Taxi Driver Online

State of the numbers here

Can't be bothered crunching the figures in huge detail, but there must be errors in the proposed tariff card

And, I mean, £3.08 T1 flagfall, £3.19 on T2

So the numbers are daft, even if they added up, which they don't, correct me if I'm wrong (see below).

Other than that, pretty formulaic fare rise article, and a blizzard of numbers. And the press notice (see below) looks very 'busy', and presumably approximates to what the fare card looks like. I mean, how are the public meant to make much sense of that. It's no wonder that even one public contribution to a fares consultation often seems newsworthy.

Hope they've got the egg and ketchup throwers sorted out, though


Taxi fares in Inverclyde set to go up by 12 per cent

https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/new ... uncillors/


Image: Greenock Telegraph

PLANS to hike taxi fares in Inverclyde by 12 per cent have been backed by councillors.

Members of the local authority's General Purposes Board have approved taxi trade proposals to increase 'flag fall' fees and running mile rates.

The council have now launched a further statutory consultation on the rates, with the new tariffs expected to take effect from May 14 this year.

Councillor Chris Curley, who chaired the meeting, told the Telegraph he hoped the decision would help the local taxi trade through a difficult time.

He said: "The committee reviewed the submission by the taxi operators and individual operators and, looking at that, decided to approve the recommendations.

"The general increases in costs for the trade were considered as part of our decision-making.

"We want to see a sustainable taxi industry locally and hope that this decision helps achieve that."

The proposed changes affect all four of the area's taxi tariffs - which outline standard rates for pre-hired and 'flag' bookings over set periods.

Hirings from ranks or 'flag' hirings between 6am and 11pm will now have an initial charge of £3.08, up from £2.75, with the first mile of the journey costing approximately £4.13.

For the same types of hirings started between 11pm and 6am, a initial charge of £3.19 will apply, with the approximate cost of the first mile rising by 50 pence to £4.59.

Certain types of hirings on Easter Monday, May Day, Fair Saturday and September 26 will carry an initial fee of £3.42.

Pre-booked hirings and those from ranks or 'flag' hirings on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and January 2 will have an initial cost of £5.99, which is also the first mile cost for such bookings.

The board's decision came after a consultation Inverclyde Council held with local taxi operators, which saw eight of the consultees call for an increase in rates.

A ninth respondent said they felt a significant rise would not be appropriate given the rising cost of living.

Many of those consulted raised concerns about the increases cost of fuel and maintenance to their vehicle, with reference also made to the cost of living crisis and spiralling inflation.

In a letter sent to Inverclyde Council, local operator Inverclyde Taxis said that the last three years had been 'extremely challenging' for the taxi trade.

They cited a number of factors which had put the industry in an increasingly difficult position, including what was described as 'limited' financial support from the Scottish Government.

They added: "Likewise, Inverclyde Council continues to offer limited or no administrative support/guidance to the trade yet endorse year-on-year taxi and test fees increases without any consultation/notice nor indeed consideration to extended fee packages to secure trade commitment for the medium to longer term.

"It would appear decisions are for here and now and only looking short term."

The council will now ask for views on the proposed new scales, with local people able to have their say by writing to the council before April 7.


Image: Greenock Telegraph

Looking just at T1 and T2, there's only 11p extra on the flag, which covers about half a mile.

Then it's 35p increments on both, covering 291 yards on T1, but only reducing to 282 yards on T2. Yet it says on the card that approximate cost of first mile is £4.13 on T1, increasing to £4.59 on T2, so that's an increase of 46p on the first mile, which surely isn't consistent with the flagfall and 35p increment yardage

And for both T1 and T2, the card says the approximate cost for each additional mile is £2.45, which obviously can't be right. They can't be the same if the increments are 35p on both, but the yardage is different


He's presumably trying to say submissions by fleet operators and individual operators, but it reads like the individuals aren't operating taxis


No, me neither

clearly someone has taken the existing fares and multiplied by 1.12 BUT not sure if they can program meters in increments of less than 5p ( I could be wrong because I have never tried it)

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

We've been here before, but pretty sure any meter can be programmed in any increment, as long as it's a whole number.

I mean, if you look down the PHTM tables, there are plenty councils with fares ending in other than 10p or 5p for the two-mile run, therefore...

https://www.phtm.co.uk/newspaper/taxi-f ... gue-tables


Forest of Dean is one near the top, for example. T1 flag is £2.88 and increments are 35p, therefore...

https://www.fdean.gov.uk/media/ur0lxspi ... 0-9-22.pdf


Total nonsense in my opinion. If they want to fine tune fares to such an extent, a lot easier to do it via the yardages.

In terms of coin handling, all meter increments should be 20p in my opinion

Of course, it's less of an issue with card readers, but should never have been a thing in the first place

Looks like the increments are 35p.

You can have increments of 10p and still have the same milage rates, just have a meter clicking over very quickly.

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IDFIMH