Taxi Driver Online

Nothing particularly out of the ordinary here as regards the tariff stuff per se, but the discount scheme mentioned certainly looks very unusual, but can't find any more information about it beyond the brief mentions in this article, so who knows


Taxi fares set to rise across Hitchin, Letchworth, Baldock and Royston for the first time in four years

https://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/ ... ss-7609891

New fares will come into force in November, if no-one objects

Taxi fares in North Herts could rise for the first time since 2018 following a proposal issued by the North Hertfordshire Council. If no objections, residents in this area could expect new fares from Monday, November 7 2022.

The standard tariff will start from £3.50 for the first 1,166 yards or part thereof. This is 12 per cent more of the current fare which is £3.10. The new charges will be in place across the entire North Hertfordshire district area, which includes towns like Hitchin, Letchworth, Baldock and Royston.

Passengers will also face different charges on Sundays, on Bank and Public holidays. Those who will demonstrate valid documentation will be able to receive 10 per cent discount.

More information about discounts for residents, you can find in the list on the Council's website.

For tariff "one" prices will start at £3.50 with an extra 10p after 1,166 yards. For tariff two journeys - between midnight and 6am and during most bank holidays - fares will start at £5 and then rise by 15p after the first 1,166 yards, for every 60 yards.

Details of proposal changes:

Tariff 1 (Standard Tariff)

£3.50 for the first 1,166 yards or part thereof
£0.10 after the first 1,166 yards, for every 60 yards or part thereof OR for each 20 seconds or part thereof (waiting time)

Tariff 2

For journeys starting between midnight and 06.00am, all day Sunday, and all-day Bank/Publicly-Declared Holidays

£5.00 for the first 1,166 yards or part thereof
£0.15 after the first 1,166 yards, for every 60 yards or part thereof OR for each 20 seconds or part thereof (waiting time)

Christmas Day Surcharge

For hirings commencing on Christmas Day only, a surcharge of 100% will be applied to Tariff 1 (i.e., double standard tariff)

Additional Charges

£50.00 for spoiling the inside of the Hackney Carriage (maximum charge)

In terms of the discount scheme, the onus will be on the passenger to request the discount and produce acceptable identification i.e., bus pass, blue badge, or national disability card. The purpose of this scheme is to ensure that the most vulnerable are not precluded from essential use of taxis due to the necessary increase to support the drivers.

Well these will be quite hefty fares - T1 running mile £2.93, and £4.40 on T2. On the other hand, the yardage increments are simply being reduced from 68.5 yards to 60 yards, so in terms of increases the numbers are not particularly huge. (The increments on the meter are 10p on T1 and 15p on T2, so unusually small, but that also explains why the yardage increments are small.)


All this is clear as mud, but as portrayed it looks like every HCD will have to offer the 10% discount, and it's not a discount scheme that drivers or offices have to sign up to, which seems to be the more normal scenario.

Which makes it pretty unusual, as far as I know.

But looked on the council's licensing page, and at the committee agendas and minutes stuff, and couldn't see anything.

And there's nothing about it on the current 'fares and tariff' page on the council's website, and nothing on the current tariff card.

https://www.north-herts.gov.uk/taxi-fares-and-tariffs

So I'm guessing it's a new scheme, but as portrayed here it's as clear as mud. And, as usual for stuff like this, looks like a recipe for confusion and conflict.

But without seeing the official papers, it's difficult to do anything other than speculate

they are asking for trouble with this loads of people with or without valid documentation are going to be asking for the discount and no doubt plenty of photocopied documents will be for sale

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

No way that can find it's way on the tariff sheet.

Maybe some of the firms will offer a discount, but the council cannot stipulate a driver must give a discount to anyone.

And even if they could how the bloody hell is a driver meant to know, and how on earth is that policy going to be enforced?

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IDFIMH