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[size=75:ndipqlk7]novinite December 9, 2009

Bulgaria Municipalities to Decide Maximum Taxi Fares


Bulgaria Minister of Transport, Alexander Tsvetkov, has stated that each municipality will be given the power to decide on maximum taxi charges.

Tsvetkov, speaking on BNT, said that after the relevant law is passed, the Municipalities will each set a limit for taxi fares and this could happen in early 2010. He added that the the law has been uploaded to the website of the Ministry is awaiting a procedure for public discussion.

Meanwhile, Tsvetkov called train transport in Bulgaria the safest form of transport but added that old trains must now be replaced alongside a huge effort to improve the railway infrastructure and track system, to which he added BGN 1 B will be supplied.

Tsvetkov concluded that all payments to railway staff delayed payments will be made this month. He also said that there has been a 7-8% drop in passengers on Bulgarian trains this year and a mammoth 50% reduction in freight.

This has got to be good news

Admin wrote:

The new regulations stipulate that about 2000 vehicles must have their equipment checked and adjusted. But at maximum capacity of 60 cars a day, that means it will take more than six-and-a-half working weeks for all cars to undergo the process. The deadline however is March 15.

Is this anything new. The authorities will stick you with a fine anyway they can. Always and forever.

[size=55:1b0b8cxj]novinite

German Tourists Fall Prey to Rogue Taxi in Bulgaria's Sunny Beach

Two 19-year-old Germans are the victims of the latest incident with foreign tourists and rogue taxi drives in Bulgaria, who, however, were busted by the Bulgarian police.

The two German tourists took a cab at about 4:30 am on May 23 from a disco in Sunny Beach, the largest Bulgarian Black Sea resort, to their hotel.

In addition, to the cab driver, however, there was also another man in the taxi. When the tourists got out, the other man grabbed one of them and told the other to bring EUR 200, or he would not let go of his friend.

The German tourists paid the extortionists, and went in. Several hours later they decided to call the police in Nessebar, who quickly managed to find the rogue taxi – a cab with Burgas license plates and its driver, a 25-year-old man from Pomorie, who admitted to his crime.

He also admitted that the other man in the taxi who helped him extort the German tourists is 29-year-old with a criminal record.

The most widely-publicized scandal with a rogue taxi in Bulgaria occurred two years ago, when a rogue cabbed charged officials of the European Anti-Fraud Office OLAF BGN 102 for a ride from Sofia Airport to the Grand Hotel Sofia in the downtown.

Two months ago, the Bulgarian Parliament adopted changes in the Auto Transport Act providing for a ceiling of cab fares;
it is now up to each individual municipality to determine maximum allowed cab fares, with Sofia and Varna setting prices at BGN 1.5-1.6 per km.

However, the vast majority of the abuses occur on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast where many of the smaller municipalities with some of the major resorts might have a hard time applying this regulation.

Admin wrote:

[size=55:22ltk55c]novinite

German Tourists Fall Prey to Rogue Taxi in Bulgaria's Sunny Beach

Two 19-year-old Germans are the victims of the latest incident with foreign tourists and rogue taxi drives in Bulgaria, who, however, were busted by the Bulgarian police.

The two German tourists took a cab at about 4:30 am on May 23 from a disco in Sunny Beach, the largest Bulgarian Black Sea resort, to their hotel.

In addition, to the cab driver, however, there was also another man in the taxi. When the tourists got out, the other man grabbed one of them and told the other to bring EUR 200, or he would not let go of his friend.

The German tourists paid the extortionists, and went in. Several hours later they decided to call the police in Nessebar, who quickly managed to find the rogue taxi – a cab with Burgas license plates and its driver, a 25-year-old man from Pomorie, who admitted to his crime.

He also admitted that the other man in the taxi who helped him extort the German tourists is 29-year-old with a criminal record.

The most widely-publicized scandal with a rogue taxi in Bulgaria occurred two years ago, when a rogue cabbed charged officials of the European Anti-Fraud Office OLAF BGN 102 for a ride from Sofia Airport to the Grand Hotel Sofia in the downtown.

