We are happy to announce that Taxi Auto Fare is now available in Australia! Taxi Auto Fare will now help users find TAXI FAREs AUTOmatically before having to travel in Australia!

Often it is the case, when we don’t have an idea about Taxi Fares we can be easily taken for a ride. Especially those who are new to the City or 1st time visitors to a City. It is best to have an idea of how much you will be spending, before you begin your travel!

Q) I am traveling to a Australia for the 1st time. I need a fair idea of the fare from the Airport to my destination. What would be the estimated fare in the Ciy?
Q) I was charged $36 from the Airport to my destination. Was it a fair fare?

A) taxiautofare is a FREE service that answers all the above questions, provides you with estimated fares, fares comparisons; before you actually travel.

We are starting by covering 20 major cities in Australia with their fares, distances, travel time with the Google Map!  We have included as much details as possible including booking fee, waiting charges, luggage charges, off-peak taxi rates (nights and weekends), etc. We plan to include various Taxi operator contact details as well in the coming week. And try to cover more cities in coming days.

Here is the list of Cities-

• Adelaide Taxi Fare
• Ballarat Taxi Fare
• Geelong Taxi Fare
• Sydney Taxi Fare
• Wollongong Taxi Fare
• Wyong Taxi Fare
• Canberra Taxi Fare
• Katherine Taxi Fare
• Hobart Taxi Fare
• Melbourne Taxi Fare
• Alice Springs Taxi Fare
• Bendigo Taxi Fare
• Blue Mountains Taxi Fare
• Newcastle Taxi Fare
• Gosford Taxi Fare
• Brisbane Taxi Fare
• Darwin Taxi Fare
• Nhulunbuy Taxi Fare
• Launceston Taxi Fare
• Perth Taxi Fare

If you want to get your city added or find any errors or just want say a Hi!, please feel free to contact us at taxiautofare@taxiautofare.com.

Thank you,
Team Taxi Auto Fare

Only licensed taxicabs can pick up passengers on the street. London's Black cabs are particularly famous on account of the specially constructed vehicles and the extensive training course (the Knowledge) required for fully licensed drivers; unlike many other cities, the number of taxicab drivers in London is not limited. London's taxicab drivers are even well-known for having developed an especially big hippocampus, a region of the brain where, among other things, information about locations is stored.

London's black taxicabs - short for "taximeter cabriolets", that is, "cars with distance meters" - are a ubiquitous sight on the streets, and a common way to travel around the city in addition to the Tube and buses. In their favour, they're warm, comfortable and the drivers generally know where they're going, as they have to pass a rigorous test called "the Knowledge" before they can get their license to drive. The downside to the black cabs is that they're expensive, and unless you have very deep pockets there's no point using them for longer journeys across town. This situation has been exacerbated recently by the ex-Mayor of London Ken Livingstone's decision to let them charge more at night, since the drivers would often be reluctant to work at night.

Although the traditional London taxi is black, they now often come in a multitude of colours. Try looking out for their distinctive shape, that said, there are now newer, bigger, boxier models as well. If in doubt, look out for the orange "TAXI" light above the windscreen. If it's on, you can hail the cab. If not, you'll have to wait for another.

The London black cab is an icon of our city. Black cabs are extremely reliable, but rather expensive. The reason for this is because the drivers know so much about London. All drivers have passed "the Knowledge" which means they have studied and memorized 25,000 London streets within a six-mile radius of Charing Cross, proving they know the most direct route for your journey. These studies take about 2-4 years so it's rather like them having a university degree in 'London'.

The legendary black taxis of London seem to have been around forever, though nowadays not all the 23,000 black cabs in greater London are black, and a modernised streamlined version has been added to the "lumpy" old beasts. The bulging roofline of these taxis was originally designed to accommodate the height of bowler hats.

All taxis are wheelchair accessible and most have a variety of additional features to assist passengers. The fares charged are regulated, and with safety paramount all taxi vehicles and drivers must meet minimum standards . Licensed vehicles are subject to regular checks by the Public Carriage Office.

http://www.taxi-london.net/

The Black Cabs' history goes back to the time of horse-drawn cabs which were called Hackney Cabs. The term comes from the French word haquenee referring to the ambling horses used to pull the original Hackney Carriages. The Hackney Carriage originated in London, England in 1625. The cabs still come under some of the old rules from the horse-drawn days. The Black Cabs are the only taxis that are allowed to pick people up from the street. There are also mini cabs in London, however they can only collect someone if they have made a prior arrangement by phone.

Before a taxi driver gets his Hackney Cab Licence he or she must pass a test called 'The Knowledge'. This is a difficult test and requires the cabbie to know the streets of central London like the palm of their hand. Mini cab drivers do not need to pass this test.
The Knowledge

Taxi drivers in London undergo a demanding and arduous testing of their knowledge of the city, its daily traffic patterns and the fastest routes between locations. Estimates suggest that gathering the basic understanding needed to acquire The Knowledge involves a full-time year of study, absorbing the information provided by street maps and travelling around the city itself.

