Carlisle taxi fares claim over under-inflated tyres Some taxi drivers in Carlisle could be overcharging passengers by deliberately under-inflating tyres to fool the meter, a city councillor has claimed.
The suggestion has been rejected by the Carlisle Taxi Association, which says tyre pressures have very little effect on the fare.
The allegation came from David Morton, a Conservative councillor for Belah and a retired police officer.
He told the regulatory panel this week: “As a regular user it amazes me that you can get a variety of taxis from the same venue, at the same time of day, to the same destination, and the price can vary by as much as 90p.
“There’s a fault somewhere in the metering system – or it could be tyre pressures.
“If tyres are over-inflated, the driver gets less money but if the tyres are under-inflated, they gain. I want the council to look at that. People are paying through the nose on some journeys.”
Licensing officer Barry Sharrock promised that mechanics would check tyre pressures when taxis came in for routine inspections every four months.
But Wayne Casey, chairman of Carlisle Taxi Association, believes there is another explanation for the variation in fares for identical journeys.
He said: “When a taxi is standing in traffic or travelling below 2mph, it clocks up waiting time at 20p for every 51 seconds. So traffic conditions will affect the fare. I’ve never heard of anyone under-inflating tyres. If you did that you would increase tyre wear and given the price of tyres that wouldn’t make sense.”
Mark Aldersey, of Infirmary Street Garage, who maintains taxis, said: “The idea is rubbish. The effect that a change in tyre pressure would have on the meter is minute.”
The regulatory panel meeting on Wednesday agreed to freeze taxi fares for at least a year.
The council reviews the level of fares every autumn.
Last year councillors approved an increase of 20p in the flagfall – which applies to the first 0.7 miles of each journey – adding 4.1 per cent to the cost of a two-mile trip.
This time licensing officer Sue Stashkiw recommended there was no increase, largely because fuel costs have fallen, offsetting increases in insurance and maintenance.
Overall, taxi drivers’ costs were almost unchanged.
She said: “In view of the small, 0.02 per cent rise in the retail price index for transport costs, members are recommended not to approve an increase in the hackney carriage tariff for the next 12 months.”
The tariff will be reviewed again in September 2013 where the RPI will be calculated over two years.
Taxi fares in Carlisle used to be the second highest in Cumbria.
However, increases elsewhere mean they are now close to the average.
A typical two-mile journey costs £5.30 in Carlisle, compared to £6 in South Lakeland, £5.50 in Eden and £5.40 in Barrow. I Allerdale it would cost £4.85 and £4.60 in Copeland.
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