Two months ago, the Bulgarian Parliament adopted changes in the Auto Transport Act providing for a ceiling of cab fares;
it is now up to each individual municipality to determine maximum allowed cab fares, with Sofia and Varna setting prices at BGN 1.5-1.6 per km.

However, the vast majority of the abuses occur on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast where many of the smaller municipalities with some of the major resorts might have a hard time applying this regulation.

I will never complain about the price of a black cab in London again.

[size=55:3m6vpy61]novinite

Bulgaria Introduces Capped Maximum Rates for Taxi Fares

Capped maximum rates for taxi cabs come into force in Bulgaria on May 25 in a bid to prevent rogue taxi drivers from charging highly inflated prices.

Two months ago, the Bulgarian Parliament adopted changes in the Auto Transport Act providing for a ceiling of cab fares and it was up to each individual municipality to determine maximum allowed rates.

The ceiling of cab fares ranges from BGN 1.20-2 per km across the country.

The vast majority of the abuses occur on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast where many of the smaller municipalities with some of the major resorts might have a hard time applying this regulation.

The amendment provides for fines of up to BGN 3 000 for cabs which offer rides for prices higher than the established ceiling.

About 400 taxi cabs in the Bulgarian capital Sofia are going to be forced to lower their prices after the City Hall introduces a price cap.

The expensive cabs now have prices anywhere between BGN 1.5 to BGN 8 per kilometre while the plans are to have a price cap of BGN 1.3 during the day and BGN 1.6 at night.

The most widely-publicized scandal with a rogue taxi in Bulgaria occurred two years ago, when a rogue cab charged officials of the European Anti-Fraud Office OLAF BGN 102 for a ride from Sofia Airport to the Grand Hotel Sofia in the down town.

[size=55:3j6ph82d]Novinite

Cab Drivers on Bulgaria's Black Sea Coast Demand New 'Holiday Fare'

Cab drivers in Bulgaria's Black Sea capital Varna have called for the introduction of a "
holiday fare"
.

The announcement was made Tuesday by Dimcho Ivanov, Chair of the "
Auto 94"
cab syndicate in Varna.

Ivanov explained that Bulgarian cab drivers insisted on the application of a European standard for cab transport envisaging four types of fares- daytime, night time, inter-city and holiday.

"
Everybody working on holidays receives gets extra payment"
, he argued, specifying that the new tariff could not be immediately introduced in Bulgaria because cabs had to have their meters adjusted or buy new ones, which would take time.

Varna cab drivers also insist on removing the cap on starting fares, order fares and waiting fares.

The capped minimum rates were introduced in end-May in a bid to eliminate rogue cabs which are extremely popular in resorts on the Black Sea Coast.

In March, the Bulgarian Parliament adopted amendments to the Auto Transport Act providing for a ceiling of cab fares determined by the municipalities.

The ceiling of cab fares ranges from BGN 1.20-2 per km across the country.

Discontent Varna cab drivers also call for persecuting the "
illegal"
practice of drivers picking up travel mates at bus stations to share fuel costs.

[size=55:1fn3l5fm]novinite

Sofia Taxi Cabs Hike Prices by 20%

Taxi cab prices in Bulgaria's capital Sofia are going up 20%, which is the first substantial price hike since 2007.

According to the Bulgarian National Television, BNT, the new price will be BGN 0.75 per kilometre during the day and BGN 0.9 per kilometre at night.

The fee for ordering a cab on the phone and the idling fee are also going up nearly 20%.

The taxi cab businesses firmly reject speculations of a cartel agreement between them, stressing when the biggest players in the sector up prices, everyone else follows suit.

They say taxi cab drivers need more money to pay for the leases and maintenance of their cars, for taxes and fuel, and simply for making a living after that.

Veliko Turnovo taxis put up their prices September. I was told it was due to fuel increases and to be honest, I was surprised it didn't happen earlier. A taxi fare to Mindya from VT used to be just under 15levs although I always rounded up the odd stots. Now its just under 17levs. When we first lived here it was 10levs for the same ride so we are heading for an almost 50% increase. However, just about everything has also gone up. C'est la Vie. I now use the bus more at 2levs each way! That hasn't gone up yet.