Taxi Driver Online

January 8, 2008 Tuesday

Angry cabbies say fare rise is vital

Swindon Advertiser

DRIVERS of black cabs in Swindon say they have a good case for raising fares - despite claims by councillors.

The Advertiser reported last week that Swindon Council's licensing committee had refused a request from hackney carriage drivers to raise the fare for the first mile of a journey from £1.90 to £2.90.

A number of drivers had asked for the increase and 212 were balloted on the idea - but fewer than one in four replied.

Because of that councillors said they would not approve the fare hike.

At the meeting it was also claimed that it was cheaper to stay for a night in Swindon's new Travelodge than pay for a late- night trip to Wanborough.

The councillors' comments provoked angry reactions from drivers.

Danny Cooper, who works as a driver from Swindon station, said: "At the moment a lot of drivers are working for less than the minimum wage. And our running costs are going up.

"Diesel is now £1.05 a litre - a lot of drivers are really having to scrape out a living."

Chris Coles, from Park North, who has been a taxi driver for 11 years, said: "The 40 per cent increase which is being talked about is a bit misleading.

"It is only 40 per cent on the starting rate.

"If you were to take a cab somewhere the cost will begin at £2.90 rather than £1.90 but the average rate per mile will not change.

"If a journey now costs £10, the changes will only mean a jump to £11."

Not all drivers are in favour of an increase.

Gary Trotman, 40, a driver from West Swindon, says he is against the rise as he believes it would just make the situation worse for black cabs in Swindon.

He said: "I wouldn't want a fare increase personally. I think it could make things worse because there are so many more cabs on the roads these days.

"The trade is dying and I am not sure an increase is the answer.

"However, I understand those who do want to increase it, some days we have to stay at the train station for two hours before we get a fare, and even then it often only amounts to £3.

"Also diesel has gone up 15 per cent in the last couple of months alone. I would say my average journey is a fiver and yesterday I worked nine hours and made only £40."
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There are a number of ways to skin a cat, but an obvious jump like that ain't one of them.

No matter how deserved the rise may be.

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IDFIMH

Shooting yourself in the foot springs to mind

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Why don't you get a proper job???

They would be better asking for a reduction in the flagfall distance and keeping the flag price the same.

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

Exactly.

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IDFIMH

Why?

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Former taxi driver

To answer my own question.

If it costs £10 to travel from A to B, why should it matter whether the meter starts at £1 or £9?

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Former taxi driver

If the flagfall is increased from £1.90 to £2.90 for the first mile as they have done, it looks to Joe Public like a huge hike. Leave it at £1.90 and reduce the distance you get for it, so a mile still costs £2.90 and it doesn't have the same shock value.

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

Because people would get out of your motor if the flag was £9, or want to punch you on the hooter.

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IDFIMH

Yes, there's that too

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

I was of course in this instance exagerating.

But why is it such an issue to some (passengers and drivers) what the initial charge is?

When a punter asks me how much to Luton Airport, why would they care if the meter started at 1p or £10, if they pay the same fare at the end of the journey?

If they have asked to go to Luton, they surely don't care how much I would charge to go to Newark?

I must have been asked a million times (exagerating again) how much to...(fill in the blank space)

I have never ever been asked what does your meter start at!

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Former taxi driver

As a PH driver Sussex, what does YOUR meter start at?

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Former taxi driver

Mine starts at £2.00 (first 1000yds) and goes up in 20p units.

You are right, it shouldn't matter. Trouble is it does to some punters.
They get in a cab one day and the meter starts at £1.90.
Next day it's £2.90.
They only see an increase of over 50% and lose the plot before finding that their £10 fare is now £11, an increase of only 10%.

It's all in the perception of some people.

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

More than yours.

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IDFIMH

But people do occassionaly ask what the fare is for a short journey (not as often as for longer trips, obviously), so to that extent the flagfall does matter.

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