31st March 2011
BLACK CAB FARES in Manchester are increasing by seven per cent, from tomorrow. A 10-mile journey after 10pm will cost an average of £26.20 - up from £24.40. The increase is to off-set the price of petrol and insurance, according to taxi drivers. George Simms, secretary of Manchester’s Taxi Owners and Drivers Association, said: "Many taxi drivers are essentially on the minimum wage and we have to be able to afford to live.”
Source;
http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk ... _17620.asp
ALSO
Black cab fares to rise by 7 per cent in Manchester
March 31, 2011
Black cab passengers in Manchester face a seven per cent increase in fares.
The inflation-busting rise will come into force for all journeys from tomorrow.
It means a 10-mile journey after 10pm will cost an average of £26.20 - up from £24.40.
Taxi drivers say the fare increases will off-set the high price of petrol and insurance. They claim without the hike, many drivers would go out of business.
George Simms, secretary of Manchester’s Taxi Owners and Drivers Association, said: "Many taxi drivers are essentially on the minimum wage and we have to be able to afford to live. The price of fuel has been in the news a lot so people know about that – it is creeping towards £1.40 per litre.
"But what a lot of people don’t know is that insurance costs have escalated by around 20 per cent. Without the increase, a lot of drivers couldn't afford to stay on the road."
The fare increase was approved at a meeting of Manchester council yesterday.
The town hall monitors fares to ensure job security for drivers and to make sure the cabs are in a good condition.
Other councils across the region have also confirmed hikes in black cab fares. In Stockport, prices will go up by six per cent, also from tomorrow.
In Wigan, fares increased earlier this month. They now start at £1.80 - a 5.8 per cent increase – with prices varying depending on the length of the trip.
Trafford council is consulting with drivers on an increase of around three per cent.
Drivers in Tameside are also consulting on a rise.
Town hall bosses in Oldham have approved a new fare system, which is based on how many people are travelling. Its fare increases range between 12.5 per cent and 50 per cent, if more than seven people are in the cab. No applications for rises have been made in Salford, Bury or Rochdale.
Kris Beuret, of the National Association of Taxi Users, said: "We would be very concerned about any price increases which would affect taxi users."
"Many people who use taxis depend on them because either they are disabled or they don't have any bus services. We don't want any users to be priced out of using taxis to get around."
A Manchester council spokesman said: "The fares have increased to reflect large increases in the cost of vehicle insurance and fuel.
"They will be clearly displayed inside all Manchester black cabs, so customers will be able to see what they should be paying."
Source; http://menmedia.co.uk/manchesterevening ... manchester
Login
Register
FAQ
