Taxi Driver Online

Wokingham black cab fares: No change to existing rates

A licensing committee decided to keep black cab fares as they are, despite many drivers saying they wanted fares to increase

Black cab fares in Wokingham will stay the same after councillors rejected plans to increase prices for passengers.

A joint licensing committee between Wokingham Borough Council and West Berkshire Council met to review Hackney Carriage fares at a meeting on Tuesday, June 16 but opted to keep tariffs as they are.

In the lead-up to the meeting 100 drivers were asked for their thoughts on the fare review. Of these only one elected for no change.

Four potential changes were put before the committee. These were:

•Between 6am and 10pm fares will start at £3 up to 704 yards or 150 seconds and increase 20p every 147 yards or 30 seconds. This will increase by 50 per cent between 10pm and 6am, and on bank holidays, and by 100 per cent on Christmas Eve and Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day

•Retain existing fares but charge 25 per cent extra between 6pm and 11pm

•Keep the 50 per cent increase as above but extend it to every day, including Christmas, Box Day and New Year's

•No change to existing tariffs

The consensus among drivers was to go with the first option.

Consultations with a taxi operative revealed changing the time, as stated in the second proposal would increase revenue by 21 per cent.

Changes affecting the base rate would see a 15.8 per cent increase and changes to the increment would result in a 12 per cent increase.

A report to the licensing committee said: "Realistic rates must be set by the council that balances the economic needs of licensees, whilst ensuring people using Hackney Carriages are not overcharged.

"There is also the need to ensure Hackney Carriage proprietors are not priced out of the market to private hire firms."

source: http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/readin ... no-9511468

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

always trouble with fare increases here; viewtopic.php?f=2&t=22849&hilit=wokingham

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Anyone who doesn't want a fare increase is a belmer.

Does Inflation not occur in Wokingham?

Besides. if you defer Increases for to long, then when they actually do happen they appear to be way more than is proportionate..Little and often is better than a lot once in a while, People aren't so put off that way.

Wonder if the Councillors have turned down Pay and Expenses increases around in Wokingham.