Taxi Driver Online

The numbers here not particularly interesting, but the split in the trade echoes that elsewhere, particularly as mentioned recently in Barrow and Inverness.

So one group saying they need increases to cover increased costs, while another groups says that trade is declining, and they're facing competition for PH (Uber in particular mentioned here).

Big difference here with Barrow and Inverness though is that it just seems to be a split in the HC trade rather than a major circuit pushing for increases.

The article says that representatives of 'independent' HCs support the increase, as does the HCA.

However, another group are objecting, and I'm assuming they're independents as well. Or maybe the 'representatives' of independents are the HCA, and the others are, er, independent independents.

Anyway, who knows precisely, but in terms of the arguments it's simply same old, same old split.


Taxi fare rise approved for Sunderland - here's how much you will pay

https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/pol ... ay-1324111

A bid to increase taxi fares in Sunderland is set to go ahead, despite opposition from some drivers.

In recent months, Sunderland’s Hackney Carriage Operators’ Association (SHCOA) applied to the city council to increase fees.

Under a hackney carriage licence, drivers can take on both pre-booked work and be flagged down from customers.

In Sunderland, drivers have to operate under a council fare structure which sets the maximum fee that can be charged for set distances.

New proposals aimed to increase fares by 2.9% on average with rises of between 20p to 60p for certain journeys.

On November 25, Sunderland City Council’s Regulatory Committee heard several licensed hackney drivers had objected to the changes.

And a 41-signature petition submitted to licensing bosses claimed the fee changes could damage the taxi trade.

Michael Young, speaking on behalf of objectors, said drivers were facing competition from rival companies, Uber and private hire firms and fighting a lack of footfall in the city centre.

He told the meeting: “Speaking to our customers who are regulars they say if there’s any increase at all we’re going to lose more trade.

“It might not during the day when there’s footfall but on the evening there’s nothing and a lot of independents work on the evening.

“If there’s an increase it actually jeopardises a lot of jobs.”

A report prepared for the committee said representatives of independent hackney carriage operators in Sunderland and Washington supported the plans.

Councillors also heard that the changes in Sunderland were comparable to other taxi fares across the North East.

Trevor Hines, speaking on behalf of SHCOA at the meeting, said taxi fares were an “emotive subject” and that he understood concerns.

Since the last Sunderland increase came into force in April 2018, he explained, taxi drivers were facing increasing costs to keep their cars on the road.

This included fuel prices, insurance, road tax, repairs and maintenance and an “exponential increase” in customers using debit and credit cards as a payment method.

Mr Hines added that the changes would help drivers “absorb” these costs, including increases in living expenses due to inflation.

A letter from SHCOA submitted to the council added: “It is once again with great reluctance that we’re making this application but it is felt that it is necessary under the current prevailing circumstances and it is now over 18 months since we last applied for an increase.”

Following discussion, the proposal was passed by a vote of 8-1 with a sole objection from Coun Steven Bewick.

The council will now consult on the bid for two weeks before changes can come into force.

Any comments received during this period will be considered by Sunderland City Council.

However, the changes will not apply to private hire firms which set their own fare structures.

]How hackney carriage fares are set to change in Sunderland

Tariff one – Monday – Saturday 7.00am to 11.00pm (with exception of public/ bank holidays and the Christmas / new year period.)

One-mile journey – £4.20 (no change)

Two-mile journey – £5.80 (20p increase)

Two-and-a-half mile journey – £6.60 (20p increase)

Three mile journey – £7.40 (20p increase)

Four-mile journey – £9.20 (40p increase)

Five-mile journey – £10.80 (40p increase)


Tariff two – Monday – Saturday 11.00pm and 7.00am and all day Sunday (with the exception of public/ bank holidays and the Christmas / new year period.)

One-mile journey – £5 (no change)

Two-mile journey – £7.20 (20p increase)

Two-and-a-half mile journey – £8.20 (20p increase)

Three mile journey – £9.40 (40p increase)

Four-mile journey – £11.40 (40p increase)

Five-mile journey – £13.60 (60p increase)


Tariff three – 6pm-7am from December 24-27 and December 31-January 2 and all day on other public and bank holidays.

One-mile journey – £6 (no change)

Two-mile journey – £8.20 (20p increase)

Two-and-a-half mile journey – £9.20 (20p increase)

Three mile journey – £10.40 (40p increase)

Four-mile journey – £12.40 (40p increase)

Five-mile journey – £14.60 (60p increase)

Apart from the students, wouldn't say there's been an 'exponential increase' here, even though we have lots of tourists etc. At least, no huge increase as regards rank work.



An odd way to portray this. Normally the sample trips would be increasing by a larger amount as you go down the table, while this one drops a two-and-a-half mile trip in the middle for some reason

There's also this from Aberdeen this morning, which isn't very exciting, and I think there's a couple of previous pieces on it.

But here the opposition to the fare increases is from Unite, but looks like they're going ahead anyway.

However, it says 'no one took part' in the consultation, which is why it's going ahead. I assume that's referring to the second stage of the process.


Aberdeen residents will face 7% taxi hike from next year

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/ne ... next-year/

City councillors have been advised to rubber-stamp a 7% rise in Aberdeen taxi fares from January.

Next week’s licensing committee is recommended to give the final sign-off for the increase, which would take effect from January 29.

Last month, the committee approved the rise in principle, following a consultation.

However, nobody took part which means the hike has been recommended.

The trade has been split on the issue, with some drivers arguing that rising costs of keeping their vehicles on the roads mean the fare rise is necessary.

However others, including the Unite trade union, felt that further costs to passengers would mean fewer people using cabs.

The taxi trade has been hit hard by the downturn in the oil and gas industry and a decline in previously lucrative airport runs.

The rise, if approved, will mean a 12% increase over the last two years – although there was no increase in the seven years previous to that.

An appeal can still be lodged with the traffic commissioner against the new fare structure.

The report to councillors at next Tuesday’s meeting reads: “Copies of the new taxi tariff card are required to be produced and issued to all taxi and private hire licence holders to be displayed in their vehicles, approximately 1,230 and this will be funded from the taxi licensing budget.”

Those that oppose the increase can always offer a discount if they wish.
We recently changed to private Hire so that we could increase our fares because it is taking forever to get a change in the Council tariff and it has had a very minimal effect on our business. We have had 2 or 3 people moan about the increase but we have gained a lot of customers from the villages who can't get a hackney due to dead miles.

_________________
Grandad,

Maybe they are drivers on the taxi only circuits, who are following the lead/info from the Directors.

_________________
IDFIMH

Defo a big increase in radio work being paid by card down here.

_________________
IDFIMH

Or those offering discounts when it suits but still agitating for fare hikes can follow your example and re-plate as PH, thus allowing them to charge what they want?

(Like the firm here in Fife [actually in another zone] offering discounts of up to 40% while still asking the council to hike fares? They must be gutted that we're only getting 13p a pop. So they can only discount by 40% plus 13p, rather than 50%, say )