Taxi fares on the Isle of Wight look set to soar in response to rising fuel and running costs, with a single journey from Ryde to Newport costing between £3.40 and £15.20 extra and as much as £51.50.
Drivers and proprietors have requested an increase in tariffs following an Isle of Wight Council consultation with the trade last November.
Under the suggested increases, a 7.75 mile journey from Ryde to Newport (via Fairlee Road) would cost £20.90 between 08:00-20:00 under Tariff 1 – a journey that currently costs £17.50. For the same journey between midnight and 06:00, Islanders face a whopping £41.30 fare, which increases to £51.50 if there are more than 4 passengers. The same overnight trips currently cost £29.20 and £36.30 respectively.
The highest increases suggested by the trade would mean a quick 2-mile journey under tariff 1, which will end at 20:00 instead of 22:00, would rise by £1.10. Other increases are suggested with the soiling of a vehicle going up by £30 to £100 and the cost of taking an animal doubling from 50p to £1.
The last review of Island taxi fares was back in May 2019 and only made changes to a single set of tariffs. There have not been any changes to the other fares or charges since 2014.
According to the report, council staff feel an increase in tariffs could be justified but are concerned the proposed Table of Fares recommended by the trade is a ‘significant’ rise. However, the report states:
“…..it is important for the committee to consider the wishes of the trade…”
“..it is recommended that consultation is undertaken with the trade’s proposals, with an implementation date of 1 May 2022 if there are not outstanding representations after the consultation.”
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The Licensing Committee is due to meet on 28th February to consider the report and a recommendation to undertake a formal public consultation by issuing a statutory notice.
If approved, the new fares would come into force on 1st May 2022.
and the council paid out £1.4 million to taxi SEND kids to school last year. This means council taxpayers forking out even more to pay for these kids school transport, when the parents who brought them into the world, should be footing the bill.
Costs have gone up ? Fuel has been at higher price few years back, taxis are newer,use less fuel,more reliable so cost less to run and maintain.wil only encourage Uber or similar or use the bus. Therefore over time taxis will have less custom and be worse off. Feel for elderly that need and won’t be able to afford.
£51.50 to get from Ryde to Newport – you could probably hire a car for a day for less than that…
Blimey as much as that? they must’ve fast tracked that in fairly recently?…l got quoted 35 or so for a Ryde to Blackgang one way.Go figure as they say?
this is one way of losing customers or they should invest in Electric cars
To be honest I thought they were around that anyway…
But then again if you can afford pubs prices on drinks then you can probably afford to get home at night
Why go from Ryde to Newport? Nothing there when you get there. Go to Pompey instead.
It to late now but surely a smaller increase( perhaps twice) over the years would have been better than this big rise.with the price of fuel alone I would think that a sharp rise is called for, even if this rise is reduced slightly.
This is what the trade were asking for in 2019 but the increase the trade we’re looking for didn’t happen. This is the first real increase since 2014 hence it’s so steep
Like it!
Time to get user on the island.
Talk about shooting yourself in the foot. If I was an independent taxi driver I would reduce my fares and make sure all the regular users knew so therefore my workload would increase and all the others would lose trade. Ok it would make me very unpopular with the other drivers but because I would be charging a reasonable rate my earning potential would increase dramatically. To any independent driver on the Island I really think that you should consider this course of action.
And when you need to pay your insurance, Tax, licensing along with fuelling the car you would be working for less than the minimum wage. Oh and then you have got to replace your car with one that is less than three years old and silver circa, £18000. Tell me do you go to work to lose money?
Covid ruined my joke about Dick Turpin wearing a mask.
Why pay to go to Newport, there is nothing there, cheaper to get a boat to Pompey for the night. Feel sorry for the cabbies and the old folks who can not get about, but the people paying to go to Newport or Ryde for a night out really should question their life choices.
The council set the prices for taxis. Hard working taxi drivers have no say in it, whether they agree or not.
Hard working, sitting on your backside driving a car and scruffy too!
Opinions vary!
The Council endorses the fares but who do you imagine demands the increase? Council Taxpayers?
Same greed-driven death wish as the Post Office.
Is it highway robbery?
Island Taxi Fares are more expensive than London Black Taxi’s
I will stick with Buses
Everyone is up against it with rising cost of living and wages nowhere near matching it ,so soon very soon there going to be huge problems for working families ,and this will snowball on and on
Taxi drivers are working families. Where do you think the money comes from to pay mortgages and such like?
Why is Uber not operating on the island? IoW taxis have been extortionate for too long, it’s time for a fairer deal for passengers.
Uber is the answer to extortionate fares
I wander if the council will reduce prices if the petrol went down or taxis that are hrbrid or electric in next couple of years ,doubt it the greedy lot
They want more money yet park in pay to park bays here in Ryde every day without paying, the council knows and does nothing about it but if joe public does the same they get a ticket.
For such a small Island the prices charged here are extortionate compared to Portsmouth and Southampton WHY? Thankfully I can drive and have a car, if the Taxi companies keep pushing prices up the fee paying public will not be able to afford the cost, don’t know enough about how the Council pay for taxi use for children but they are being ripped off if 1.4 Million is the cost.
What you have to remember as regards the Council paying for Taxis for SEND children, is that it is ‘not their money’, so they just pay the bill when it comes it. Would not be surprised to find that there is no ‘discount’, and MIGHT even be a premium rate due to the nature of the passengers being carried. Magic money-tree and all that!
Someone has to pay for Wendy Perera’s wages. Cough up mugs.
bring Uber to the island, that will teach them for committing daylight robbery
When people you love are dying and you are too distressed to drive to St Marys it is impossible to get there. I probably spent over a thousand pounds over 3 years. We must have a service on call for those who are in distress and unable to pay ridiculous taxi fares. Love for those who are dying is not a nightclub shared cab home, X
A minivan with 12 adults having a laugh is peanuts. A sorrowful human being on their own hoping to be with their love when they are dying costs too much. We should help those who cannot afford a taxi to St Marys. We should set up a rota for those who are willing to drive and help no matter what time.
Take a look at why Uber are only operating in London under appeal, they had their licence to operate suspended in Sept 2020, then ask yourself? Would i let my daughter travel in an Uber!!??
Pay peanuts, ya get peado’s!!!!