21.01.05
With the implementation of above-inflation fare increases, passengers riding London's famous black taxis will soon be permitted to haggle over the price of their fare, according to a press release from the mayors office.
London's taxis are already among the most expensive of any city in the world, and fares will by 5.6% in April 2005, an above inflation rise for the third year running.
Under a deal with London Mayor Ken Livingstone, the increase has been allowed on the condition that the city's taxi regulatory body re-designates the meter fare as a 'maximum' price.
Travellers with sufficient courage risk the probable outpouring of scorn from one of the city's infamously opinionated taxi drivers can risk asking for a discount.
A spokesman for the Public Carriage Office, which licenses London taxis, said 'I don't know if 'haggling' is quite the right word. We certainly wouldn't encourage negotiating with a taxi driver in the middle of a busy street - it might hold up traffic.'
Black cab drivers say high fares are justified both because of the price they pay for a taxi license, and due to the years of unpaid training they put in to acquire 'The Knowledge', their encyclopedic grasp of the city's streets.
This story caused much debate in London, but the truth is that Londoners do negotiate fares, particularly late at night, on longer journeys (such as trips to the airport) and in the quiet winter months when there are less visitors (referred to as the 'kipper' season by cabbies!).
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