Taxi Drivers Protest

[Barca]

Its evolution. Much like Blackberry found out, you need to change with the times and keep up with what the consumer wants or see your market share evaporate.

This.

Nobody sheds a tear for BlackBerry, even a user like me. And while I feel for anyone who would lose their investment in a car or plate, the reality is times change and many people lose their savings on businesses that didn't pan out. You can't force time to stand still for you. Uber is here, it has and will continue to change the landscape as does all technology. Roll with it or get crushed under it.

And yes, cabbies can also Uber themselves.

If the licensing fees are too burdensome, protest the city, not the technology.

 

[RLTF]

I think the cabbies were played by the cab companies yesterday and it backfired. They only garnered tons of negative publicity for themselves and the ire of the police and the mayor. If some stranger was pounding on the window of my car I'd gun it too. If the cabbies wanted to stage an effective protest they should have just parked their cabs at city hall and let Uber's surge pricing take effect.

Uber has some homework to do with regards to insurance in Canada. They have a liability policy in place in the USA, but nothing here. Uber drivers and passengers are taking a chance in the event of a personal injury accident. A lawsuit against an Uber driver without commercial insurance will be a hollow victory if won. What value of assets can someone driving Uber really have? I don't think being an Uber driver pays all that great by the time one factors in fuel, repairs, and especially necessary commercial insurance. That's where I can see regulation benefiting public safety.

 

[Devin Cruz]

Does anyone know if that cab driver who hung on the Uber car has been arrested? I think what he did was so wrong and I was watching another news clip where an officer told a driver to get his finger out of the officers face. I swear it was the same cabbie that hung on the car. If so, something really should be done about that guy.

Also, why would Uber not contact an insurance company to have them make a policy addon for specifically for Uber drivers. I would think that any insurance company that did this, could get a jump on new insurance revenue, no? Could they not broker some sort of deal to get that covered? Why can't Uber drivers just purchase commercial insurance?

I have to admit I don't what some of the legal requirements are and how they work.

 

[SchlongConery]

They identified the crazy limo driver... you know... the licensed one that is supposed to be safe to be driven around by.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/taxi-driver-worked-at-uber-1.3358864


"
As for the incident itself, Kanagasabai dismissed the idea that what he did was dangerous, adding he might be the one to press charges.
"I might talk to my lawyer, I don't know," he said. "I thought the gentleman was going to stop. I tried to talk to him politely."

Politely?

If that shit stain banged on my window I'd drive off too!


It gets better!
"CBC Toronto is attempting to contact police to see whether charges will be laid in connection with the incident.
Const. Clint Stibbe, with the Toronto police traffic services division, said initially someone filed a complaint about the incident but now no longer wants to speak with police.
Without a complainant, Stibbe said, police won't investigate further"


Typical lazy ass cop. They need a "complainant" to investigate such menacing, dangerous actions? If he started banging on my window so violently as if to smash it and grabbed onto my car I'd drive off in fear... and what if I ran someone over in that panic?

Fucking "Street Cleaner" traffic division cops are no more than glorified Meter Maids who only know how to write bs tickets to win the fucking toaster ticket contest.

 

[GameBoy27]

All is fine with Uber until a serious accident happens, the insurance companies reject the claim for whatever reason,then the shiiiit will really hit the fan. At that time huge law suits and liabilities will occur and the insurance industry will cease to underwrite Uber putting them underwater in N. America and it is coming. The political will to stand up to Uber is lacking but market forces will dictate their demise.

This will likely put an end to everyone whining about Uber insurance issues. I don't understand why the taxi industry is so concerned about Uber insurance. They should focus on how to compete with Uber because the city isn't going to shut them down.

http://www.thestar.com/business/2015/09/08/intact-working-on-uber-ride-share-insurance.html

 

[**Sophie**]

Well I can say one thing, I never even thought about uber until yesterday and now I have the app on my phone.

I understand the frustration with the cabbies to a certain extent, they are the ones who are really suffering, not the plate owners, however, I believe uber is here to stay, how can you stop them?! So if you can't beat em, join em.

Besides making Uber drivers get proper insurance, I'm assuming they already have licenses, what else can they do?! Time to step up with the times cabbies!

