Taxi Driver Online

BID TO CUT CITY TAXI FARES

The cost of hailing a cab could soon be forced down in a major shake-up being considered by council bosses.

There are currently just 58 Hackney cabs licensed to pick people up from the street and the number is strictly regulated.

But Exeter City Council may scrap the restriction on numbers and allow more competition in a bid to bring down fares.

A recent survey found Hackney fares in Exeter to be in the top 10 per cent nationwide.

The move to deregulate numbers is backed by business leaders and police, who believe more black cabs on the streets would help prevent late night trouble in the city centre.

City council leader Roy Slack said: "The Government is pushing legislation through to encourage us as much as possible to deregulate.

"We will be consulting with the taxi proprietors themselves and will put the case to them to see where we go from here. It's a very emotive issue because we are talking about Hackney drivers' livelihoods - so we have to get it right."

Between 7am and 7pm, a two-mile ride in one of Exeter's Hackney cabs should cost no more than £4.75. A similar trip between 7pm and 7am should cost no more than £5.90.

If the service were to be deregulated, the maximum price Hackney drivers could charge would remain the same.

But the drivers would be free to charge a lower fare - and private hire firms would also be encouraged to lower fares as a result of price competition.

Brian Thornton, chairman of Exeter Chamber of Commerce, said: "It is difficult to justify to business visitors to our city why Hackneys in Exeter are more expensive than the areas in which they trade or live.

"The current Hackney licensees are not providing an adequate service to the community in terms of cost and convenience."

Exeter police claim a rise in the number of black cabs taking people home away from drinking spots will reduce crime.

A police spokesman said many fights break out while revellers wait for available taxis. He said: "One of our main aims to to cut down on late night violence. When a crowd of people come out of nightclubs, we want to make sure as much transport is available as possible.

"More taxis picking people up from potential trouble hotspots is a good thing."

Last summer, the council's licensing committee voted in favour of granting another seven black cabs - a decision the Hackney drivers claim has decreased their revenue.

Carole Whittaker, chairwoman of Exeter Hackney Carriage Trade Association, said more black cabs on the streets threatened the livelihoods of many drivers.

She said: "If you open the floodgates, neither the old nor the new drivers will be able to make a satisfactory living. We are still having problems with the seven that were issued last year, and we have all had a drop in takings because of that. Some of the seven that started last year were disappointed with the returns they were getting."

Dave Aggett, from private hire firm Capital Taxis, said: "I think it's a good idea. It can only be a good thing for the public in terms of price and availability."

I am sick and tired of hearing the old sorry tale that more cabs means less trouble. We live in a society that will cause trouble at the drop of a hat.
Why do people not in the trade think they have the right to voice an opinion? logically the problem is too much alcohol so why not make clubs and pubs charge £10 per drink.... the problem would disappear very quickly. I bet that solution is never put forward by the pub and club owners.
Ged

We require the trade,not to be over stretched.
We require the trade to be prosperous,so the a percentage of the profit can go back into the trade,for new vehicles.
I also believe that not all owner/operators are lazy penny pinching swines.
Let us all make a decent living,employ drivers at a fare wage and give the public a good decent service.
And before the idiots start posting,have a think about this.
Everybody legit,taxes paid and life a bit easier.
Hope,Hope@Seek.

The ph lad has a point.

If they are cheaper than taxis, then the competition issue is the reason. Who is going to bump up their prices too much if the other operators dont?

Lets all be taxis, then we all know where we stand, and for that matter so do our customers.

The crazy thing is I suspect the Exeter trade would sooner the buses take home punters late at night, than license more cabs.

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IDFIMH

Thats all very well the police saying that extra cabs would cut down on trouble at kick out time for the clubs, all well and good for them, put another 200 hackneys on then there will be noone waiting when the clubs kick out but how are the poor sods supposed to earn a living for the rest of the week ?????

If that's the case then those extra 200 will be pretty stupid licensing vehicles they can't earn out of.

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IDFIMH

Oh but thats not a consideration for some on here, its all about them getting a plate, not about actually being able to make a living when they do, but I'll be accused of scaremongering for saying that so we'll just keep that to ourselves.

When I first started driving a taxi, for less than the minimum wage, in a restricted area, one of the first things that struck me was that plate holders were still moaning about a shortage of drivers - ie they would like to depress wages even further, if they could get their vehicles on the road more of the day.

OK, there may be individual cases to the contrary, but 'the trade' in restricted areas care not a toss about the livelihoods of others as long as it serves their interest, so this nonsense about people who want a plate not caring about others just doesn't rub Charlie.

Look at some of the evidence:

Brighton - attempts down the years to water down the knowledge test to let more drivers in.
Edinburgh - ditto, but the test WAS watered down.
Manchester - not long after bleating to the OFT about too many taxis, the GMB man there was bleating about a 'driver shortage'.
Dundee - less taxis, but MORE drivers.

Apart from that, your idea of fairness and consideration for others seems to be to charge them excessive rentals just to work (and if they say they want their own plate they just care about themselves) or let them pay tens of thousands for something that was issued for nothing by the LA.

Charlie, you should have called yourself Charlie the Feudal Baron or Charle the Cotton Plantation Owner.

Exactly who are the 'them' that you are talking about?

Are they the journeymen and women, that have no other choice but to work for others, or pay tens of thousands for something that the seller got for f*** all?

Or are the 'them' drivers that do the same knowledge and adhere to the same standards as others, but choose to work PH rather than feed the leeches, or queue jump their fellow colleagues?

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IDFIMH

A little up-date on the Exeter situation.

http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/displayNo ... rnalSearch

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IDFIMH