The cost of most taxi journeys in Brighton and Hove went up yesterday (Monday 8 August).
Rising fuel prices – diesel for most taxis – prompted cabbies to ask Brighton and Hove City Council to approve a rise.
Passengers will stay pay a minimum of £2.20 if they hail a cab but the price will add up more quickly during each journey.
The fare will start to tick up 20p at a time after 640 yards – not 800 yards – and after 2 minutes 24 seconds of waiting rather than 3 minutes 20 seconds.
The 20p units will still last for 160 yards but will cover only 36 seconds of waiting compared with 40 seconds until yesterday.
This means that passengers will still pay £2.20 a mile on, say, a Friday evening until 9pm.
More expensive fares apply on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
The rise was approved by the council’s Licensing Committee after representations from the taxi trade.
Councillor Lizzie Deane, the chairman of the committee, said: “Ever-increasing fuel and insurance costs have prompted this request from the taxi trade to increase fares.
“The proposed fare rises have been kept as low as possible – and the rate per mile remains the same – as cabbies appreciate the current recession affects us all.
“We are trying to balance the needs of local taxi businesses against the need to protect passengers in a difficult economic environment.
“Taxis are an important part of our public transport network in the city and we believe the proposed fares still represent good value for money.”
The council sets the fares for taxis only but private hire cars usually charge the same.
