Calgary Taxis: 383 new plates & 8.1% rate increase

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by Bunk

^ The Uber, e-hailing item went to the Taxi and Limousine Advisory Committee on Friday - so it'll be onto Council shortly. Don't know the exact date, but can find out.

I can tell you there have been a lot of meetings between Uber and City and Council members recently.

The thing with Uber seems to be is they think of themselves as a technology company - not a limousine/cab company. So minor details like proper insurance don't seem to be fully thought through. My personal hope is that we'll find a way for them to operate in Calgary.

Proper insurance hasn't been fully thought through? I find that quite quite odd, considering they've implemented service globally -- in a number of cities, with what I can imagine are a huge variance in municipal bylaws, etc;

How would their insurance requirements differ from say, Toronto where Uber currently operates?

IMO, Vancouver & Calgary are looking to be catering to the old boys.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

Why is it that a company has to come and kiss the brass ring to set up shop here in Calgary? It goes to prove the existing laws are far too restrictive. As I said in the other thread, any politician that doesn't support essentially what Table 5 proposed above won't get my vote come election time.

It is not just existing regulations that are too restrictive but also proposed new regulations such as requiring a pick up order be placed at least 30 minutes in advance and a minimum charge of $75. These proposals have all been penned to keep companies like Uber out of Calgary.

[Doodlebug]

Out of curiosity, does anyone know what the avg take home pay of a cabbie is? I realize it depends on how many hrs that cabbie chooses to work...but just curious what an average would be.

I've heard some cabbies say they can avg $5000 a month (which I assumes factors in xmas/stampede weeks).

[Frequitude]

I'll take that deal.

I don't care if the base fare went up. I care that I can get a taxi if I determine that it is worth it to pay that base fare.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Doodlebug

Out of curiosity, does anyone know what the avg take home pay of a cabbie is? I realize it depends on how many hrs that cabbie chooses to work...but just curious what an average would be.

I've heard some cabbies say they can avg $5000 a month (which I assumes factors in xmas/stampede weeks).

I think someone said average is $80k, but that was in another thread or on Reddit or something.

Either way, i don't think most cabbies are hurtin'.

[Doodlebug]

Thats some pretty solid coinage.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Not to be cold, but why should the City even care about that? Why do we need to ensure that driving a cab is a fruitful and sustainable career? Nobody is forcing people to be cab drivers. If the industry I'm in doesn't support my life and family, I find a new industry.

The City doesn't give two craps about other people in low-skill jobs, like the night janitor at your office, or the senior at Walmart, or the cashier at the grocery store (Safeway is one of the biggest employers of new Canadians). What would you say if the City raised the price of vegetables to support your local cashier? And they also controlled the amount of cashiers available. And then when new ones were hired, raised the price of vegetables so the existing cashier could check out an hour earlier? That would be weird, no?

The city should ensure that cabs meet safety requirements and that drivers pass basic training/safety courses. The rest? Let the market figure it out. No subsidizing lifestyles, no protection of licenses that have been turned into investments. This doesn't have to be so complicated.

The answer to your question is a simple one: the mere fact that the city can regulate in this area, but not in the other areas you mentioned. So it's not about giving a crap, it's about regulatory authority.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Table 5

There would be no more brokers as there would be no more limits on plates. Taxi licenses should only act as a simple document allowing you to conduct business...not as some cottage-industry investment tool for a select few.

And sure, if the existing companies want to get together and collude on prices, go nuts. That is exactly when individual Uber drivers would be able to swoop in and offer lower rates. If people want to pay higher prices for a more organized/professional company...they can. If the want a cheaper option...they can do that too. But at least you have the choice.

There were brokers before there were limits on plates. I'm not defending the limits, just saying. One thing is these Uber drivers are going to work for less, why would they? If there are no rates and it's a free market, the business will probably become like it is in some third world where passengers get ripped off.

There is also a safety issue. Cabbies from a brokerage protect each other when assaults occur. Which brings up the other point why maybe you can't get a cab on a Friday night anymore.

[GP_Matt]

The brokerages were required when you had to look them up in phone books and call a company. Technology should have replaced brokerages by now.

[albertGQ]

I heard most cabs can make $100k+ easily if you factor in their cash tips which most don't claim or claim very little.

[Rutuu]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

Why is it that a company has to come and kiss the brass ring to set up shop here in Calgary? It goes to prove the existing laws are far too restrictive. As I said in the other thread, any politician that doesn't support essentially what Table 5 proposed above won't get my vote come election time.

An Uber update from Brisbane (I also signed the Calgary petition to help you guys out);

I use Uber almost exclusively as it's only banned in Brisbane for airport pickups (a lucrative $55-65 to my house)...it's been a fantastic experience so far. The cars are clean, the drivers are friendly as their ratings depend on it and the fares are 30% cheaper on regular fares and 5-10% cheaper during the latest "surge" period. On average I take 4cabs a week.

An interesting note is that Uber gets rid of "bad drivers" with low ratings; they use a 5-star system, the driver I had was a 4.93 and he was telling me the current cut-off is at 4.625. He'd personally done 700+ trips and enjoyed it more than working as a regular cabbie since he had better hours and made more money.

Seems like the best of both worlds for both sides. Hopefully Calgary gets their act together soon. Calgarians deserve the best.

[Daradon]

I'll take the fare increase if the system actually works now. 8.1% for a 25% increase in cabs seems ok. It's not great, but we weren't going to get a perfect system anyway, and that was pretty apparent.

My only fear is that the system still won't work great. Guess we'll see.

[jar_e]

Originally Posted by Rutuu

An Uber update from Brisbane (I also signed the Calgary petition to help you guys out);

I use Uber almost exclusively as it's only banned in Brisbane for airport pickups (a lucrative $55-65 to my house)...it's been a fantastic experience so far. The cars are clean, the drivers are friendly as their ratings depend on it and the fares are 30% cheaper on regular fares and 5-10% cheaper during the latest "surge" period. On average I take 4cabs a week.

An interesting note is that Uber gets rid of "bad drivers" with low ratings; they use a 5-star system, the driver I had was a 4.93 and he was telling me the current cut-off is at 4.625. He'd personally done 700+ trips and enjoyed it more than working as a regular cabbie since he had better hours and made more money.

Seems like the best of both worlds for both sides. Hopefully Calgary gets their act together soon. Calgarians deserve the best.

Out of curiosity, what level of Uber service were you using? I know in a lot of the American centres from the Airport that it has to be UberBlack or UberSUV which is really just contracted out limosuine/town car services anyways. I know a lot of the centres (LAX/Sea-Tac/etc.) have banned UberX/UberXL due to regulation issues.

[jar_e]

And further to that, Uber must have a pretty good feeling for Calgary as they've posted a GM position as well as a marketing manager and a operations manager.

https://www.uber.com/jobs/list?keywo...gary,%20Canada

[nik-]

I feel like I never have a problem getting a cab after a night of drinking. Am I really the only one?

[Daradon]

I won't say I always, or even often have trouble getting a cab, but often enough it's a serious problem.

To that, when you have to wait 60-120 minutes just to get through and the cab is still coming, it's a problem.

It also depends where you are. Some places, like deep in a neighbourhood, you have to call, and that makes it a lot harder. If your downtown, you can often hail one, share one, or steal one, and not have to call.

The last cab I got at the Shawnessy station, I stole from someone who had called for it who wasn't there to meet it in the queue because me and my girlfriend had already been waiting almost an hour and still couldn't get through the lines OR hail one passing the station. We did share with another two guys though, so at least we got two trips in, which probably helped the queue, and the person who called for that cab if they were still there (which they may not have been, as that's one of the problems too. Sometimes you wait so long, you end up finding another way, or getting a different cab, so the calls get all turned around too and a call can get wasted, adding more confusion, and trouble to the cabbies as well.)

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Daradon

I won't say I always, or even often have trouble getting a cab, but often enough it's a serious problem.

To that, when you have to wait 60-120 minutes just to get through and the cab is still coming, it's a problem.

It also depends where you are. Some places, like deep in a neighbourhood, you have to call, and that makes it a lot harder. If your downtown, you can often hail one, share one, or steal one, and not have to call.

The last cab I got at the Shawnessy station, I stole from someone who had called for it who wasn't there to meet it in the queue because me and my girlfriend had already been waiting almost an hour and still couldn't get through the lines OR hail one passing the station. We did share with another two guys though, so at least we got two trips in, which probably helped the queue, and the person who called for that cab if they were still there (which they may not have been, as that's one of the problems too. Sometimes you wait so long, you end up finding another way, or getting a different cab, so the calls get all turned around too and a call can get wasted, adding more confusion, and trouble to the cabbies as well.)

In the recent past I have found that the Associated Cabs smartphone app is actually quite good and provides access to a cab in a pretty timely manner. I've used it to get cabs in suburban settings late on Saturday nights and was impressed with the promptness. Calling for a cab is generally a hassle though and trying to get one on the street during peak times is nearly impossible.

[Daradon]

I used Mayfair in the south quite well for a long time, they even knew me by name, and because I was a friendly chap who tipped well, drivers would rush out to get me, but over the past year, I've found them just as bad.

I'll check out that app for sure. Thanks!

[polak]

Originally Posted by nik-

I feel like I never have a problem getting a cab after a night of drinking. Am I really the only one?

Depends where you are. The closer you get to Cowboys or Roadhouse the more cabs there will be.

If for example you're trying to find a cab outside of Flames Central at 2.30 am well then I wish you luck.

[Rutuu]

Originally Posted by jar_e

Out of curiosity, what level of Uber service were you using? I know in a lot of the American centres from the Airport that it has to be UberBlack or UberSUV which is really just contracted out limosuine/town car services anyways. I know a lot of the centres (LAX/Sea-Tac/etc.) have banned UberX/UberXL due to regulation issues.

I'm far from a "Power" user of the app, but I think there is only UberX available in Brisbane. The way I see it is that those other services UberSUV/UberBlack were created to fill niches (higher class cars) or get around local/regional taxi rules (exclusive taxi rights to an airport).

The cabs here are already pretty well setup with Maxi-Taxi's that can take 10-people, taxi ranks in the bar districts WITH attendents that prevent customers "upstreaming" other customers, and an abundance of cabs. The attendents also prevent refusals as it's against the rules if you line up in the rank.

With all that said Uber is still better than the old system since both customer and driver are better off financially. As far as pick up speed it's been great as well. The only issue would be if you had more than 4-people as they don't have a larger option such as the Maxi Taxis offered by the traditional two cab companies.