Friday should be interesting because they said if they don't get what they want, yesterday will be like a walk in the park compared to what's coming. I hope Toronto is ready!!

 

[doggystyle99]

Does anyone know if that cab driver who hung on the Uber car has been arrested? I think what he did was so wrong and I was watching another news clip where an officer told a driver to get his finger out of the officers face. I swear it was the same cabbie that hung on the car. If so, something really should be done about that guy.

Also, why would Uber not contact an insurance company to have them make a policy addon for specifically for Uber drivers. I would think that any insurance company that did this, could get a jump on new insurance revenue, no? Could they not broker some sort of deal to get that covered? Why can't Uber drivers just purchase commercial insurance?

I have to admit I don't what some of the legal requirements are and how they work.

Uber has contacted an insurance company (Intact) and is working to get a policy that can work for all of it's drivers although this would be a very hard thing to do as there is nothing like it in the industry.

Also all Uber black drivers have commercial insurance already as it is mandatory when they register with the municipalities for licensing, it is the Uber X and Uber select vehicles that don't have commercial insurance and don't have the liability to cover incidients.

 

[doggystyle99]

The whole issue with Uber and the Taxi industry is such a complex issue.
Unfortunately our Ontario government for the last few decades has neglected to regulate and oversee the taxi industry properly which has led to it being a monopoly and these guys making a lot of money driving taxis, now Uber has come in and taken a large chunk of their clientele away from them which doesn't sit well with these guys. Uber has also created it's own monopoly in the industry which in the long run is not a good thing for customers.

What Uber has done is great for competition against the taxi industry, but it's horrible for competition against the private small limousine companies.
Also with the introduction of their Uber X and Uber select platforms what they are doing is not in line with the laws that the taxi industry or the limousine industry is abiding by because those vehicles do not have the proper insurance to operate a public vehicle.

What a lot of people fail to see is that competition is good but legal competition, imagine if all industries had someone come into an industry by ways of technology with a massive financial backing that you could not compete with and abide by a different set of rules we all would be doing the same the taxi industry is doing.

I support the small private limousine companies that provide great service with great rates, I am also personally in favour of Uber black but do not support their other platforms as they are not following the same set of rules and will not support them until they do. Taxi industry I really don't give a damn about them as they absolutely do not provide any service for what you are paying.

 

[doggystyle99]

Just something else for you people that support Uber's other platforms like Uber X and Uber Select if you end up getting into an accident and need coverage from the insurance policy good luck as those insurance policies do not cover commercial use with a personal policy. So you would have to either sue the insurance company, Uber or the driver. Good luck trying to sue an insurance company or Uber and winning your case.

 

[SkyRider]

Just saw a guy from CP 24 interview a member of the Bangledesh(sp) Taxi Association. I wouldn't be surprise if many, maybe a majority, of cab drivers are Muslims. Let see how the meeting with the Chief goes. I think the Chief said that Uber is illegal but his hands are tied.

 

[whynot888]

I'm so sick of this taxi protest bullshit! Why don't they just defect to uber? They will certainly get paid better? I just don't like the idea where they make the public pay for this shit by blocking streets, its like that time when those protester blocked the Gardiner, fucking annoying!

 

[KBear]

Assuming insurance for Toronto taxi drivers is very high because as a group they cause a lot of accidents. Uber drivers as a group maybe much less expensive to insure. Also when people are in the back of a taxi do they generally do up their seatbelts?

Another part of the business taxi drivers could lose to Uber is the delivery of parcels. Years ago calling cabs to deliver parcels to other areas of the city was common, not sure if companies still use cabs today.

 

[doggystyle99]

Just saw a guy from CP 24 interview a member of the Bangledesh(sp) Taxi Association. I wouldn't be surprise if many, maybe a majority, of cab drivers are Muslims. Let see how the meeting with the Chief goes. I think the Chief said that Uber is illegal but his hands are tied.

You bigoted much.
If you have used cabs you would know that there are a lot of Muslim taxi drivers. But what does being a Muslim have to do with anything between the Taxi industry and Uber. Completely shaking my head at your ignorance and hate for Muslims.
BTW the Taxi industry although it has a lot of Muslim drivers is controlled and majority is owned by a few different families who are not Muslims.

