One only has to open the Free Now app in London to see the price difference between a clapped out Prius and a black cab in those parts, MfH. Similarly, in Spain the locals seem to check the price on both Uber and Bolt before ordering a cab. Seemingly there can be considerable differences in price at any given time but both are generally cheaper than hiring a licensed taxi on the street or at a rank. A lady from New York was telling me that Uber fares are significantly lower there than here - not that she gave a fuck as she was on expenses - but the tipping culture ensures that drivers are adequately rewarded and promotes good customer service.
I guess factors such as the lack or traffic, distances folk might have to travel to the bar, store, school or station, lack of other public transport options are all relevant, Ken. I daresay any publican who tried to charge over a tenner for a pint wouldn't last long in any rural backwater. Historically i.e. before entry liberalisation and implementation of the National Taximeter Area local authorities set taxi rates appropriate to their requirements. Similarly we had a healthy hackney (private hire) sector with taxis being a rarity outside of the big cities where folk might have more refined desires including access to bus lanes. In Dublin, for example, the hackney sector was probably one of the best examples of what the capitalists like to call the market finding it's own level as existed in any trade. In the city centre there were firms focussed on corporate trade (e.g. Metro, City Cabs) who charged fares comparable or, in some cases, higher than taxi fares. Then in the working class suburbs you had the likes of Checkers offering a local for less than what would be on the taximeter with no extras before the car moved. Such firms also offered budget fares in to the city. Then out in the sticks you had the likes of Swords cabs with similar local fares to Checkers and set fares to other North County towns at rates significantly lower than a licensed taxi would charge.
The problem with not having a non-premium service, particularly in rural areas, is that we have lost an entire sector of the market. Put simply, taxis aren't a viable alternative to owning a car in the same way as hackneys were prior to entry liberalisation. The more "premium service" fees the multinationals help themselves to the more our market contracts.
