Direct competition to the TTC. I wouldn't be surprised if Uber were to soon also offer inter-city transport.
BTW: I think somebody else tried to offer the same service in Liberty Village about a year or so ago but it wasn't economical.
Taxi Drivers Protest
- Thread starter SkyRider
- Start date
BTW: I think somebody else tried to offer the same service in Liberty Village about a year or so ago but it wasn't economical.
I used Uber for the first time on the weekend.
I waited 6 minutes, brand new clean car arrives with leather seats.
Decent music, no desert jingles.
Pleasant conversation.
Cost about half of what a cab normally costs on the same route at the same time, including one quick stop (I never stop when taking a cab).
I will never use a cab again.
I waited 6 minutes, brand new clean car arrives with leather seats.
Decent music, no desert jingles.
Pleasant conversation.
Cost about half of what a cab normally costs on the same route at the same time, including one quick stop (I never stop when taking a cab).
I will never use a cab again.
Those licenses that were purchased by taxi drivers were done legally. They were purchased off of rich people who had connections with the city and were sold those licenses by the city. They were also given the rights by the city to sell those licenses if they choose to do so, and there was absolutely nothing illegal about it.
The city did initially make money from selling those taxi licenses to the initial buyers. So I really don't know where the above statement you made you got your facts from but it's the exact opposite.
What the issue is that a lot of people do not want to adress (BECAUSE THEY ARE GETTING CHEAPER FARES THROUGH UBER'S X PLATFORM) is that the politicians looked the other way and were not regulating the taxi industry closely when it was growing and the taxi industry was running wild in the city with little if any oversight from the city.
Now shit has hit the fan and every one has gotten sick and tired of the taxi industry, the politicians are doing the exact same thing with Uber which in the long run is not good for the city, the industry, nor the customers.
This is coming from a person who uses taxis, limousines companies, and Uber black. I personally prefer Uber black for accessability, but prefer limousine companies for pricing. And in all honesty think the taxi industry could be doing a lot better. But to think any industry can be over taken by a rogue multi billion dollar company that is using technology and does not follow the laws of the city that the rest of the industry are following is not good for the industry, it's not a good precedent to set, and simply not fair to the taxi industry.
If Uber wants to keep it's platform of Uber X in the city there should be no reason why every single driver does not have commercial insurance, and does not get licensed through the municipality they are working in to make sure cars are checked and safe to be on the road.
Also Uber's new platform Uber Hop providers should all be licensed through the Ontario Highway Transportation Board with a Public Vehicle Operating license, as all other vehicles who do this through other multiple companies have these licenses and once again this is not fair nor right to that industry and it ends up hurting the other providers of the service in those industries.
I DO THINK THAT UBER HAS BEEN PAYING OFF POLITICIANS IN THE GTA AS THERE ARE A FEW POLITICIANS IN THIS CITY THAT ARE STANDING UP FOR UBER ALTHOUGH IT DOES NOT FOLLOW THE LAWS THAT OTHER COMPANIES ABIDE BY.
VHS
Blockbuster
Nortel
Kodak
Atari
etc...
The world will always leave something in the dust if it can't evolve....
Blockbuster
Nortel
Kodak
Atari
etc...
The world will always leave something in the dust if it can't evolve....
Cab licences have been a racket for years now, Uber will probably end that racket.
But insurance could be the thing that evens it out between cabs and Uber.
It'll take a while to settle down, first Uber accident where the driver loses their insurance for not reporting that they were now commercial will be when it starts to change.
If an Uber driver gets in an accident and is not covered by his personal insurance company and if Uber then doesn't cover them, the only thing that will do is make drivers think twice about getting commercial insurance.
As mentioned Uber is teaming up with Intact to offer a special "Uber" policy. When that happens it will give taxi's one less thing to cry about.
The City has regulated taxi's, for among other reasons, to protect the taxi industry's viability by not flooding the market with unlimited taxi's, fare slashing sales etc that could serve to drive the (pre-Uber) taxi industry out of being a viable business. A business that any city needs as part of its transportation infrastructure.
