Uber to Resume in Calgary December 6 2016

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Further to the "commercial vehicles have stringent standards they must pass".

After some fairly easy investigation today, it is patently clear that such a sentiment is complete and utter bunk.

I talked to a courier who delivered a package to our office and asked her if she has any special insurance or any particular inspections to satisfy for the city. Nope. Not even commercial insurance.

I later talked to a supplier's driver who had been with this company for years and has driven the same truck for the last 5. Was there any special "safety" inspections his truck needed to pass to be on the road? Nope...never. It obviously carried commercial insurance but beyond that the only time he had anything to do with safety issues was when he was pulled over in one of those commercial vehicle check stops they have every couple of months or so for an hour or so on Barlow Tr. Now his company sent him with the vehicle for regular maintenance, but beyond that no stickers or such to be considered "safe" on Calgary streets.

Which again says to me that the opposition to UBER by Nenshi and the city has NOTHING to do with safety on the streets and everything to do with protecting the heavy duty lobbyists (the taxi cartel) that greases the palms of the machine at city hall.

Safety is about the furthest thing that matters to them, its all about getting the dollars. Otherwise those massive delivery trucks and multiple cars who are always delivering packages and a myriad of other vehicles would all be subject to the same safety standards. They aren't.

I thought I mentioned it earlier, but it applies to vehicles that carry passengers for hire. You don't have to go asking random delivery drivers, you can check the provincial regulations.
City bylaw inspections:
https://www.calgary.ca/CA/city-clerk...f?noredirect=1
OK, provincially it is only 11 passenger or more, such as 15 passenger vans
http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/1866.htm
But provincially, you still need a class 4 license, which I assume most Uber drivers don't have.
A class 4 involves a more stringent road test, and medicals done every 5 or 10 years. Honestly I have no idea how most taxi drivers have got their class 4 though, as I took the test and there is no way most of them would pass.

[Frank MetaMusil]

For the drivers, its probably a huge plus not having a dispatcher barking addresses at you.

Geordi, do you report to any type of manager?

The scenario I think of is someone who drives for a big party. I even remember a thread on CP asking for someone to DD with payment.

[Geordi]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

For the drivers, its probably a huge plus not having a dispatcher barking addresses at you.

Geordi, do you report to any type of manager?

Nope. You can go wherever you want, passengers just get the driver closest to them when they call for a ride.

I wish we had more feedback, honestly. I don't know where the hotspots are unless Uber texts (which they do sometimes during busy nights) or an area goes surge (prices go higher). It shows as a big red zone on the map. Even then the surge zones are huge. The NW runs from Crowchild to 16th ave to Deerfoot. It just means SOMEWHERE in there prices are high and lots of people need rides.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I thought I mentioned it earlier, but it applies to vehicles that carry passengers for hire. You don't have to go asking random delivery drivers, you can check the provincial regulations.
City bylaw inspections:
https://www.calgary.ca/CA/city-clerk...f?noredirect=1
OK, provincially it is only 11 passenger or more, such as 15 passenger vans
http://www.transportation.alberta.ca/1866.htm
But provincially, you still need a class 4 license, which I assume most Uber drivers don't have.
A class 4 involves a more stringent road test, and medicals done every 5 or 10 years. Honestly I have no idea how most taxi drivers have got their class 4 though, as I took the test and there is no way most of them would pass.

If a guy can drive a car, a guy can drive a car. Does it really matter what class is stamped on the license? I understand and agree that in some cases and with certain vehicles, special training and/or abilities are required.

I drove cabs in Calgary in the mid to late 90's in November and December part time. I too was required to get a class 4 and it was truly the most ridiculous money grab going. The cost associated with that license above a class 5 was significant but was I any different of a driver? not in the slightest.

But more to the point of the "safety" bunk the city is espousing, is that they are supposedly concerned with "lack of vehicle inspections"....which is the biggest joke of it all. They don't care, because if they did that would apply to ALL vehicles (commercial or otherwise) and they don't. But its a panic when joe schmoe decides to drive his car for a few hours a week to make a few bucks? Its so transparent what the city is truly concerned with.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by Geordi

Nope. You can go wherever you want, passengers just get the driver closest to them when they call for a ride.

I wish we had more feedback, honestly. I don't know where the hotspots are unless Uber texts (which they do sometimes during busy nights) or an area goes surge (prices go higher). It shows as a big red zone on the map. Even then the surge zones are huge. The NW runs from Crowfoot to 16th ave to Deerfoot. It just means SOMEWHERE in there prices are high and lots of people need rides.

