Hackney carriages/black cabs
Hackney carriages/black cabs
Author
Discussion

TheEnd

Original Poster:

15,370 posts

218 months

Sunday 13th December 2009
quotequote all
Does anyone know the code behind these?
Looking it up, these are 2 rates, which seem to work on 265 metres, £2 daytime rate, £2.50 night rate, with every further 265m adding 20p to the total, and the same 20p charge for every minute of waiting time, irrespective of the time of day.

That's fair enough, but what are these "extras" that are highlighted next to the total?
I'm forever seeing different numbers turn up, and the final fare jumping up whenever i get out of a cab, and not knowing what these numbers represent, or why they are there pains me.

One place i have seen mentions luggage fees, or airport taxes, or toll bridge charges, none of i pass on the way home, so is there a standard collection of "extras" and what do they mean/how do they affect the overall fare?

I don't mind guys earning a living dropping off drunken aholes like myself, but the fact a driver can press a button with an "extra" involved when there is nothing special about the journey, and the fact that the general public has no idea what these extras mean doesn't sit very well with me.

Are there any black cab drivers that can explain the system? and is the system the same nationwide?

Kiltie

7,505 posts

276 months

Sunday 13th December 2009
quotequote all
TheEnd said:
... what are these "extras" that are highlighted next to the total?
A happy ending?

Famous Graham

26,553 posts

255 months

Sunday 13th December 2009
quotequote all
Depends on the city, afaik.

TheEnd

Original Poster:

15,370 posts

218 months

Sunday 13th December 2009
quotequote all
Kiltie said:
TheEnd said:
... what are these "extras" that are highlighted next to the total?
A happy ending?
It's not that happy when some guy presses a button and the price jumps 2 quid!

I'd imagine the rates do change between towns,
some info is here
http://www.aquila-electronics.co.uk/how_work.html

"In the UK, local authorities publish "Fare Tables" which taxis display in their vehicles"

I've never seen a chart explaining these, just adverts and signs saying keep your feet off the seats!

Famous Graham

26,553 posts

255 months

Sunday 13th December 2009
quotequote all
TheEnd said:
Kiltie said:
TheEnd said:
... what are these "extras" that are highlighted next to the total?
A happy ending?
It's not that happy when some guy presses a button and the price jumps 2 quid!

I'd imagine the rates do change between towns,
some info is here
http://www.aquila-electronics.co.uk/how_work.html

"In the UK, local authorities publish "Fare Tables" which taxis display in their vehicles"

I've never seen a chart explaining these, just adverts and signs saying keep your feet off the seats!
Certainly in Edinburgh, it's on the dividing partition between the driver and passengers. It includes the "Soil the compartment" charges too biggrin

mike13

791 posts

212 months

Sunday 13th December 2009
quotequote all
I used to do this part time in Edinburgh,the extras button adds on 20p every time it is pressed.The reason for extras varies,there are set charges for going outside the city boundaries,on average say £2,you are allowed to charge 20p for every passenger over 2 in number,there is a 60p charge for calling a taxi to your home by phone.My workmate still does it part time,on a regular Saturday he will earn £300 a night.

mickk

30,465 posts

272 months

Sunday 13th December 2009
quotequote all
TheEnd said:
... what are these "extras" that are highlighted next to the total?
And why do i keep seeing black cabs with satnav systems on the dash, what happened to "The Knowledge"?

sleep envy

62,260 posts

279 months

Sunday 13th December 2009
quotequote all
mickk said:
TheEnd said:
... what are these "extras" that are highlighted next to the total?
And why do i keep seeing black cabs with satnav systems on the dash, what happened to "The Knowledge"?
do you never reference anything in the course of your job?

Edited by sleep envy on Sunday 13th December 12:22

tubbystu

3,846 posts

290 months

Sunday 13th December 2009
quotequote all
sleep envy said:
mickk said:
TheEnd said:
... what are these "extras" that are highlighted next to the total?
And why do i keep seeing black cabs with satnav systems on the dash, what happened to "The Knowledge"?
do you never reference anything in the course of your job?

Edited by sleep envy on Sunday 13th December 12:22
And do the "traffic alert" notices not help the driver get you wherever quicker ?

(not sure if this works well enough in the city or west end......)

And better than him attempting to thumb an A to Z surreptitiously whilst driving, oh yes and its called progress.

In a mini-cab it also gives an undeniable journey distance covered, which can alleviate any issues about the bill.

NB: London taxi drivers still have to do " The knowledge" to get their badge.

Hollywood Wheels

3,689 posts

260 months

Sunday 13th December 2009
quotequote all
Kiltie said:
TheEnd said:
... what are these "extras" that are highlighted next to the total?
A happy ending?
laugh

mickk

30,465 posts

272 months

Sunday 13th December 2009
quotequote all
sleep envy said:
mickk said:
TheEnd said:
... what are these "extras" that are highlighted next to the total?
And why do i keep seeing black cabs with satnav systems on the dash, what happened to "The Knowledge"?
do you never reference anything in the course of your job?
So how did they cope 5 years ago when satnavs was a luxury item?

sleep envy

62,260 posts

279 months

Sunday 13th December 2009
quotequote all
mickk said:
sleep envy said:
mickk said:
TheEnd said:
... what are these "extras" that are highlighted next to the total?
And why do i keep seeing black cabs with satnav systems on the dash, what happened to "The Knowledge"?
do you never reference anything in the course of your job?
So how did they cope 5 years ago when satnavs was a luxury item?
my father thumbed his A to Z

okgo

42,157 posts

228 months

Sunday 13th December 2009
quotequote all
Why do they need a refrence?

I thought the knowledge was to know london inside out, or is it not that in depth?

sleep envy

62,260 posts

279 months

Sunday 13th December 2009
quotequote all
They aren't going to know every single road inside the m25, new roads are constructed and occasionally theyventure outside of London.

MikeDH

2,422 posts

246 months

Sunday 13th December 2009
quotequote all
mickk said:
sleep envy said:
mickk said:
TheEnd said:
... what are these "extras" that are highlighted next to the total?
And why do i keep seeing black cabs with satnav systems on the dash, what happened to "The Knowledge"?
do you never reference anything in the course of your job?
So how did they cope 5 years ago when satnavs was a luxury item?
Same as the rest of us...

Silent1

19,762 posts

265 months

Monday 14th December 2009
quotequote all
mickk said:
sleep envy said:
mickk said:
TheEnd said:
... what are these "extras" that are highlighted next to the total?
And why do i keep seeing black cabs with satnav systems on the dash, what happened to "The Knowledge"?
do you never reference anything in the course of your job?
So how did they cope 5 years ago when satnavs was a luxury item?
does it matter?

It just means now the service they offer will have improved due to their ability to circumvent areas of poor traffic flow