Uber to Resume in Calgary December 6 2016

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by blankall

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the only restriction against Uber is that you cannot hail an Uber car from the street. They have to meet you at a pre-arranged pick up spot.

Well I'm not sure how you'd hail an Uber from the street anyways, since they're just regular cars. You'd have to flag down a dozen just in hopes that person was an Uber. Plus, you'd then have to use your phone anyways to start the trip.

But you're somewhat on the right track, if Ubers were approved under the proposed Limousine bylaw earlier in the month, those services are restricted to non-hailing (pre-booked) operations.

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

I wouldn't recommend taking an Uber from the airport as in the chaos of the pick up area it is far too difficult to find your driver.

About as difficult as getting a friend to pick you up. As in not difficult at all.

[Gundo]

I got home from out of town Saturday night and need to be taken to my dads place in Temple to pickup my truck. Three yes THREE taxis refused my fair saying it was too close. So I downloaded and signed up for Uber and within 20 mins someone picked me up.

And Taxis wonder why people would use Uber.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Gundo

I got home from out of town Saturday night and need to be taken to my dads place in Temple to pickup my truck. Three yes THREE taxis refused my fair saying it was too close. So I downloaded and signed up for Uber and within 20 mins someone picked me up.

And Taxis wonder why people would use Uber.

i'm going to start taking down the car #s of those who refuse a trip, sending them to the company, and also posting them to Nenshi's twitter/facebook page.
Maybe if everyone sent them to Nenshi, he'd get the point. Probably not though, he's a petulant child when he doesn't get his way.

[darklord700]

Pretty much the only time I take taxi is for those early morning flight when I don't want to bother people to drive me to the airport. I always worry that for a whole family trip, the taxi driver will know that I'm out of the house for an extended period of time.

Would you say Uber or taxi is the safer option in my case?

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by blankall

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the only restriction against Uber is that you cannot hail an Uber car from the street. They have to meet you at a pre-arranged pick up spot.

They are breaking this bylaw:

No Person shall charge a fare or fee to carry passengers or offer to carry passengers
for a fare or fee unless the Motor Vehicle used or to be used has a valid T.P.L.,
A.T.P.L. or L.P.L. joined to it.

As well as, I believe in Alberta you must have a class 4 license to transport paying passengers.

If a vehicle is used in a commercial manner transporting passengers, it also must undergo a fairly stringent inspection every 6 months.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

i'm going to start taking down the car #s of those who refuse a trip, sending them to the company, and also posting them to Nenshi's twitter/facebook page.

And instead of writing it down, take pictures with the camera on your phone. Make it obvious that you are taking license plate numbers.

[Jason14h]

It's why minimum per I'm fees might be a reasonable part of regulations otherwise uber will keep increasing its take and pushing down price to gobble up market share while drivers forget to take into account maintenance costs so actually make no money when they think they are.

Then those driver's will stop driving, and demand will increase with a decreasing supply, and the price will increase.

If it increases too much people will take Taxi's

Wow free market makes sense sometimes.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Then those driver's will stop driving, and demand will increase with a decreasing supply, and the price will increase.

If it increases too much people will take Taxi's

Wow free market makes sense sometimes.

...which leads to a need for government regulation, because if drivers start making less, they will look to cut corners on safety maintenance. Sure, Uber cars are all nice right now, but that's becuase fools think they can make big money and don't take into account the wear and tear on their vehicles.

I have no idea what the profits are like at taxi companies, but I'd assume most of the higher cost of taking a taxi is due to needing inspections and having to replace things like brakes and tires far more often than a regular vehicle would(due to being held to a higher standard). Also carrying proper commercial insurance is going to cost more. Are these taxi companies raking it in? I'm pretty sure the drivers aren't.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

i'm going to start taking down the car #s of those who refuse a trip, sending them to the company, and also posting them to Nenshi's twitter/facebook page.

There are two things that are illegal in Vancouver that should be illegal here:

1. Taxi company gives you a "busy" signal when you call;
2. Taxi refuses a fare.

These two changes are considered public safety measures to discourage drunk driving by facilitating access to taxis.

Honestly, the difficulty getting a taxi here is one of the key shortcomings that makes this city feel second rate rather than world class.