The result is that drivers of official London Hackney Cabs are renowned for their detailed and intimate knowledge of London's streets and attractions. Strangely enough, scientific study has shown that possession and expansion of The Knowledge increases the size of the anterior and posterior hippocampi of the brain - the area that handles spatial memory and spatial navigation.

Compared with baseline controls and inexperienced cabbies, long-serving taxi drivers possessed considerable more developed hippocampi.

The Vehicles

There are currently 3 makes of vehicle licensed to ply for hire in London:

LTI (London Taxis International) - FX4 taxi, Fairway taxi, Fairway Driver taxi, TX1 taxi, TX2 Taxi & TX4 taxi.
Metrocab - Series 1 Metrocab, Series 2 Metrocab, Series 3 Metrocab & TTT Metrocab.
Eco City Vehicles - Mercedes Benz Vito Taxi.
All of these vehicles have to conform to the conditions  of fitness as set out by the PCO (Public Carriage Office).
http://www.taxi-london.net/

Why Use a Taxi Firm?
Taxis and private hire vehicles now offer an invaluable service to those people who need to get to work on time, who prefer not to drive at times or who don?t have a car or can?t drive. Using a taxi or hired car helps avoid using trains, tubes and buses, all of which may come with congestion, difficulties and delays. Many taxi firms allow the setting up of accounts or ongoing arrangements for regular journeys.

There are hundreds of taxi firms that provide transportation services to major airports, including Heathrow, Manchester, and Birmingham Airports, Gatwick Airport, Leeds Bradford Airport, Newcastle Airport, Luton Airport, Edinburgh Airport and Aberdeen Airport from a home, hotel or other location. Using a taxi means no worries about traffic delays, parking, or timely arrival. If using a taxi to catch a flight make sure to book a pick-up time well in advance of the check-in time. Taxis also provide transportation between airports for connecting flights. Taking a taxi to the airport is convenient and cost effective.

Alternatively, when on holiday, a car hire firm may be more suitable — especially if there a few days free to explore surroundings, discover hidden sights and visit secluded villages, for example. Many will offer a free service to pick up and drop back at the airport if the car is hired for a week or more. This option allows time to explore at a leisurely pace. Prices start from ?30-?35 per day, depending on the duration of rental and type of vehicle.

How to Choose a Taxi Firm
When hiring a taxi in advance, use one from a reputable firm. Make bookings by phone or have the hotel arrange the hire. There will always be a registered taxi rank inside/just outside airports and train and bus stations. In many cities and towns taxi can be hailed down in the street for short journeys — in others they may have to be picked up at a taxi rank/office. Don?t be tempted to use unlicensed taxis or mini-cabs — especially late at night in pub/club districts — as this can be dangerous.

Care Hire Tips
If hiring a car for a longer journey/longer period then these tips will be useful:
Be sure the taxi or car hire firm carries insurance.
If the vehicle insurance policy is from an EU based insurer (including the UK), it will cover third party insurance in EU countries. But third party cover can be inadequate to cover all costs and it is safer to have more insurance when hiring a car. Check with the insurance company to see that there is adequate cover for the countries involved.
Take photos of the hire car before driving off and make notes on its condition. Before returning the car, take more photos and notes on its condition and sign them. This is valuable evidence should any dispute arise. The hire company should also note the condition of the car on the contract.
If an accident occurs, get a written estimate of the repair costs. Check with the hire company as to what to do next, but a written estimate should help avoid disputes regarding repair costs.
Return the car on time.
Check all paperwork and ask for a copy of the final form. Then no one can change the report or charge extra later. Check the contract thoroughly and ask for explanations of anything that is not clear. Be aware of extra costs like petrol/mileage, child seats and taxes.
Choosing a Taxi Firm Online
There are advantages to choosing a taxi firm online:
Price quotes are provided in advance via e-mail or the website.
No queues.
Ensures dealing with a known taxi firm.
No need to worry about language barriers.
Convenience.
Trade Bodies
There are many trade bodies/associations for taxi and private hire vehicle services including:
The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA)
The London Motor Cab Proprietors' Association (LMCPA). Contact the LMCPA on Tel 020 7275 7589.
The Licensed Private Hire Car Association (LPHCA)
The National Private Hire Association (NPHA). Contact the NPHA on Tel 0161 280 2800.
The National Taxi Association
Setting Up a Taxi Account
By using a taxi firm consistently, they will get to know the journeys made regularly by the passengers and any needs they may have. Sometimes discounts are offered for regular use or regular trips. This also saves paying for a taxi as it is used as it will be charged to the account to be settled up later. Make sure to have the contract read thoroughly by an appropriate person in the company to check it is OK. Most importantly, do check that the firm is registered with an appropriate association and that they have full insurance cover. This will save time, hassle, and money.

