Taxi Driver Online

Not an unusual argument when fare rises are being considered, particularly these days, when competition from private hire is even more fierce than it once was

And the committee chair making the point here is one of the more switched on licensing councillors in the country, as I recall it.

And although the U-word isn't specifically mentioned here, it's obviously the elephant in the room.

And this is redolent of some of the arguments I put to the council during our own 'negotiations'. And in view of the numerous articles over the years about overranking in Worcester, to that extent it's particularly relevant to Fife and St Andrews


Worcester taxi fares set to increaser despite industry fears

https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/26 ... try-fears/

Taxi fares are set to rise across Worcester despite fears the price hike could damage the industry.

Worcester City Council has agreed to increase the maximum charges for Hackney carriage journeys, subject to a statutory consultation process.

The increases comes at the request of Worcester Taxi Association, which says it represents more than 200 drivers.

The changes include raising the flag fare - the initial hiring charge - from £4.30 to £5 on standard journeys (Tariff 1) and from £5.50 to £6.40 for Tariff 2, which applies from midnight to 7am and on Sundays, Bank Holidays and selected other dates.

The new rates are subject to a statutory consultation.

Niall McMenamin, principal licensing officer, said the council is responsible for setting the maximum amount that can be charged by Hackney carriages in the city.

“The fares are made up of an initial hiring charge, known as the flag fare, distance and time - so when it’s slow-moving traffic, Hackney carriage drivers aren’t losing out,” he told the council's licensing and environmental health committee on Monday (June 15).

He explained that the last fare increase was introduced in 2022.

Mr McMenamin said: "Fuel prices have skyrocketed recently. But it isn’t just fuel prices you’ve got to take into account.

"It's vehicle running costs, licence fees have increased each year, and the cost of living just generally.

"This committee has to balance the Hackney carriage drivers - they need to make a living - with travelling members of the public."

Committee chairman Councillor Richard Udall raised concerns about the impact on passengers.

Cllr Udall said: "Our number one priority has to be the consumer.

"We’re asking the consumer, who is already hard-pressed with the cost of living, to find extra money for the use of a taxi.

"But we have to balance that with the need of the business to survive in today’s climate."

He warned that higher fares might reduce demand and push customers toward cheaper options.

Cllr Udall said: "Taxi drivers could be forcing themselves out of business - they could be pricing themselves out of trade, especially as there is considerable competition out there in the form of private hire vehicles, who will and can do their job for considerably less, albeit on a pre-booked basis.

“I’ve got serious concerns about the impact this will have on the taxi industry. I don’t think they can understand or appreciate the difficulties for the consumer, or the fact the consumer does have a choice.

“This will potentially be damaging to the industry.”

Competition from private hire companies

Councillor Louis Stephen said: "I can’t get my head round this. Why, if you’re already under pressure, you’d want to put your prices up because suddenly you’re going to be at even more of a disadvantage."

Mr McMenamin admitted: “Competition is fierce. The model of app-based private hire companies is to undercut taxis.

“Young people wouldn’t consider getting in a Hackney cab.”

Cllr Udall said most journeys from The Cross in Worcester are under a mile, meaning the typical fare will rise from £5 to £5.60.

A two-mile journey currently costs £7, compared to £6.72 in Malvern Hills, £6.20 in Wychavon, £7.60 in Birmingham, and £8 in Shropshire.

The fare rise will only apply to Hackney carriages - taxis that can be hailed on the street or hired from a rank.

Private hire vehicles, which must be pre-booked, are not affected.

Maybe it's a bit different in Worcester. But in much of the country, twas ever thus - not just app-based private hire

(But certainly a more accurate way of describing the likes of Uber than 'ride-hailing' etc )



If you want a few words to encapsulate why Uber et al threaten the legacy trade in both the short- and long-term, then that's it.

Except, perhaps, that by the time the oldies have died off and people are only using apps, we'll have moved on to driverless cars anyway

Blimey, this fella must have read what I posted about the Sheffield fuel price rises.

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IDFIMH

I beg to differ.

Your number one priority is the viability of the taxi trade, because without that, those punters will be going nowhere, or they will be going in unsafe vehicles.

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IDFIMH

So, Councillor Udall, are you saying you know the trade better than the trade itself?

Maybe, just maybe, they know their punters infinitely better than you do.

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IDFIMH

Maybe because they want to keep their houses and feed their families.

Do we get stupid comments from councillors like this when the poll tax goes up year after year?

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IDFIMH