Taxi fare rise ‘poses threat to women’

A TAXI fare price rise could put women at risk as they would have to walk home late at night, an MSP has said.

Kezia Dugdale, a Labour MSP and shadow youth employment minister, spoke out against the price hike in Edinburgh, saying that it could lead to more women opting to walk home alone when they are “at their most vulnerable”.

The current baseline fee for night-time taxis in Edinburgh is £3, but the new fares will jump up to £4.60 between midnight and 5am throughout the week.

Night-time fares have already increased in Glasgow’s city centre to £4.60, and this “party 
tariff” is set to be approved in Edinburgh.

Ms Dugdale said: “The reality is that Edinburgh is not a safe place to walk at that time of night on your own.”

Raymond Davidson, of the Edinburgh Taxi Association said that a more expensive tariff would persuade more taxi drivers to cover the “late-night rush hour,” particularly at weekends.