Taxi Driver Online

Couldn't be bothered with this a couple of days ago, but not a lot of news around at the moment

But it's actually more interesting than I originally though. Or at least a bit more interesting


Falkirk taxi fares to rise

https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/news/po ... se-9175002

Taxi fares in Falkirk will rise in November as the cost of fuel continues to increase.

Members of Falkirk Council’s executive gave their final approval to the change, after asking the public and local taxi drivers for their thoughts.

The proposals were initially agreed by the executive last June, following discussions with the local taxi forum, which felt an increase was now necessary, given the rising costs the trade is facing.

They highlighted that not only are fuel prices continuing to increase due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, there have been other increases in costs, such as higher fees for taxi driver and operator licenses.

A full consultation was agreed before the increase was imposed and local operators were given the chance to give their thoughts.

Of the eight responses received, five were in favour of the price rise, with three against.

The objections pointed out that the trade is already struggling and they feared that further price increases will put more people off.

One objector wrote: “While I agree that we need a price increase as many of us are working 60plus hours for half the minimum wage, I feel at the time Uber is about to start in this area, thanks to your good selves, it would be another knife in the taxi trade.”

Councillor Gordon Forrest, the portfolio holder, said: “The last increase in taxi fares was four years ago and the trade is still facing a substantial increase in fuel costs because of ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

“Given that the trade must remain sustainable, I would endorse the original decision by the executive to increase the fees.”

He pointed out that taxi drivers can choose not to apply any increase as Falkirk Council set a maximum fare but not a minimum one.

The new tariff will add 20p to every journey, while the running mile will increase by seven per cent from £2.06 to £2.20.

Full details will be announced on Falkirk Council’s website.

Worse case scenario, I suspect...


Wouldn't be surprised if there's been 1,000+ Facebook comments on various pages about the Fife debacle

(With most of them probably using the words 'envelope' and 'brown' )

And did notice that someone had mentioned that Uber had been granted a Falkirk licence, but it all seemingly happened without much fanfare...

Seems an odd place for Uber to apply, or at least an odd place if the only other council areas they've applied for in Scotland are the big cities. And Fife.

Maybe they're just picking them off one by one, starting near Edinburgh and the Forth Bridge sort of area.

There's constant stuff online about Uber doing runs from Dunfermline, which is in Fife, but nearer Edinburgh and the Forth Bridge than the other big towns in Fife

But there's probably quite a few runs going over the bridge to Dunfermline from Edinburgh, and I'd guess they can take runs back to Edinburgh and still be within the Scottish cross-border rules, as long as they don't hang around for long period waiting for jobs


Does that mean they can leave their meters at the current tariff?

Or that every time someone gets in on the rank they'll automatically tell them they'll be discounting from the new tariff?

Another one relating to fare discounting etc.

This is part of a South Hams District Council fare consultation (no, me neither, but apparently it's based in Totnes [population 8,000 or so], and borders Plymouth):


Aren't the stated aims there to provide 'transparency' and 'consistency' for customers contradicted by the accommodation of fare discounting?

And, indeed, as per the best practice guidance, fare discounting isn't just accommodated or enabled, but positively encouraged

I bet he is an absolute joy at parties.

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IDFIMH

Not sure that will help those drivers earn net minimum wage.

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IDFIMH

Saw a post on Facebook by Eddie Grice of the Scottish PHA trying to explain the Scottish cross-border rules to those in Fife complaining about Edinburgh-plated Uber cars running around Dunfermline, and he explained it quite well (as far as I can recall, but can't remember where the post was now ).

Anyway the legislation basically says you need to be licensed to work in the area you're, er, working in, surprise, surprise.

But these are the exemptions, and how they would apply to Edinburgh Uber cars working in Fife

(I've missed out some of the text which isn't really required, and just confuses things...)


So, in simple terms, if an Edinburgh-plated car received a request while in Edinburgh to do a run from Dunfermline to St Andrews say (both within Fife) then the driver could do it


So basically if an Edinburgh-plated driver was doing a run from Dunfermline or doing a run to Dunfermline in Fife then they can then accept a run in Fife


Or if they're returning to Edinburgh from Fife after a job then the can accept a run in Fife.

Or something like that

So, basically, doesn't that mean than an Edinburgh-plated car could work in Fife all the time if they're getting one run after an other? Well, the precise mechanics of it all are probably very complex.

But I suspect that's all the basis of the constant complaints that are made about Uber cars in Dunfermline and that sort of area. And why if you Google Uber and Fife then you'll get a link to an official Uber page about booking in Dunfermline.

But the big caveat is probably in the third exemption (c) above - "returning to that area or part immediately following completion of a journey on hire."

So in the Fife context that would be returning to Edinburgh immediately following completion of a trip - so if there were no jobs at that particular time, if the driver hung around in Fife then they wouldn't be able to accept another run

So that's maybe why it seems to be working for Uber down in Dunfermline. Which is close to the Fife border, and not far over the water from Edinburgh via the Forth Bridge. But because other potential markets like Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes and St Andrews are a lot further away from the border with Edinburgh then it wouldn't work the way it does regarding Dunfermline.

But it's all still pretty complex, and obviously pretty murky

And to that extent Edinburgh cars still can't work in the way Wolverhampton, Sefton and Knowsley cars work south of the border

Possibly.

That said, has anyone ever been done for cross-border hiring in Scotland?

I also think, if I'm reading Scottish law correctly, that Uber could use English PH in Scotland without adhering to Scottish law.

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IDFIMH