Taxiroute.co.uk: New tool to calculate taxi fares - feedback wanted!

MSE_Jenny

There’s a nifty new site called Taxiroute that calculates cab fares for you. The site collates data from 235 local authorities’ fares to work out the fares for different routes.

How to use the site

Just plug in your departure and destination addresses. Then choose the local borough which the departure address is in. You’ll then get an estimated taxi fare for that route.

Now when you ring round taxi companies you should have an idea of a fair price.

How does the site make its money?

When the site produces a result, it includes a suggested taxi firm; companies pay to be added to the list.

This is a provisional note; we’d love your thoughts and feedback on taxiroute.

BikerEd

It may work around town, but it takes really odd routes if you put in a long distance fare. It looks like it is programmed to avoid motorways or take the absolute shortest route. Taking Taunton to Bristol as an example, it takes the A38 north all the way to M5 J23, whereas a taxi (and any other driver) would join the M5 at either J25 or J24 depending where they started in Taunton.

Nice site though!

juliescot

Doesnt have my local council on it but I like the idea

savemoney

Doesn't work in my town either

kevinheath

hi

it did not work for me either, kept getting critical errors.

just as quick and easy to type in airport and town in google.

kevin

flutterbyuk25

ooh I like this!

I have just moved further away (a town away) and wondered how much a taxi ride home would be from the local nightlife in the main town. I haven't actually got a taxi home yet but the price is around what people have told me to expect.

x

trevorjdaniel

Hi Chaps,

Many thanks for visiting the site. Your feedback is very valued.

As Jenny has said, the website is intended to give you an idea of what a taxi fare should cost in the UK.

In answer to some of the points above...

Yes, the mapping system does calculate the shortest route. As fares are charged mostly on mileage the shortest route should almost always be the cheapest.

If your Local Authority is not listed, please can you let me know. I have attempted to contact all the Local Authorities in the UK but not all are as good as others in getting back to me with their tariff information.

Improvements I am working on..

The ability to route to and from train stations and airports. At the moment you need to put in the post code which I appreciate not many people will know. As a short term workaround, if you google the train or airport name you should be able to find a post code and then you can use that in the calculator. Not perfect I know, but it should help until I get the upgrade tested and introduced.

Removal of the Local Authority Question. At the moment users are required to indicate their Local Authority to enable the system to work out which fare tariff to use. As most people will say, "can't the system work this out from the address I just entered" - well correct, I can. But, believe it or not, the Ordinance Survey people own the knowledge of Local Authority borders and if I do any calculations using this information I have to pay a huge amount of money to them in royalties. At the moment, the system just cannot sustain this cost. Hopefully soon it will!

Removal of the Tariff Question. At the moment, users are required to indicate what tariff they will be using. In the future the system will default to the correct tariff depending on the time of the enquiry. You will then be given the choice to change this if necessary.

Please accept my apologies in advance if you do hit any small foibles. There are some in there but the majority of users will hopefully find the system works for them.

I am working hard and as quick as I can to make the system as simple as "where from and where to?" but these things do take time and take a lot of effort. TaxiRoute is not a huge limited company with hundreds of software developers - it's just me!:D I did everything from the logo to the database design. I also have to do my own washing and ironing as well lol.

Again, thanks for the feedback and keep it coming! :T

Trev
TaxiRoute.co.uk

mcjordi

just done an equiry on the site
has my local council on it and its quite accurate as to prices

looks like we could be on to a winner

vaio

Is this not spam? Where's the money saving aspect?

custardy

nothing for Edinburgh/midlothian

Takoda

Tried it but the suggested price for a journey a member of my family makes regularly was under quoted. They said £9 and the usual cost is between £12-£16.