Taxi Driver Online

Holy mother of God

Thought the numbers in here were a bit confusing (so no change there, then) but was at least getting the gist of it. But some of the comments from councillors...

Another one that requires a wee lie down before commenting


Council protects Gwynedd's vulnerable and elderly amid taxi rate rise plans

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north- ... y-25344682

Costs for shorter journeys could stay the same to help those dependent on cabs

A council has agreed recommendations to increase the maximum price for hackney cab fares - but costs for shorter journeys could stay the same to protect the vulnerable.

Cyngor Gwynedd's general licensing committee proposed that journeys after midnight, mini-bus use, baggage carriage, valeting fees and bank holiday maximum fares should rise - when it met on Monday (October 24).

But journeys of less than a mile, currently costing £3.60, and where the journey was more than a mile for the first mile, costing £3, would not change. According to the council shorter taxi journeys are usually used by people such as the elderly and vulnerable who can't travel any other way.

A 14-day public consultation over the changes was also recommended before any fees could implemented. The council has a statutory duty to control the maximum hackney taxi carriage fares - the changes don't affect private cabs.

Additional tariffs are mooted for journeys in a mini-bus for between five and eight passengers to rise from £3 to £3.30. The maximum costs for transporting additional bags in the taxi vehicle's boot could go up from 30p to 50p and professional valet cleaning - a fee imposed when customer soil vehicles - from £45 to £120.

For hiring the vehicle between midnight and 7am, or any day or at any time on a Bank Holiday, except for Christmas Day and New Year's Day, would rise 50% in addition to the basic rate of £4.50, and 60% in addition to the basic rate of £4.80.

Any objections raised during the public consultation would be referred back to committee before a final decision made.

The last price rise was 2019, when the maximum rate had increased for a two mile journey from £5 to £6 pounds.

Taxi firms had called for further increases following the impact of the pandemic, the effect of lock downs on trade, rising fuel costs and inflation.

Environment department assistant head Gareth Jones told the meeting "In terms of maximum fares, what many taxi companies now propose is increasing the rate for the first mile from £3.60 - to £4 pound as short journeys cost them the most." He said.

"But what we what have to bear in mind is this type of short journey is usually for people who can't travel any other way, are reliant on taxis for short day-to-day journeys, often likely to be the elderly and most vulnerable."

"We have to strike a reasonable balance regarding the taxi firms, but not do something that negatively impacts the public. We suggest the tariff for short journeys stay the same to protect the most vulnerable.

"We also propose an increase across other elements, an additional tariff for journeys in a mini-bus for 5-8 passengers, a maximum cost for transporting bags, for professional valet cleaning and an increase in cost of hiring a vehicle between 12- 7am, all day on a bank holiday,"

Cllr Eryl Jones Williams said the proposals were "generous and fair" and supported the recommendation "100 percent."

Cllr Brynmor Hughes supported them but highlighted the cost of taxis for people on the Llŷn travelling to Aberdaron, Abersoch and Pwllheli.

"People complain about prices, they are awful no one controls what taxis charge, they charge what they like."

Mr Jones explained the maximum fares proposed were only for hackney vehicles. "If they go above the maximum fare that is a matter of regulation" he said.

He queried if the example related perhaps to private firms who could set their own rates and checks would be made, and the councillor said he would check.

Cllr Gwynfor Owen queried the valeting fee. "When you think of someone soiling the vehicle you think of someone who is drunk, my concern is for those who may be very ill.

He also agreed the first mile cost should stay at £3.60 "to help the vulnerable," but said he had heard of cases where taxis refused short journeys because they "weren't worth it."

Mr Jones explained the valeting fee rise was necessary in cases where people had been on a night out rather than "exceptional situations" where someone might be ill. The fee was discretionary. "There is no evidence that taxis were refusing people short journeys," he added.

Cllr Angela Russell suggested that £120 for valeting was high" saying "you can clean an entire holiday home for that, it seems a bit excessive."

She also said for people in towns like Caernarfon, Bangor and Pwllheli it was easier for people to get taxis but in places like Aberdaron "people are stuck" adding that rises "could affect business", if people couldn't make journeys to shop.

Mr Jones said "It isn't easy, some of these maximum fares do need to increase there's pressures on the taxi industry and there are people who depend on their services, it's a challenging situation."

Cllr Edgar Owen also had concerns over businesses and Cllr Gareth Williams sympathised with the drivers facing diesel costs.

"As you have said there are vulnerable people who are reliant on taxis - it is challenging."

Cllr Eryl Jones Williams, agreed the report was "very fair" but asked if there was a way to looked into "finding out if taxis had refused short journeys," he had concerns for women travelling.

Mr Jones said "Someone would have to report this to the licensing committee so we could investigate."

Cllr Eryl Jones Williams added "If a taxi refused it is up to the person to get in touch with the department, but by then it is too late, that person could have been be at risk going home at night."

