Taxi app has 40,000 journeys booked in first year

The government said 239 journeys were booked through the app on its busiest day

A taxi booking app in Guernsey has facilitated about 40,000 journeys in its first year, the States of Guernsey has said.

The Guernsey Taxi App has 105 taxi drivers signed up to the platform, with about 85 actively using the app.

The government said 239 journeys were booked through the app on its busiest day in April 2024, with an average of 106 journeys arranged on the platform daily.

Deputy Andy Cameron said the app was "good for customers" and "good for the industry".

'Dead mileage'

The introduction of an app-accessible taxi booking system was a key recommendation of the independent Taxi and Private Hire Car Review published in September 2022.

Since 1 January 2024, all taxi operators have been required to sign up to the app or another taxi booking app of their choice, as long as it "meets set criteria".

Deputy Cameron said: "For customers, it provides a one-stop shop for hailing a taxi on demand, avoiding the need to phone up several companies.

"For drivers, it reduces the amount of 'dead mileage' [distance or time a taxi travels without paying passengers] by offering the request to the taxi closest to the waiting passenger.

"We're pleased that this has been welcomed by the industry and continue to work alongside the Guernsey Taxi Drivers Association to see how the app can be further developed."