Prague taxi rate going up for the first time in over a decade

For
the first time, the new price list includes the regulation of the
price of taxi services operated by electric vehicles. The boarding
rate for them will be 70 CZK, waiting time 7 CZK per minute and
passengers will pay a maximum of 39 CZK per kilometer. The reason for
other prices than cars with internal combustion engines is, according
to the material, a higher price of an electric car meeting the
requirements for the performance of a taxi service. The prices are
set by Prague City Hall.

The
Chamber of Deputies is now discussing an amendment to the Road Act
concerning conditions of taxi operation to accommodate alternative
carriers such as Uber. Taxis will no longer have to have a taximeter
if they use a mobile app instead. The vehicles would use a
registration sticker in place of a roof lamp. Municipalities would
not be able to dictate the color and size of vehicles.

According
a survey made last year by the Confederation of Commerce and Tourism,
about half of Prague citizens who use a taxi have tried alternative
taxis in the past three years. They use them because of lower
transport costs, the possibility of paying by card or availability.

Previous
City Hall administrations have tried to tackle the issue of
overcharging. In April 2017 signs were put up near popular tourist
spots to warn people against taking standing cabs and informing
people of the proper rates. One sign warned that taxi drivers often
charge more than 10 times the official rate, making it one of the
highest in Europe.

In
2015, the Czech News Agency reported that one in three taxi drivers
overcharged, based on spot checks made by city inspectors.

In
January 2005 then-mayor Pavel Bém dressed up as an Italian tourist
and was charged 500 percent of the official rate for a short trip to
Prague Castle. In another cab, he was charged double for paying in
euros.