Consider using a taxi firm or car hire for transportation instead of driving or using trains, the tube or buses. This could save a lot of hassle, time and money in the long run.

Police have alleged a man who was damaging property as he walked along George Street, got into the cab opposite Treasury Casino and hit the driver in the head a number of times.

The cabbie fell out of his taxi and fellow cab drivers and passers by came to his aid, restraining the alleged offender until police arrived.

A man will appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court this morning, charged with assault and other offences.

The driver has a broken nose and facial injuries, and is undergoing tests in the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, for a suspected fractured skull.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22561665-3102,00.html

Abdirazak Mussa, 55, is facing three charges arising from an alleged incident in Wellington last year.

Frances Kinraid, a character witness for Mr Mussa, told the Court she had met him in her role as a community worker liaising with refugee families.

But in cross-examination she admitted that 10 years ago she had been prosecuted for fabricating evidence before a Tenancy Tribunal hearing. 

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/latest/200710102008/surprise_revelation_in_taxi_driver_rape_case

Jones told The Courier-Mail the decision to sack George Gregan as captain and hand Stirling Mortlock the job this year backfired as the Australians made a limp quarter-final departure at the hands of England.

Connolly will return from France later this week to trade a business focus on rugby for his two cab licences at Mooloolaba.

Delivering a brutal assessment of the Wallabies' exit, Jones said claims that the scrum has made huge advances since his axing two years ago were shown to lack substance in Marseilles on Saturday.

"It has improved, but not that much, and there were repercussions elsewhere," he said. "At the scrum and the breakdown you would give England eight out of 10 and Australia four."

Jones argued that the other key element in the defeat was the removal of Australia's most capped skipper as the on-field general.

"It was a mistake not having George as captain," said Jones, now serving as right-hand man to Springbok coach Jake White, whose side will play Argentina in a semi-final on Sunday.

"The Wallabies definitely lacked leadership in that game. They never got together to work out what to do, which George was always good at.

"He's been criticised as a halfback in recent times. Some of the stuff was right, some of it wrong. But you could never criticise his captaincy."

Jones said his comments were not an attack on Mortlock.

"It's hard to captain from the No. 13 position and I don't think he was very experienced in that situation at the weekend," he said. "Quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals at a World Cup are life and death. It's not your normal Test footy. The intensity exacerbates strengths and weaknesses. I don't think it was Stirling's fault. It was a matter of circumstance.

"I've coached George and I know he would have been cognisant of the fact he wasn't the captain. It showed out that he didn't want to overrule the bloke in charge."

Bok coach White suggested the Wallabies and All Blacks had choked in losing to England and France.

"There was enough there for both of those teams to have won their quarter-finals," he said.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22552421-10389,00.html

Land Transport New Zealand was ordered to reissue Vonrick Chrisford Kerr's passenger licence by a Wellington district court judge.

Taxi Federation executive director Tim Reddish called the findings outrageous.

"It really flies in the face of how the federation and Government have been working together to clean up the industry," Mr Reddish said. "If he (Mr Kerr) lost his P-endorsement for inappropriate behaviour with women passengers, then the judge is irresponsible in granting him it."

The director of land transport originally disqualified Mr Kerr from driving taxis for 10 years, after convictions for his conduct toward women passengers in the late 1990s.

That was reduced to three years after he appealed against the decision.

Mr Kerr was imprisoned for breaching protection orders against his wife, including for a burglary during which he smashed his way into her home in 1998.

This year the director of land transport declined Mr Kerr's latest application to issue his licence, a decision Mr Kerr also appealed against.

However, Judge Tom Broadmore ruled Mr Kerr a "fit and proper person" to hold the licence in August.

Mr Kerr acknowledged that "in operating his taxi business and driving a taxi he would be "walking on eggs", Judge Broadmore said.

Mr Kerr has two companies registered under his name - Wellington Combined Taxis 2007 Ltd and Wellington Combined Shuttles 2007 Ltd.

Both companies were incorporated on September 28. Mr Kerr used a public notice in The Dominion Post last week to register his intent to seek approval as a taxi organisation under the Transport Services Licensing Act.

Land Transport New Zealand transport relationships manager Michael Cummins said it had not yet received an application. He would not comment on the issue.

"All I can say is the judge, having all of the evidence, decided Mr Kerr was fit and proper, therefore we followed his findings."

Mr Kerr hung up when telephoned yesterday and would not return calls. 

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4230605a11.html

Joel Steven Lude, 23, and Dale Sydney Love, 21, were sentenced to 18 month's jail in August this year over the incident.

Yesterday, the Court of Appeal replaced their original sentences with nine months imprisonment.

The judgment means Lude was to be released on parole yesterday and Love is eligible for parole early next month.   

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/03/2049594.htm?site=sunshine