Post by The Dark Knight on Mar 9, 2024 9:42:49 GMT
Black cab taxi fares to rise by more than double inflation to stop cabbies quitting
Black taxi fares are to rise by more than double the rate of inflation from next month in the latest attempt to prevent cabbies quitting the trade.
Fares will rise by an average of 8.9 per cent, at a time the CPI rate of inflation is four per cent. Mayor Sadiq Khan has frozen pay-as-you-go Tube and bus fares until next March to ease the cost of living crisis.
However, the number of licensed taxi drivers in London has fallen by 21 per cent since the start of the pandemic to 17,572 last month – the lowest number since 1980.
The number of black taxis in the capital has risen slightly in recent years to 14,750 but there are about 8,000 fewer than a decade ago – at a time there are more than 92,000 minicabs competing for business.
Under the changes, which Transport for London’s finance committee is expected to rubber stamp next week, the minimum fare would remain at £3.80 but a one-mile weekday journey would rise from about £6.80 to about £7.20, while a three-mile weekday evening journey would increase from about £15.80 to £17.20.
TfL reviews taxi fares annually in a bid to maintain cab drivers’ income, while not putting them out of reach of Londoners. Fares rose last April by an average of 7.6 per cent.
Passengers pay fares based on a series of tariffs, which vary according to whether the journey is on a weekday, in the evening, at the weekend or at night.
TfL consulted on freezing the fares or increasing them by either 3.7 per cent, 5.2 per cent or 8.9 per cent.
Of the 1,487 responses, from passengers, campaign groups and taxi drivers, more than 52 per cent put the 8.9 per cent increase as their first option – including 72 per cent of drivers.
TfL said taxi drivers’ operating costs had increased by 5.2 per cent, in part due to vehicle costs, insurance and the cost of electric charging. At the same time, average national earnings have increased by 3.7 per cent.
uk.news.yahoo.com/black-cab-taxi-fares-rise-120931905.html
Black taxi fares are to rise by more than double the rate of inflation from next month in the latest attempt to prevent cabbies quitting the trade.
Fares will rise by an average of 8.9 per cent, at a time the CPI rate of inflation is four per cent. Mayor Sadiq Khan has frozen pay-as-you-go Tube and bus fares until next March to ease the cost of living crisis.
However, the number of licensed taxi drivers in London has fallen by 21 per cent since the start of the pandemic to 17,572 last month – the lowest number since 1980.
The number of black taxis in the capital has risen slightly in recent years to 14,750 but there are about 8,000 fewer than a decade ago – at a time there are more than 92,000 minicabs competing for business.
Under the changes, which Transport for London’s finance committee is expected to rubber stamp next week, the minimum fare would remain at £3.80 but a one-mile weekday journey would rise from about £6.80 to about £7.20, while a three-mile weekday evening journey would increase from about £15.80 to £17.20.
TfL reviews taxi fares annually in a bid to maintain cab drivers’ income, while not putting them out of reach of Londoners. Fares rose last April by an average of 7.6 per cent.
Passengers pay fares based on a series of tariffs, which vary according to whether the journey is on a weekday, in the evening, at the weekend or at night.
TfL consulted on freezing the fares or increasing them by either 3.7 per cent, 5.2 per cent or 8.9 per cent.
Of the 1,487 responses, from passengers, campaign groups and taxi drivers, more than 52 per cent put the 8.9 per cent increase as their first option – including 72 per cent of drivers.
TfL said taxi drivers’ operating costs had increased by 5.2 per cent, in part due to vehicle costs, insurance and the cost of electric charging. At the same time, average national earnings have increased by 3.7 per cent.
uk.news.yahoo.com/black-cab-taxi-fares-rise-120931905.html