Taxi Driver Online

But I'm not sure that doubling the flag is a good way to do it.

http://www.expressandstar.com/articles/ ... _92207.php

From my experience, a low (ish) flag followed by a quick tick over is the best way not to lose customers whilst earning a living.

Or have I got it wrong?

_________________
IDFIMH

Sussex I would have gone for a £2.00 start and £0.20 for each 10th so the first mile would be £4.00 then £0.15 for each 10th for every mile there after or £1.50
I don't know how many private hire cabs your up against, but going by the figures in the report it looks like suicide.
There is no mention of unsocial hours, we have £1.00 from midnight to 7am, and your soiling charge looks low we have a £45.00 on that

I know that my fare idea means it will cost the punter more over a 5 mile run but, with the £2.00 start it will not look as painful to the punter.
The report said it would be £8.60 for the 5 miles, this way you get £10.00.
And don't forget black cabs are not cheap to run

I know that my fare idea means it will cost the punter more over a 5 mile run but, with the £2.00 start it will not look as painful to the punter.
The report said it would be £8.60 for the 5 miles, this way you get £10.00.
And don't forget black cabs are not cheap to run

"from my experience"?

What is your experience of metered fares in a Hacney Carriage then?

_________________
Former taxi driver

Or even a Hackney Carriage.

all that matters is what the required fare is at the end of the journey. The flagfall bears no relevance if taken in context. The four year wait for an increase does not help though.

_________________
Former taxi driver

Jimbo, We was in the same situation we had not had a rise for nearly 4 years, so we ended up with a £2.00 flag from £1.30 and £0.10 every 120 meters from 130m and an extra £1.00 from midnight from £0.70 from 6pm, but due to major road works taking place and most drivers choosing not to go the shortest route, the same local run can be anything from £4.70 for the shortest way and £6.20 for the longest, and what has happened is the runs are drying up as the punters are voting with there wallets and walking

Walk? Surely an alien concept for the average punter.

Today for instance, after a long wait, a £2:80 job, (no tip, either) should anyone be working at these low rates? I have been a Hack driver for over twenty years, and I could introduce you to owner drivers in this lovely City who over the last twenty years have opposed every proposed increase, with a chorus of, "you'll kill the job if you put up fares" So should we go back to 1985, with a 60p drop and 60p a mile? Why are some owner drivers afraid of a flagfall over £2:00? Call out a plumber, and see how much per mile he charges from his house to yours!

_________________
Former taxi driver

If a meter is set with a £10 flag, but does not tick over until 10 miles out, or if it has no flag but ticks over at £1 per mile, the fare at the end of the journey will still be £10, if that is not too simplistic for you. If I am asked to estimate a fare, as I frequently am, why would it matter what the start rate is? If you were to lower the flag from £2 to £1, but increased the mileage, would punters be hoodwinked into believing they had paid less when they had actually paid more? The two pieces of conversation I enjoy most with my punters are, "How much do I owe you" and "keep the change"

_________________
Former taxi driver

Well apart from helping the local trade to get their annual increases, and having a meter in my motor for the last 17 years, not a lot really.

_________________
IDFIMH

all our private hire are fitted with meters with a 3.00 drop never a complaint the hacs start at 1.60

That's because plumbers are in short supply, while it's the opposite for the trade, at least if the LA has low entry standards and/or does not restrict numbers.

_________________
Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Didn't think so.

_________________
Former taxi driver

Had you increased your tarrif ANNUALLY, and gradually, they would not have noticed. Whose fault was it, that you did not have an increase for four years?

_________________
Former taxi driver

Jimbo, it was the councils, they were slated by the traffic commissioner for taking as long they said that due to people leaving and new ones coming in that things where delayed, after a meting with the council we have now managed to get the rise annually and at the inflation rate pigs might fly though we will not be holding our breath.