 

[IM469]

I'm so sick of this taxi protest bullshit!

They bitch but there service (collectively) sucks and who can forget the girl shot dead after getting denied service from two cabs because the distance she needed to go was too close.

 

[GPIDEAL]

You don't blame them for their lack of innovation, and letting a competitor gain traction in the market? Or you don't blame them for taking advantage of the monopoly that they've had for years that's allowed them to ignore the concerns of their customers? Or both?

Good points.

I had a bullshit experience in Dallas. Trip via cab with meter was $40 with tip. Same trip but in reverse without meter (I didn't know why I didn't ask him - I just trusted the fucker from the same cab co I think) - he said it was a flat rate to Airport, and charged me $10 more.

I've heard other stories here in Toronto.

Then there are those mofos who don't pick up you and take off when you need a cab for a short trip.

Another guy even argued, "I don't care that the regs don't protect them. Laws change. The business environment changes. Many businesses get affected by changing laws".

Having said that, I've lobbied for my particular industry when WSIB tried to change laws, but to our benefit (we worked with the new law but got re-classified - did it the WSIB way).

 

[TeeJay]

there is a difference

a lot of immigrants came over and went in huge debt to buy a plate then uber destroys them

put yourself in their shoes

I think the city should buy the fucking plates back

Look, the city makes huge money from those plates and some kind of guarantee should be attached to the contract , while nothing is in writing there should be a moral obligation on the part of the city, which reaps huge financial rewards from the plates and this windfall comes for free, so reimburse those that got screwed through no fault of their own

It is called doing the right thing

The right thing is to buy a proper license
Idiots who spent thousands to illegally obtain a license are getting screwed
Already value of a plate is worth alot less than a few years ago

The city NEVER made "huge money" from those plates
People who resold them for alot more than cost made a profit

 

[SkyRider]

I fear we reached a new low on this board. Just saying a cab driver is Muslim is now bigoted.

 

[GPIDEAL]

I fear we reached a new low on this board. Just saying a cab driver is Muslim is now bigoted.

You're right, but I must admit that I screamed 'terrorist!' when a cabbie drove off after I told him it was only a few blocks.

 

[GameBoy27]

UberHop, new downtown shuttle service, launches this week. Oh boy, cab companies aren't going to like this!

Uber has shaken up Toronto's taxi landscape, but now the ride-hailing service appears to be setting its sights on public transit.

UberHop launches in Toronto on Tuesday. The service lets commuters share an SUV-ride to and from the financial district from four areas: Liberty Village, Fort York, CityPlace and the Distillery. Uber is also soliciting suggestions for new routes.

This week, Uber is offering the service for free. After that, commuters will pay $5 per trip.

Right now my main focus is on moving 1.8 million people a day on the TTC — I can't see Uber or anyone else getting anywhere near that.

However, many of the people targeted by the new service likely commute by transit like the busy 504 King streetcar line, which transports some 60,000 people a day.

So is the TTC worried about Uber courting its customers? Not really.

TTC CEO Andy Byford said he received an email this morning asking him to sign up for the service, which he joked was "kind of ironic."

"Right now my main focus is on moving 1.8 million people a day on the TTC — I can't see Uber or anyone else getting anywhere near that," Byford said.

Still, Byford said the TTC would be taking a look at the service as there are strict rules when it comes to who can and can't operate public transit here. The TTC also previously announced that it plans to run the new, larger streetcars on the King route to make the trip better for commuters.

For Liberty Village dwellers, this isn't the first time someone has pitched an alternative to the streetcar.

In September of 2014, Taylor Scollon and a colleague launched Line 6, which was essentially a bus service from Liberty Village to the downtown core. But after a brief trial, Scollon and his team shut the project down, citing concerns about violating the city's regulations.

Uber Canada, meanwhile, also launched a carpooling service (UberPool) during this summer's Pan Am Games. The company's UberX service, which allows anyone to work as a cab driver, has drawn the ire of Toronto taxi owners and drivers, who staged a citywide protest against it last week.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/uberhop-1.3363805

 

[SkyRider]

UberHop, new downtown shuttle service, launches this week. Oh boy, cab companies aren't going to like this!

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.