Hackney Carriage taxi fares in Bristol to rise by 10% as drivers struggle with soaring fuel prices

The last price increases were last year - when fares were hiked up by 10% Credit: LDRS

Taxi fares in Bristol are set to rise by up to 10%, just a year after they last shot up.

Drivers of Hackney Carriages – the city’s blue taxis – are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, soaring inflation and fuel prices and have asked the city council to increase journey rates, which are set by the local authority.

The rises depend on when and how far trips are, with the biggest being 9.8% from £9.20 to £10.10 for a three-mile daytime ride.

For one-mile journeys, day rates are set to go up from £4.80 to £5.10, night rates from £5.70 to £5.90, weekend day rates from £5.40 to £5.70 and weekend night rates from £5.80 to £6.

For a three-mile trip, night rates will increase from £10.70 to £11.30, weekend day rates from £9.80 to £10.70 and weekend night rates from £11 to £11.60.

Journeys at Christmas and New Year will rise from £7.40 to £7.70 for one mile and from £14 to £14.90 for three miles.

Fares on other public holidays will be frozen at £6.40 for one mile and £13 for three miles.

Mayor Marvin Rees’s cabinet will meet on Tuesday 4 July to approve the increases which will come into force after 14 days if there are no objections.

Any objections would have to be considered before the new prices are confirmed.

Before last summer’s rises, which ranged from 5.8% to 9.5%, Bristol taxi fares had not gone up since 2018 when some were hiked by more than 11%, and the time before that was five years earlier.

A report to cabinet said: “Due to the cost-of-living crisis, trade representatives submitted a request for a new revised table of fares to take effect from March 2023, however, due to the proximity of the last increase (August 2022) the decision was taken that no change was necessary at this time.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to the trade, representatives were instead invited to submit a new proposal in spring 2023.

“This has been received and proposes fare increases across all tariffs, with the exception of (public holidays) which will remain frozen.

Bristol blue taxis lined up outside Temple Meads station. Credit: Google Maps

“The increases are based upon a three-mile journey and will see increases ranging from between 5.4 per cent to 9.8 per cent.

“A further request has been made to increase the cost of carrying additional passengers from 30p/passenger to 50p/passenger.

“These increases are being justified on the basis of general cost-of-living rises and associated costs the trade are so sensitive to such as increased vehicle prices, parts, fuel and other general increases.

“However, care needs to be taken to balance the needs of drivers to earn a living and customers who rely on the service.

“Given current UK inflation rates, these proposed percentage increases seem reasonable.”

Credit: Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service