But with the arrival of Uber, the horse has left the barn and taken the buggy whip along with it. And the buggy whip industry as well.
So the role of the municipal government attempting to regulate the market forces (if even for a good cause) is gone.
Now it really just comes down to offering some level of statutory safety/protection of the public.
The Province could step into this by introducing a new class of "Commercial" / Chauffeur Driver's License for passenger car drivers. Not unlike the "A", "D" and School Bus Driver Licenses. The requirements and standards could be developed according to the actual needs of the passengers safety etc. Not the market forces in municipalities.
And the Province could amend Ontario's Insurance Act to statutorily require any Commercial driver to personally carry a minimum public and passenger liability insurance coverage while exercising his commercial driving privileges.
But with the arrival of Uber, the horse has left the barn and taken the buggy whip along with it. And the buggy whip industry as well.
So the role of the municipal government attempting to regulate the market forces (if even for a good cause) is gone.
Now it really just comes down to offering some level of statutory safety/protection of the public.
The Province could step into this by introducing a new class of "Commercial" / Chauffeur Driver's License for passenger car drivers. Not unlike the "A", "D" and School Bus Driver Licenses. The requirements and standards could be developed according to the actual needs of the passengers safety etc. Not the market forces in municipalities.
And the Province could amend Ontario's Insurance Act to statutorily require any Commercial driver to personally carry a minimum public and passenger liability insurance coverage while exercising his commercial driving privileges.
That first Uber X accident happened a while back last summer, the matter is in the courts right now as his insurance company has denied the drivers claim, For anyone that uses Uber X as a customer if the driver does not have commercial insurance which I believe they all don't have it and cost would be way too high for them to do have that type of insurance, if you do get into an accident and need to file a claim through insurance you should know that your claim will be denied by the insurance companies.
And I fully agree with you about taxi licenses, unfortunately the government has neglected oversight to the taxi industry properly for the last few decades that has led to this. And the government letting a multi billion dollar company come in and do as they please without abiding by the laws is the worst thing that could of happened.
What Uber has provided in terms of service with their Uber X platform has also taken a lot of customers away from the hardworking limousine companies that are smaller in size as they have lost a lot of their clientelle to Uber X, BTW majority of these limousine companies abide by the law, the drivers are very polite, the cars are very clean with the proper insurance, and their rates are cheaper than regular Uber black vehicle rates. Majority of these companies are now using Uber black to rely on getting customers.
Actually, it's the best thing that could have happened. Once new laws are written and everything is above board then the public will benefit as they do now with greater choice and better service.
Uber will start their own insurance company same as many transportation companies do. What do you think will happen to the cab business when the google cars come on the market. You will be able to go to a bar and drink and have fun then get in your car and be driven home. It will happen sooner or later.
Uber black does charge for kilometers and minutes. Their rate is $0.50/minute and $2.70/km. I don't know what Uber X rates are.
One company has started asking policy holders directly and will cancel their insurance if they say they are driving for Uber, and if they lie they'll lose coverage if found out.
http://www.thestar.com/news/city_ha...-policy-holders-are-you-driving-for-uber.html
And:
Right now any driver using personal insurance to drive with Uber is taking a big risk.
This is shortsighted. It will force innovation by Uber and other players to provide substitutes for the traditional insurance. You can adapt or get out of the way, but standing in the way of progress(backed by a lot of cash) is a very bad idea. Once the insurance weenies do their sums, they'll come on board for a cut.
Its not 'shortsighted', its realistic.
Any Uber driver can and should get commercial licenses for taking fares.
Unless you want all of us non-commercial, non-Uber drivers to have to suffer insurance rate hikes to cover their higher risks?
Why? Do you have a commercial insurance on your vehicle when you take your kids to hockey, ballet, etc. Are the carpool drivers required to take up additional coverage? What are the statistics for the accident frequencies for the Uber drivers versus the general population per kilometers driven? Does it justify the rates being 5-10X higher?
Driving your kids to hockey practice and carpooling isn't a commercial endeavour.
Give your head a shake.
