Taxi Driver Online

Price hike for taxi fares proposed for Sevenoaks

https://www.kentlive.news/news/price-hi ... ed-2159646

Council chiefs will decide on Thursday whether to increase minimum distance fares by 21 per cent

Taxi fares in the Sevenoaks district look set to increase after drivers lobbied council chiefs for a rise in the maximum prices they are allowed to charge customers.

Members of Sevenoaks District Council's licensing committee will decide on Thursday (November 1) whether to raise the rates drivers set for distance travelled, waiting times and additional passengers.

It could mean a 21 per cent increase in the minimum fare from £3.80 to £4.60 from January next year.

But in a number of letters sent to the committee drivers said they were concerned this increase would seem misleading because the minimum fare would actually be for one mile and not the current 1158 yards.

One wrote: "The overnight fare from £3.80 to £4.60 would be unacceptable to most customers who will find other means to get home, such as getting picked up by car. This means fewer regular customers and less income for drivers."

Another wrote: "I firmly believe that if you set a flag fare of £4.60 then most people will not be very happy the reason is obviously the ordinary customer will see this as a rise of 80 pence."

The move comes after 85 drivers responded to a fares consultation with more than 90 per cent in favour and follows a drivers' petition presented to council chiefs.

Other options also being considered are an additional 10 pence per mile and a rise in waiting time from 40 pence to 45 pence per minutes.

Any increase would not apply to private cabs which cannot be hailed in the street and whose fares are not regulated by the council.

So a huge rise in flagfall, but distance increased from 1158 yards to 1760 yards (one mile).

So not so sure the typical trip would be that much different - what the customer would lose on the flagfall they'd gain on the extra distance.

Of course, half mile trips (say) would show a big increase, but not nearly so much on a trip of three quarters of a mile or more.

Thus increase overall not nearly as much as headline suggests, and overall not a huge amount, but will alienate the very shortest fares and may deter the longer fares if they see such a huge increase on the flagfall.

Surely better ways to implement a fare increase?

Really?

Folks who have gone out and spent fortunes are going to be that worried about 80p?

_________________
IDFIMH

Defo in terms of PR.

_________________
IDFIMH

Any driver who objects to a fare increase wants hanging upside down by their legs and hitting round the head with something hard.

Like Sussex said, they've been out and spent the thick end of £100 on a night out, are they going to be bothered about 80p?

Yes they would BIG TIME to people the taxi journey is not something tangible paying £4.80 for a drink or food is because they have consumed it but the taxi ride home is intangible because they have nothing to show for it

_________________
Taxis Are Public Transport too

Join the campaign to get April fools jokes banned for 364 days a year !

Might have a point if that was perfect description of everyone who took a taxi on Rate 2.