The cost of taxi services has increased in Kyiv. Since the end of May, the basic rates for Uklon taxis for different classes of cars have increased by an average of 14%, and in Bolt the average check has increased by 3-5% over the summer, although the basic rates have remained unchanged. Experts call the main reasons for the increase in prices increased demand, rising fuel costs, and attempts by services to retain drivers.
In particular, the increase in demand is associated with the beginning of the autumn period: users return to the city, the weather changes, traffic worsens, congestion increases during rush hours, which makes people more likely to choose taxis instead of public transport. This creates an imbalance between demand and supply, which affects the increase in fares.
Another factor in the increase in prices is the reluctance of drivers themselves to take small orders. Because of this, services are forced to raise prices to keep trips attractive to drivers. Experts note that a 10-15% increase in fares sometimes even stabilizes the average cost of a trip, since more drivers agree to orders, and dynamic coefficients increase less.
The cost of a taxi ride is formed from two main factors. The first is the base rate per 1 km. For example, in Uklon, after several increases, the rate for the “Standard” class is from 15.5 UAH per kilometer in the city. The second is the dynamic part, which depends on the number of active drivers and orders, traffic jams, car delivery distance, air alarms, closed bridges and weather conditions. However, the dynamic component cannot exceed the base rate by more than three times.
It is the dynamic indicators that determine the majority of the final cost of the trip, Uklon notes. Thus, increasing tariffs is a necessary mechanism to stimulate drivers and maintain the availability of taxi services in the capital.
