Taxi Driver Online

Price hike for taxi rides

Hailing a cab in Potters Bar will soon prove a costly experience, after Hertsmere Borough Council approved plans to increase fares for Hackney carriages, making a ride in the borough the fifth most expensive in the country.

The council has responded to taxi drivers' concerns about increasing road and car maintenance costs by agreeing to a rise of almost 12 per cent, with the new rates likely to come into force next month.

Taxi drivers wrote to the council to complain that the borough is one of only seven in the country not to have had a fare increase since September 2003.

Currently, passengers travelling in council-licensed Hackney carriages, which can only be hailed from the road-side and are not available for private hire, pay a fare of £2 for the first 400 metres travelled and 20p for each additional 180 metres.

But those prices will rise to £2.20 for the first 321m and 20p for every 165m after that. The price of £5.80 for the first two miles will be the fifth highest in the country.

Caradon, a district in south east Cornwall, is currently the most expensive, followed by Epsom and Ewell and then London.

Bolsover, in Derbyshire, is the cheapest, with a two-mile fare costing just £2.80.

Drivers claim an increase is needed because of rising petrol prices, high insurance costs and a lack of taxi ranks in the borough.

Phil Andrews, principal licensing officer for the council, said: "The taxi trade hasn't had an increase since 2003 and it has faced rising costs since that time. The council felt that we would let the trade catch up to where it was once and therefore the councillors have approved a rise."

Drivers had wanted to bring the borough's fares to the same level as cabs in London, but Mr Andrews said the council wanted to keep a distinction because Hertsmere does not suffer from traffic problems usually associated with the capital.

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

"Hackney Carriages,which are only available when hailed from the road-side, and are not available for private hire"




One of the gazillion reasons I have no respect for journalist's is poorly (or non) researched garbage such as this........ ]

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Former taxi driver

The good think about PHM's fare table is that it has helped those at the bottom of the pile move up a tad.

The worst bit about the table is stories like the above.

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IDFIMH

Dont forget about the economics of the area too

CC

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