[The Yen Man]

The fact that most people seem to have no qualms with breaking the law and using Uber tells cab companies and the city all they need to know about how poor the current situation is. It's such a slam dunk thing for city hall to fix, yet they're still dragging their feet on it. What could possibly be the reason for them to continue to do so other than financial incentives?

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

There are two things that are illegal in Vancouver that should be illegal here:

1. Taxi company gives you a "busy" signal when you call;
2. Taxi refuses a fare.

These two changes are considered public safety measures to discourage drunk driving by facilitating access to taxis.

Honestly, the difficulty getting a taxi here is one of the key shortcomings that makes this city feel second rate rather than world class.

I don't think they are technically allowed to refused a fare here, but I couldn't be for sure. That said, they do, and do it frequently for reasons that have nothing to do with their own personal safety. The taxi cab industry in Calgary is the scum of the earth from top to bottom. I have between 10 and 15 stories that make people in other cities go "WTF" in unison. I'm sure most Calgarians who use cabs do. I even had one try to get me to pay more than the meter because he had got a speeding ticket, and it was apparently my fault.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

I even had one try to get me to pay more than the meter because he had got a speeding ticket, and it was apparently my fault.

How does that work? I mean, during the ~15 minutes you were pulled over- did the meter continue running?

[Travis Munroe]

I too believe it is illegal to turn down a fare. Living downtown I often take short trips which is why cabs don't unlock the door and simply roll the window down 2" to ask where I am going. I should start telling them I am headed to the airport only to change my mind once inside.... come to think of it, that could be a big hit on youtube. Film the reaction of 5 cab drivers and 5 uber drivers - telling them all you are going to the airport from outside the vehicle and then a change of plans to a 5 minute ride once inside the car.
If city hall does not understand the need for Uber after watching such video, then nothing will change their minds.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by ken0042

How does that work? I mean, during the ~15 minutes you were pulled over- did the meter continue running?

No it did not. Was basically shut off. I was coming from the airport after a flight from Toronto to our house in Rocky Ridge (usually a 60-70 fare, tip included). Idiot pulls into my driveway and says "What do you think is fare? 100?"I tell him it's generally between 60 and 70 and that's what i'm paying. Guy proceeds to tell me off, and how he wouldn't have gotten the ticket if I hadn't have told him to take Stoney, blah blah blah. I threw 50 bucks at him and got out of the car.

[Travis Munroe]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

No it did not. Was basically shut off. I was coming from the airport after a flight from Toronto to our house in Rocky Ridge (usually a 60-70 fare, tip included). Idiot pulls into my driveway and says "What do you think is fare? 100?"I tell him it's generally between 60 and 70 and that's what i'm paying. Guy proceeds to tell me off, and how he wouldn't have gotten the ticket if I hadn't have told him to take Stoney, blah blah blah. I threw 50 bucks at him and got out of the car.

Well played, intentionally or not lol

[accord1999]

Originally Posted by Realtor 1

Film the reaction of 5 cab drivers and 5 uber drivers - telling them all you are going to the airport from outside the vehicle and then a change of plans to a 5 minute ride once inside the car.

I bet they all get very unhappy. Uber drivers may hide it better but they'll probably 1 star you.

[Travis Munroe]

Originally Posted by accord1999

I bet they all get very unhappy. Uber drivers may hide it better but they'll probably 1 star you.

True, that would also be interesting because as far as I am concerned, I would rather have a unhappy driver and no ongoing downside vs a fake happy Uber and a 1 star rating hurting your ability at future rides.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Well I'm not sure how you'd hail an Uber from the street anyways, since they're just regular cars. You'd have to flag down a dozen just in hopes that person was an Uber. Plus, you'd then have to use your phone anyways to start the trip.

But you're somewhat on the right track, if Ubers were approved under the proposed Limousine bylaw earlier in the month, those services are restricted to non-hailing (pre-booked) operations.

An Uber driver could stop and pick up someone hailing a cab. That would be illegal still.

[para transit fellow]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

i'm going to start taking down the car #s of those who refuse a trip, sending them to the company, and also posting them to Nenshi's twitter/facebook page.
Maybe if everyone sent them to Nenshi, he'd get the point. Probably not though, he's a petulant child when he doesn't get his way.

If you have the 311 ap you can make the official complaint right to the City