Taxi drivers hope meters will pull in more locals

Despite their reputation for being expensive, Maltese taxi drivers are hoping that the use of meters, introduced yesterday, will entice more locals to use the service.

"Now, Maltese consumers don't have excuses anymore," Alfred Pace, head of White Taxis Amalgamated said. "Now we have a meter and they will know what the rate is and what they can expect to pay for a trip," he said referring mostly to Maltese patrons.

In fact, taxi drivers are expecting a boost from local customers. But is not the high price a good "excuse" not to take a taxi?

"I don't think the service is really that expensive," he reiterated.

Taxis have been fitted with the meters, approved by the Malta Transport Authority, over the past few weeks. The move forms part of a wide-ranging reform aimed at improving the taxi service, announced by the government a few months ago.

However, besides the introduction of an obligatory uniform and new monitoring methods, the reform leaves costs largely the same.

Last February The Times revealed that with a hop-on charge of Lm1.50 and a kilometre rate of 60c, catching a taxi in Malta would cost you more than in most big cities in Europe. Indeed, local taxis are among the most expensive in Europe.

In London, for instance - renowned as one of the most expensive cities in the world - the meter starts ticking at £1.40 and rises by 20p with every 219 metres travelled, but a 60p surcharge kicks in at 8 p.m., going up to 90p after midnight.

Night rates generally shoot up in many countries. In Rome, the hop-on charge between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. rises to €4.90.

Yet, while taxis remain a popular mode of transport in most European countries, Maltese taxi drivers are often seen wrestling for clients.

Mr Pace feels that the introduction of the taximeter and other measures in the reform should make the service more predictable and therefore will help in this respect.

"Overall there isn't one single trip which will cost you more than Lm20. It is not the same abroad," he pointed out when pressed on the cost of the service.

The example may hold because Malta is such a small country and distances are limited, but the rates charged abroad are much cheaper in many cases.

Nonetheless, he insists, the local fares are not that bad. As he had told The Times in February, one had to take into consideration that no additional charge is levied on luggage and the rate is standard throughout the entire day, including weekends.

"Plus, when people car-share from, say, Paceville, the amount they pay falls drastically and this is confirmed by the amount of custom taxies get in these areas," he said.