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The World' s Taxicab Tariffs.

15th June 1911, Page 11
15th June 1911
Page 11
Page 13
Page 11, 15th June 1911 — The World' s Taxicab Tariffs.
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London's Taxicabs are the Cheapest in the World. The Fare Tariffs throughout Great Britain are Far From Uniform.

Owing to the amount of public interest which has been aroused with regard to the proceedings of the Home Office Committee on Taxicab Fares in the Metropolis, we consider it to be useful to summarize the various tariffs which are in force in other countries. We have also tabulated particulars of the schedules of motorcab fares which are in operation in many of the provincial towns in this country. We have, as occasion has demanded, recorded the initiation of the more important of the tariff regulations, but hitherto there has been no specific occasion to collate them. It will no doubt surprise many of our readers to see that many towns abroad, and quite a few here in our own country, provide for alternative tariffs. In most cases, these apply to different classes of cabs, whilst. there are examples in our tables where a special schedule is stipulated for service at night, or for Journeys outside a certain zone, etc. Visitors to the French capital are invariably confused by the multiplicity of tariffs which are in force in that city. Only the native Parisian is able confidently to select a cab for which he will be charged according to the tariff he is seeking. There are three distinct classes of cab in Paris, and these are indicated respectively by blue, red, and white taximeter flags. The blue flag indicates the lowest tariff, and is practically the same as that in force for horsed cabs ; the red flag is indicative of the intermediate tariff, and is employed by all the large companies ; the white flag implies an extravagance to be avoided by all economically-minded men. Although the Parisian may know which cab to select, it is seldom that he has fathomed all the intricacies of the scales of charges. Taxicab users in Paris are really misled by what appears fictitiously to them to be the simplicity of the charges. The uniform fare for all cabs is 70. But it is not generally understood that for this sum one may travel any distance from 656 to 1,312 yds., according to the type of vehicle employed and to the tariff under which it is working. A perusal of the figures,

which we now give, will show that contrary to general supposition, the charges for even the cheapest and dirtiest taxicabs in Paris are higher than the presen:. standard rate in London.

We may first of all consider those cabs fitted with a blue flag, most of them being single-cylinder de Dion-Boutons. The ordinary fare for two persons within the city of Paris—within the fortifications--is 7id. per 1,200 metres, or 1,312 yds., or 10.06d. per mile. The additional rate is id. per 437 yds. With the blue flag there is a second tariff, which is applied when more than two persons are carried within the city limits, or when any larger number of persons is conveyed outside the city fortifications. The. rate is then 7/d. per 820 yds., which is equal to 16.141. per mile, with an additional charge of Id. per 273 yds. Waiting time is charged at the rate of H, per 2 min., or 2s. 6d. per hour. Extras for luggage mire: one package 24d.; two packages 5d. ; three or more TO.

The vast, majority of the cabs in Paris employs the red flag, the rate being 7id. per 984 yds., with Id. for each 328 subsequent yards. This is equivalent to an initial charge of 13.441. per mile, and this rate is applied for the carriage of one or two people within the city fortifications. Red tariff No. 2 is applied for inure than two persons within Paris, or for any num

ber of persons outside the city limits. The rate under this is 7id. per 820 yds., being equal to 16.1d. per mile ; the additional rate is Id. per 273 yds. There is still a third tariff under the red flag, and this is applied for night service only. Night in Paris is the period between 12.30 a.m. and 6 a.m. in summer, and 12.30 a.m. and 7 a.m. in winter. Under this the rate is 74d. per 656 yds., being equal to 20.2d. per mile, with a charge for additional distances of id. per 218 yds. As there is a special rate for all journeys outside the city of Paris, no driver can object to passing beyond the city limits. Indeed, it is more advantageous to work outside the city than within it, for, in addition to the higher rate while travelling, the driver can claim a return indemnity of 5d. per kilometre (1,093 ,yds.) if he has to return empty. Whenever a cab is engaged for a long-distance journey outside Paris, it is customary to arrange with the driver for a fixed price. Even runs to such places as Versailles or St. Germain, not more than 10 miles away, can be undertaken at a fixed price agreed upon between hirer and driver.

The white flag is very little used ; there are probably not, more than 50 cabs in Paris working under this tariff, most of them being handsome four-cylinder models undertaking a good deal of night. service. On these the initial charge is 74d. per 656 yds., or at the rate of '20.2d. per mile.

In Berlin, all cabs are provided with taximeters ; both the horse-drawn vehicles and the motorcabs are thus equipped. Reference to our larger table will show that there are three tariffs in vogue, and that the last of these is For the electrically-driven machines or " Bedags " as they are familiarly known to the Berliner. The cab zone in Berlin, which already embraces most of the boroughs on the outside of the capital, will shortly be rendered still more comprehensive.

We need not make further comment on the peculiarities of the many tariffs of which we have been able to collect particulars. The tables which we have prepared include all the available and useful data. Our readers, however, will find it of interest to compare the schedules that are in force in many Continental cities, and to note how diverse are the charges. Bakou appears to have the highest rates, whilst, in London, the lowest tariff prevails.

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Locations: Berlin, Paris, London

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