Cllr Gwynfor Owen added "But, the only way we can know, is if people report it. "

Think something must have been lost in the translation, there

Sounds like a longer run is cheaper than a shorter run

Maybe they conduct business in Welsh, so it all needs a good translator

(I'll be getting accused of racism now )


So T2 runs are being hiked 50-60 per cent?

Can't find a tariff card, but I'd guess that's the premium for T2 fares rather than how much they're going up, but who knows - it's not clear at all from the above


So a licensing councillor is moaning about 'taxi' fares, but when an official says his point may be about unregulated private hire fares, the councillor says he'll have to find out?


Fair point in a way, and upping the charge from £45 to £120 is a fair old, er, uplift.

But how often is it because of illness rather than a pish-head, even though they often claim it's because they're 'ill'

And it's discretionary (as the council official points out) and even in the worst cases, what are the chances of actually getting £120?


What's the worst vomiting you've had, and how much would it cost for a professional valet, and all the down time? As we all know, a bad case and it goes everywhere.

And I doubt you'd get much of a holiday home clean for £120. Maybe a bit of hoovering and dusting rather than a deep clean. I mean, if someone vomited in one of the holiday homes...

As for the stuff about refusing short trips, of course they're right to point out that there's not much they can do unless people report it, which probably doesn't happen that often in places like this.

But the council officer seemed quite dismissive, and basically said that because no one complains, then it's simply not happening:


Of course, it's not an easy thing to address unless it's widespread and there's enforcement exercises by LOs out on the streets etc.

But this smacks of no-one from the council ever on the streets, and someone behind a desk (or one of the new laptop class) saying 'nothing to see here' because it never comes to the attention of officials.

Drives me f******* mad when coucillors talk about the vulnerable when setting taxi fares?

Reminds me of what a driver recently told councillors to their faces at a local taxi forum.

I want to thank those councillors who supported the trade's application. Which worked out about 1.9% a year since the last increase, prices have risen 11% in those years. So, we were asking for less than half of our cost-of-living increase. Yet some councillors acted like we were asking for the crown jewels. Those councillors who voted against the increase are licensing councillors, they should have shown understanding of the taxi trade, yet their words sadly confirmed their complete naivety of the workings of it. 300,000 people work and live in B&H and out of those 300,000 only 5 people vote against the increase. So, who was right? The five or 300,000? What was particularly upsetting was the comment about the effects on the poor and vulnerable, as if the trade is full of thugs and thieves. Let me tell those councillors a little bit about the taxi trade. For the last two years drivers have earnt next to nothing, a significant number of drivers are on some version of government benefit or support, the suicide rate of taxi drivers is way above average, and taxi drivers have the 5th highest mortality rate from covid. So, when a councillor mentions the poor and vulnerable, trade representatives are fully aware of them because in the main that's who we represent. But it didn't end there. Almost unique in the 175 years of taxi licensing, councillors agreed that we could have our earnings decreased if inflation reduced. Would those councillors do that to the bin men, would they do that to council officers? Or is it just taxi drivers that deserve that insult? Shame on them.

_________________
IDFIMH

Based on no evidence whatsoever.

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IDFIMH

So if someone pi****s or sh**s on your seats it's ok if they are a tad poorly.

_________________
IDFIMH

Of course, I suppose being ill and soiling the cab might just stretch to giving birth

Not the first time we've read an article like this, although it's presumably about a private hire charge rather than a regulated HC tariff


IT'S SO UNFARE! I gave birth in the back of a taxi – I was shocked when the cab firm sent me the bill

https://www.thesun.co.uk/motors/2029189 ... ning-bill/


Image: Doug Seeburg/News Group Newspapers Ltd

A MUM who gave birth in the back of a cab at 40mph was shocked when the firm sent her a £60 cleaning bill.

Farah Cacanindin, 26, unexpectedly went into labour five ­minutes into a 13-mile trip to hospital for a routine check-up.

She delivered daughter Naia herself in the Vauxhall Vivaro while the cabbie phoned ahead to alert staff at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

Days later, Farah, from High Wycombe, Bucks, was billed for £90 by Arrow Taxis, — the cleaning plus a £30 fare.

Farah, also mum to 15-month-old son Kairo, said: “I understand that I did make a mess but it’s a bit cheeky to have charged me.”

The analyst added: “It was the quickest labour ever.

“My waters broke five minutes into the journey.

“The driver asked if I wanted him to pull over but I said to keep going as I believed I would make it before she was born.”

Farah wrapped Naia in her jacket after the arrival on the A4128 at Cryers Hill, Bucks.

She said: “When we got to hospital, midwives were waiting and were shocked.

“It was surreal. I didn’t have a chance to be scared.”

She added: “The funny thing is the taxi firm is just down our road.

“I see the van I gave birth in right outside my house.”

Arrow Taxis declined to comment.