Taxi Driver Online

Taxi fares raise ‘could put women at risk’



The tariff change could leave more women vulnerable on their way home. Picture: Julie Bull

PRICE hikes on late-night taxi fares have been blasted as ­irresponsible as it could lead to more women walking home when they are “at their most vulnerable”.

Kezia Dugdale, Labour MSP for Edinburgh and the ­Lothians, criticised the “party tariff” which could see fares start at £4.60, saying it would put women at risk.

Edinburgh’s baseline fee for night-time taxis currently starts at £3. The new fares – which would come into force between midnight and 5am – follow a lead set by Glasgow City Council.

But there are fears the move will result in people shunning a ride home and walking when it is not safe.

Ms Dugdale said: “The ­consequences would undeniably be fewer women getting in taxis and more women walking home. The chances are they are not going to be doing that with other women.

“We will get more women walking the streets on their own and it will make them ­vulnerable.

“You shouldn’t have to feel vulnerable walking the streets of the Capital on a Saturday night but that’s the position they would be put in.

“The reality is that Edinburgh is not a safe place to walk at that time of night on your own.”

Her concerns were echoed by anti-street harassment campaign movement Hollaback!, which said a lot of people took taxis out of fear of harassment.

A spokeswoman said: “Here at Hollaback! Edinburgh we hear from a lot of people – mostly women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning people – who always take cabs late at night, out of fear of street harassment and being assaulted.

“If prices for cabs go up members of these communities, and also students, young people and unsalaried, might not see going out as an option at all.

“This said, public transport should be made safer and more reliable. Getting a bus after 11pm often is not a real ­alternative to a cab since it involves waiting around at dark bus stops by yourself for up to half an hour.”

The latest fare review comes 20 months after taxi prices were previously raised and three years on from the ­start of the controversial £1 drop-off charge at ­Edinburgh Airport.

Raymond Davidson, secretary of the Edinburgh Taxi Association, said the catalyst for a more expensive tariff was to encourage more taxi drivers to work past midnight to cater for the “late-night rush hour”, particularly at weekends.

The new tariff proposal has been put out to consultation with a decision expected at a later date.

source: http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/ ... -1-2921192

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

Don't spend all the dough on booze, club entry, drugs and pizza. Then you'll have plenty left to get home with.

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

How about Ms Dugdale being so kind to tell the bars, clubs, restaurants, take-aways to cut their prices so that the vulnerable women will have enough dough left for the taxi fare home? Or better still being a politician what about cutting fuel duty?

Narks me how people accept everything else going up with the cost of living but hey the moment taxi fares have to go up its hell!

Couldn't have said it better myself. They moan about a £1.00 increase in fares when they've spunked £100 up the wall on beer.

^^^That about covers it ^^^

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

It's just so sweet to see Nidge and Gus getting on like a pair of bezzy mates;

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

So there is unmet demand after all?

If a driver wants to go home at a set time is a £1 a job going to keep him out?

Say they do 10 extra jobs, is a tenner going to make them work longer.

I understand in the grand scale a £1 to a punter shouldn't be here nor there, but it does sound the cab trade are trying it on.

Still at least the PH trade will be pleased.

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IDFIMH

how about ms dugnut campaign for cheaper electric so 1000's dont freeze to death or campaign for cheaper drugs for the nhs so ppl dont die from the lack of them or campaign for free heroin to registered users so they dont have to comit crimes to fund it are these ppl for real they take away a mans tools and expect him to build a house for them does any mp counciler live in a real world?

£6.45 a gallon for 35 mile

£2000 insurance

£7000 for radio

£12000 - £32000 invest for vehicle

£80 for one tyre

£1000 for clutch

where does she think this money comes from why not take a big dump in our faces you stupid b1tch

You tvvat

I'd sooner pay the £1 odd extra to get to the doorstep safely, I think many others will too.

Why don't they ask the bus companies to run late buses 24 hours a day? After all they get a fuel duty rebate every 3 months, maybe they'll do cheap fares back for the gay and lesbian communities.

Taxi chief slams plan to raise late-night fares


LATE-night taxi price hikes have been labelled a “rip-off tariff” by one of the city’s 
leading taxi chiefs.

Les McVay, who represents over 1200 drivers in his role as secretary of firm City Cabs, believes plans to increase fares will lead to increased “friction” between drivers and passengers and “hurt the city’s nighttime economy”.

Contentious plans to increase the city’s baseline fee from £3 for night-time taxis have been touted by licensing chiefs in an effort to encourage more drivers to work past midnight, particularly at weekends.

The new fares – which would come into force between midnight and 5am – follow a lead set by Glasgow City Council where it is understood drivers charge a baseline fee of £4.60.

Now, in a no-nonsense letter to the Evening News, Mr McVay, who is also chair of the Edinburgh Licensed Taxi Partnership, has outlined his fears. He said: “An additional charge on anyone going out at night is not the best way to resolve this.

“Not only would such a charge penalise those who go for a night out, we in the taxi trade believe it would increase friction between drivers and passengers at a time when this is a large part of the problem itself, with many drivers preferring to avoid the possibility of unfortunate incidents that can occasionally happen at this time of night.”

He added: “The trade would more importantly neither wish to put their safety at risk by individuals having to walk home who are unwilling to pay the extra charge.”

Instead Mr McVay feels the solution lies in the voluntary introduction of CCTV cameras to cut down on incidents ranging from disputes over fares to verbal or physical abuse against drivers.

He said: “The introduction of CCTV cameras will help transform the job of a taxi driver at night, providing protection for drivers and customers alike. I hope that the council will dismiss the rip-off tariff, and the damage it could do to the city centre.”

Tony Kenmuir, of rival city firm Central Taxis, said: “I don’t think raising the fares is a bad idea but I think instead of asking taxi drivers, the public should be consulted on whether they would pay an extra £1.50 to get a taxi at 3am.”

The plan to hike late-night prices was outlined in a council consultation document reviewing the structure of taxi fares.

Councillor Angela Blacklock, vice-convener of the regulatory committee and licensing sub-committee, said: “I’m not sure about CCTV as there are other issues mainly to do with privacy. We are seeking to encourage more taxis in the early hours of the morning and in doing so are looking at what has been successful elsewhere and are consulting on a range of ideas.”

http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/ ... -1-2921760

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

I bet he doesn't work nights on the streets? Put him in a cab after 11pm and see if he likes the £3 kick up. He wants a swift kick in the bollox.

Les McNuffintosay another of those all knowing drivers who thinks his voice is the voice of the crowd please Les explain how £1.80 is a difficulty when the bar is £22 for 4 drinks an a kebab is £6 if you want to act and get treat like a Thai ho then go to Thailand to work