Local Taxi Operators Upset At Mobile App

[Regulator75]

They are suing the founder of FastCab.

Heaven forbid we can catch a cab much faster in this city.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/technol...487/story.html

CALGARY — Crying “unfair competition,” the city’s top taxi companies are suing a local entrepreneur for $1 million over a smartphone application allowing passengers to bypass dispatch to hail cabs faster.

[mykalberta]

I read about this, hahaha good luck with the lawsuit.

[jar_e]

Suing the wrong part of the equation in my opinion....FastCab, TaxiNow, etc. only work cause cabbies participate. Blame your cabbies. Seems odd to go after the medium instead of your own employees who are participating in the so-called "unfair competition".

And definitely a horrible PR move considering how little taxi companies are regarded around here already.

[CaramonLS]

Isn't this pretty much what pound taxi does?

Oh I see, it only should be illegal when you don't get a cut of the fees.

[Cowboy89]

My favorite comment was by one driver who was complaining about not knowing who they're picking up using this service. How does having a dispatcher solve this problem? Or furthermore how do they know the dude with his hand up on the side of the street hailing him isn't a rapist?

Bottom line, there would have been no need to invent this service if cab clients weren't hearing the busy tone on their phones often when calling a cab. This is a problem that cab companies created themselves by cutting the supply.

[KTrain]

Associated doesn't even have their own Twitter account. Someone else is using it for fun: http://www.twitter.com/associatedcab

If they can't get behind the simplest of technologies, they're not going to figure out apps or anything beyond the status quo.

[para transit fellow]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

My favorite comment was by one driver who was complaining about not knowing who they're picking up using this service. How does having a dispatcher solve this problem? Or furthermore how do they know the dude with his hand up on the side of the street hailing him isn't a rapist?

The email won't call for help where as the dispatcher can.

Dispatcher has a pick up address and knows (roughly) when cabbie is overdue for a next call

[getbak]

Originally Posted by para transit fellow

The email won't call for help where as the dispatcher can.

Dispatcher has a pick up address and knows (roughly) when cabbie is overdue for a next call

Why wouldn't the dispatcher have all that information anyway?

I don't see where this is any different than hailing a cab on the side of the road or a driver giving his cell number to a passenger to call in the future, which cab drivers have been doing for years.


Every time I've ever taken a cab, the driver has called in to dispatch to say that he has picked up a fare and what the destination is going to be. In the newer cabs, they have a touch-screen that seems to do all that without needing to call in.

[Bobblehead]

Every cabbie I've ridden with calls into the dispatcher as soon as they get a fare, whether they were an arranged pick up or off the street, and the intended destination.

I've had cabbies give me a card and ask me to call them when I need a ride home. This is the same idea.

Plus a lot depends upon how the relationship between the driver and company exists. The companies own some cabs but a lot of times the car is owned by the cabbie and he pays to lease the plate company.

This app is showing the cab companies aren't needed, and if they aren't needed then I can see the city saying any new plates, or plates coming up for renewal, going to more private cabs. The app is removing the necessity of the dispatcher.

The past couple of New Years I have asked the cabbie about the shortage and the one 2 years ago said he wasn't overly busy (even though I couldn't get through on the phone, I flagged him down on the street), and this year they cabbie went on a real diatribe about how much he had to pay to the leasing his plate and they won't put enough dispatchers in place and how many nights, when there aren't special events or Stampede, he can drive around for hours with no fares.

Some of the cabbies who have been around a while have a pretty good perspective on the issues.

[photon]

I can appreciate where it kind of looks like this app is operating as a broker without a license, at least in the dispatcher aspect of a broker.

Sure the app is just like waving down a cab, except it's so much more that it's just another case of technology making a whole existing setup (brokers, licensed by the city, etc) invalid.

In a case like this the city should, rather than just deciding if this technology goes against their rules, maybe re-think how the whole thing is setup.

And brokers and dispatchers instead of fighting it, embrace it, instead of each cab driver worrying about their own device and probably viewing and accepting requests while driving around, incorporate their dispatchers into the process..

[squiggs96]

Maybe if they hired more than one dispatcher to answer the phones, people wouldn't be using the apps. Although I don't use cabs much I hate when you try and call in and you get a busy signal or no answer. Instead of them sitting with 100 of their cab driving buddies in a parking lot waiting for a call, they could accept the call and go and pick someone up. As a consumer, all we are trying to do is get someone to drive us around. As a provider of this service, they certainly seem to be finding ways to make it more difficult on themselves.

[burn_this_city]

Fast Cab should pressure the city for their own licenses and demolish all the existing cab companies through competition. The current situation is a complete joke, companies that don't evolve should die off.

[Kybosh]

I wonder what bar and restaurant owners think of the sad state of affairs that is Calgary cabs? Personally, I barely drink (maybe 1 drink, if that) when I go out anymore because the hassle and cost of getting a cab is too much.

[Tron_fdc]

That app is BRILLIANT. I live DT and can't stand trying to find GD cabs, flagging one down at night, or sitting on hold.

Hilarious that you can add a "financial incentive" to get picked up. As in it's 3AM, I'll give you $50 to get my drunk ass home (on top of the cab fare)

[valo403]

Sounds somewhat like the Uber app that operates in a few US cities.

I've used it in Chicago and NYC and it's about the most perfect supplement to the standard cab system. You use the app to call a car service which bills based on time/mileage just like a cab, but prices adjust based on demand. When I was stuck trying to get somewhere in a massive storm I paid double, but I got where I needed to be without being soaked to the bone. I know the city of Chicago attempted to put the clamps on the system but I don't believe the legal challenge was successful, or is at least still undecided. Either way, things like this are the wave of the future, cab companies either need to get on board or fall behind.

[SebC]

Funny, the brokers have been protected for so long that I don't think they know the difference between "competition" and "unfair competition".

[4X4]

It kinda seems like the Calgary taxi industry is run by the mafia.

[pylon]

Back in my clubbing days, we had a Mayfair cab driver who owned his own cab/plate that would basically do exclusive pickups and service on Fri/Sat night. You could schedule him, or just call his cell direct, and the unwritten rule was basically a minimum 10 dollar tip, and he ignored everyone else.

It was like a secret little club, and he only would only take so many clients. Dude was cool too. Always had good club music in his cab, and barf bags. Never complained if you snuck a drink in the cab either. Basically a Ghetto limo. It was win/win. Plus he would always come get you during the week if he was on duty. Still have his card in my wallet, but I think he is long since moved on.

[Hugh Jahrmes]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

I wonder what bar and restaurant owners think of the sad state of affairs that is Calgary cabs? Personally, I barely drink (maybe 1 drink, if that) when I go out anymore because the hassle and cost of getting a cab is too much.

This. Not to mention how many (unfortunate as it is) poor decisions this may prevent.

[Incogneto]

What is the holdup wiht getting more cabs on the street? ...or with more companies? Why is the City not fixing this issue.

I really am in the dark as to why this is still an issue....can someone explain?