on when and how far trips are, with the biggest being 9.8 per cent from £9.20 to £10.10 for a three-mile daytime ride. For one-mile journeys, day rates are set to go up from £4.80 to £5.10, night rates from £5.70 to £5.90, weekend day rates from £5.40 to £5.70 and weekend night rates from £5.80 to £6.

For a three-mile trip, night rates will increase from £10.70 to £11.30, weekend day rates from £9.80 to £10.70 and weekend night rates from £11 to £11.60. Journeys at Christmas and New Year will rise from £7.40 to £7.70 for one mile and from £14 to £14.90 for three miles.

Fares on other public holidays will be frozen at £6.40 for one mile and £13 for three miles. Mayor Marvin Rees ’s cabinet will meet on Tuesday, July 4, to approve the increases which will come into force after 14 days if there are no objections.

Any objections would have to be considered before the new prices are confirmed. Before last summer’s rises, which ranged from 5.8 per cent to 9.5 per cent, Bristol taxi fares had not gone up since 2018 when some were hiked by more than 11 per cent, and the time before that was five years earlier.

A report to cabinet said: “Due to the cost-of-living crisis, trade representatives submitted a request for a new revised table of fares to take effect from March 2023, however, due to the proximity of the last increase (August 2022) the decision was taken that no change was necessary at this time. As part of our ongoing commitment to the trade, representatives were instead invited to submit a new proposal in spring 2023.

“This has been received and proposes fare increases across all tariffs, with the exception of (public holidays) which will remain frozen. The increases are based upon a three-mile journey and will see increases ranging from between 5.4 per cent to 9.8 per cent.

“A further request has been made to increase the cost of carrying additional passengers from 30p/passenger to 50p/passenger. These increases are being justified on the basis of general cost-of-living rises and associated costs the trade are so sensitive to such as increased vehicle prices, parts, fuel and other general increases.

“However, care needs to be taken to balance the needs of drivers to earn a living and customers who rely on the service. Given current UK inflation rates, these proposed percentage increases seem reasonable.”

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IDFIMH

fares are going up quite a bit all over as driver numbers are down and higher fares needed to attract people back into the trade

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector