Uber to Resume in Calgary December 6 2016

[para transit fellow]

Originally Posted by heep223

^



The city has had 10 years to figure this out, including a full year of working with Uber. Uber hasn't convinced me of anything. I think it's the city's fault and I'm glad they are "pulling a fast one on the provincial regs". It'll force the regulations to change to suit the market, ultimately benefiting the consumer.

Wow!

Clearly, Uber's work is done ...

[heep223]

Originally Posted by para transit fellow

Wow!

Clearly, Uber's work is done ...

No need to be patronizing, it's not very respectful. You are implying that I'm brainwashed by this evil corporation or something? Or maybe I just disagree with you? What has Uber's "work" been? I'm basing my opinions on my own experience and research.

The city has some legitimate concerns. Uber entering into the market in spite of regulation will force them to actually do something instead of pissing around, while consumers continuously face horrible service from taxis. Uber is taking steps to ensure public safety.

[Resolute 14]

You are really going to whine about someone else being patronizing and disrespectful after posting that Family Guy image?

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

You are really going to whine about someone else being patronizing and disrespectful after posting that Family Guy image?

Fair point. I apologize, you're right that was a hypocritical post.

I just have no time for the taxi industry and the city's response to the issue, so a long blurb about the regulations etc just makes me roll my eyes. I honestly feel that most of the regulations are in place to protect taxi interests, and that has led to an oligopoly of the worst kind. So I couldn't care less about them.

[blankall]

Anyone who thinks this is about regulations is out to lunch. It's about protecting the investment in taxi licenses. The taxi license sales, however, in no way benefit the city. The licenses are inflated in price, because a large number of them, which originated as totally free permits, were bought up by a small group of people.

I feel sorry for the people that paid into the licenses recently, when the prices were inflated, but the taxi system is an essential service. Something has to be done about the current system. The taxi drivers haven't done themselves any favors by lobbying against new licenses and alternate services. Now the levy has broken loose with uber.

The issue is that the government should never have allowed secondary sales of taxi licenses in the first place. It should have remained, what it was supposed to be, a regulated license each driver applies to the city for. The initial idea behind regulation was to set safety standards for the people, not protect the investment of an oligopoly of license holders. If the city is genuine in its bid for public safety, then the answer is to start giving away licenses to individuals that are non-transferable. Getting a license would require a test, similar to a driver's license test, but more stringent and with additional public service requirements.

[gladaki]

Few of my friends mostly engineers who got lay off and didnt work long enough to get EI. Are now Uber drivers infact two of them are Female.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by gladaki

Few of my friends mostly engineers who got lay off and didnt work long enough to get EI. Are now Uber drivers infact two of them are Female.

No way, then that means the others are all male!!

[peter12]

Ahh engineers.

[calgarywinning]

I took the Uber to home for the first night ever and it was great. 40% less and 30% more efficient. This adds up to happiness of 70% - 70% of flames goals against the caps equals I should have stayed home tonight.

Some things Uber can't fix. But i'm pretty sure the cab ride would have been $15-$17 and it was $9.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by para transit fellow

If an Uber driver is doing the background check from a website like backcheck.ca , then they are probably not exposed to the vulnerable sector check where your finger prints are take to prove that you don't have any arrests/ convictions of sexual assault.

It is apparent to me that Uber's biggest problems have little to do with the City of Calgary taxiplates or livery services bylaw.

1) drivers may working for hire without the appropriate licence. A class 5 licence is for personal driving. Class 4, 2 or 1 allows you to drive passengers for hire. Anyone operating a taxi anywhere in Alberta has to have this licence

2) Vulnerable sector check. if you go for a police check to your local station and they find out you are driving seniors or kids, the cops insist on the vulnerable sector check. Any taxi company in alberta (Town or city) could take kids or seniors at any time.

3) Provincial insurance requirements remain unmet (as per Alberta superintendent of Insurance).

Uber seems has convinced us that the City of Calgary is at fault for presenting barriers to implementation of Uber. In reality, Uber is pulling a fast one on the provincial regs.

If they city of Calgary got rid of the cartel and put the above rules in place no one would be saying uber should be able to break them. and uber would likely begrudgingly meet them with lots of protest as they have done in New York.

Instead uber gets to look like Heroes. Which makes good regulation harder. The city through terrible mismanagement got us here

[accord1999]

Originally Posted by GGG

If they city of Calgary got rid of the cartel and put the above rules in place no one would be saying uber should be able to break them. and uber would likely begrudgingly meet them with lots of protest as they have done in New York.

New York still has a medallion system of still extremely high value; Uber accepted New York regulations because New York is the most important market in North America and its regulators weren't easily pushed around.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by accord1999

New York still has a medallion system of still extremely high value; Uber accepted New York regulations because New York is the most important market in North America and its regulators weren't easily pushed around.

Yes but uber legally operates there. They updated their regulations along with technology. If Calgary did that no one would praise uber for breaking city regs.

[Huntingwhale]

After the C-train collision this afternoon I took Uber for the first time.

Walked to the Subaru parking lot by the 39th station. Requested a car. It showed up in 5 minutes. The guy texted me upon arrival and I hopped in. Nice clean car. Nice guy. He explained to me how things work from the drivers end (I'm looking to become a driver soon). He took me all the way down south to Kramer mazda. A fare that would have easily cost me $35+tip in that traffic cost me $22. Amazing.

I literally have zero reason to ever take a cab again. The speed of his arrival. The cost. The fact tip is included with fare (although I probably will tip in the future just to be nice). The only way I will ever take a cab again in this city is if I'm taking it with somebody and they pay for it.

Color me impressed Uber. 10/10.

[accord1999]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Walked to the Subaru parking lot by the 39th station. Requested a car. It showed up in 5 minutes. The guy texted me upon arrival and I hopped in. Nice clean car. Nice guy. He explained to me how things work from the drivers end (I'm looking to become a driver soon). He took me all the way down south to Kramer mazda. A fare that would have easily cost me $35+tip in that traffic cost me $22. Amazing.

Uber is a great deal for passengers, but since you're considering being a driver have you looked at the calculation from that side?

With a fare of $22, that's about 20 km. That also means out of that fare, the driver got ($22-$1.85 SRF)*0.8 = $16.12. If we use the CRA allowance rate of 49c/km then the cost of driving 20 km is $9.80 leaving a net gain for the driver of $6.32. If the driver has an older fuel-efficient vehicle the costs are probably lower, let's say 30c/km. That results in a net gain of $10.12 for the trip.

However, this ignores all of the unpaid km driven to get to passengers. An optimistic ratio is 2 paid:1 unpaid. In this case, the net gain drops to $1.42 for operating costs of 49c/km and $7.12 for operating costs of 30c/km.

Finally, the current Calgary rate is high compared to Edmonton and Toronto where it's 85c/km. If it drops to match that rate (which almost always happens), then the driver with a higher operating cost vehicle will likely lose money on the trip or eek out a $4-$5 profit with the cheaper vehicle..

[Fire]

Hardly seems worth it for the driver.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by accord1999

Uber is a great deal for passengers, but since you're considering being a driver have you looked at the calculation from that side?

With a fare of $22, that's about 20 km. That also means out of that fare, the driver got ($22-$1.85 SRF)*0.8 = $16.12. If we use the CRA allowance rate of 49c/km then the cost of driving 20 km is $9.80 leaving a net gain for the driver of $6.32. If the driver has an older fuel-efficient vehicle the costs are probably lower, let's say 30c/km. That results in a net gain of $10.12 for the trip.

However, this ignores all of the unpaid km driven to get to passengers. An optimistic ratio is 2 paid:1 unpaid. In this case, the net gain drops to $1.42 for operating costs of 49c/km and $7.12 for operating costs of 30c/km.

Finally, the current Calgary rate is high compared to Edmonton and Toronto where it's 85c/km. If it drops to match that rate (which almost always happens), then the driver with a higher operating cost vehicle will likely lose money on the trip or eek out a $4-$5 profit with the cheaper vehicle..

All for a trip that is 20 minutes minimum, probably at least a half an hour in rush hour (plus, the five minutes to drive to the pick-up location).

[Locke]

Originally Posted by accord1999

Uber is a great deal for passengers, but since you're considering being a driver have you looked at the calculation from that side?

With a fare of $22, that's about 20 km. That also means out of that fare, the driver got ($22-$1.85 SRF)*0.8 = $16.12. If we use the CRA allowance rate of 49c/km then the cost of driving 20 km is $9.80 leaving a net gain for the driver of $6.32. If the driver has an older fuel-efficient vehicle the costs are probably lower, let's say 30c/km. That results in a net gain of $10.12 for the trip.

However, this ignores all of the unpaid km driven to get to passengers. An optimistic ratio is 2 paid:1 unpaid. In this case, the net gain drops to $1.42 for operating costs of 49c/km and $7.12 for operating costs of 30c/km.

Finally, the current Calgary rate is high compared to Edmonton and Toronto where it's 85c/km. If it drops to match that rate (which almost always happens), then the driver with a higher operating cost vehicle will likely lose money on the trip or eek out a $4-$5 profit with the cheaper vehicle..

You wouldnt do that.

Thats the (very old) rate for corporate reimbursement not deduction.

I mean, it makes your calculation nice and simple, but it isnt how its done, or at least not how it should be done.

[accord1999]

Originally Posted by Locke

You wouldnt do that.

Thats the (very old) rate for corporate reimbursement not deduction.

I mean, it makes your calculation nice and simple, but it isnt how its done, or at least not how it should be done.

I use the CRA figure as an estimate of what it costs to drive (and not for any tax purposes). It's high for the average sedan but it's not really out of line compared to CAA estimates, or for Uber drivers using nice vehicles like the A4 mentioned earlier. I also use 30c/km to show potential earnings with a lower cost vehicle.

[Fuzz]

If you are considering driving, I highly recommend browsing this forum:
http://uberpeople.net/
If you want to convince yourself not to drive, read the "quit" section. It's rather enlightening, particularly on unforeseen costs. Oh, and drivers do expect tips, there is a whole thread for that, and how to guilt your customers into tipping more.

[skudr248]

Some people are just lazy and don't want to "work" so they sign up, some people have been laid off and looking for extra income, some people just like driving in general so they just enjoy that aspect. Not all people that are Uber drivers are looking for any significant gains I assume, I'm sure most have done their research before and don't really care so talking about how "it's hardly a gain for the driver" doesn't add much importance here, because I highly doubt anyone that drivers for Uber is looking to get rich. Just be happy we have an alternative to the cab cartel.