I'd go clean out downtown. There are tons of people who can't get to bankers hall corner or the sandman hotel.

Cab drivers who select preferred locations for fares are the worst around downtown/beltline. But that's where the city has their sting operations running.

[Geordi]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

I'd go clean out downtown. There are tons of people who can't get to bankers hall corner or the sandman hotel.

I have been going downtown, the problem is you then end up back in the burbs after the ride. I don't know if it is better to wait it out for a ride, or drive back to downtown right away.

My only personal rule I have been trying to avoid the airport because I do feel like I am encroaching on the cabbies. I did get a ride from there as I was passing by on deerfoot. It was great and long, but I felt kind of bad picking up from there.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by Geordi

I have been going downtown, the problem is you then end up back in the burbs after the ride. I don't know if it is better to wait it out for a ride, or drive back to downtown right away.

My only personal rule I have been trying to avoid the airport because I do feel like I am encroaching on the cabbies. I did get a ride from there as I was passing by on deerfoot. It was great and long, but I felt kind of bad picking up from there.

I guess it would depend where you live, might be far from home if you call it quits. If you're driving Friday nights, you'd probably catch something on your way back downtown.

[corporatejay]

I mean, I know this may seem a bit nonsensical but the mere fact that so many people are willing to use this service when they know it might be "illegal" is pretty indicting for the city.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by transplant99

If a guy can drive a car, a guy can drive a car. Does it really matter what class is stamped on the license? I understand and agree that in some cases and with certain vehicles, special training and/or abilities are required.

I drove cabs in Calgary in the mid to late 90's in November and December part time. I too was required to get a class 4 and it was truly the most ridiculous money grab going. The cost associated with that license above a class 5 was significant but was I any different of a driver? not in the slightest.

But more to the point of the "safety" bunk the city is espousing, is that they are supposedly concerned with "lack of vehicle inspections"....which is the biggest joke of it all. They don't care, because if they did that would apply to ALL vehicles (commercial or otherwise) and they don't. But its a panic when joe schmoe decides to drive his car for a few hours a week to make a few bucks? Its so transparent what the city is truly concerned with.

There's more to it than getting a class 4. You also need to take the cities Taxi course and pass it's test (city knowledge for one). Other requirements are a defensive driving certificate, etc.

http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/ABS/Pages...uidelines.aspx

Another thing when I was involved in taxi business (owned a couple of cabs) you needed to get a mechanical safety check from an authorized garage every 6 months along with a taxi inspection where they'd check your meter and the inside of your cab, so don't say it's a joke.

The city and the taxi industry did open a can of worms when they put a freeze on Taxi vehicle licenses instead of leaving them open and this has caused some of the problems.

Having said that some of the problems need to be laid on the public as an example of what that Uber driver ran into. This kind of situation has become far too common and probably a reason taxi drivers don't want to be picking up drunks late at night. Right now the Uber drivers are probably getting the more responsible passengers so they are having a good experience but that won't last.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

I mean, I know this may seem a bit nonsensical but the mere fact that so many people are willing to use this service when they know it might be "illegal" is pretty indicting for the city.

But the reality is what the city is doing is illegal (accepting bribes). So, who cares, right? City looking after their own financial well being, people looking after their financial well being.

[bagofpucks]

One other passenger and driver risk that I don't believe has been brought up is life insurance. All of the policies I have seen (certainly not an expert!) state that if you died while doing something illegal the coverage is void.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

There's more to it than getting a class 4. You also need to take the cities Taxi course and pass it's test (city knowledge for one). Other requirements are a defensive driving certificate, etc.

http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/ABS/Pages...uidelines.aspx

Another thing when I was involved in taxi business (owned a couple of cabs) you needed to get a mechanical safety check from an authorized garage every 6 months along with a taxi inspection where they'd check your meter and the inside of your cab, so don't say it's a joke.

The city and the taxi industry did open a can of worms when they put a freeze on Taxi vehicle licenses instead of leaving them open and this has caused some of the problems.

Having said that some of the problems need to be laid on the public as an example of what that Uber driver ran into. This kind of situation has become far too common and probably a reason taxi drivers don't want to be picking up drunks late at night. Right now the Uber drivers are probably getting the more responsible passengers so they are having a good experience but that won't last.

What does that have to do with the "safety" concerns?

Its a joke allright and apparently you have fallen for it.

Again if it had anything to do with the safety of vehicles on the road as the city has claimed, they would have inspections for ALL vehicles on the road, not just one subset that people make money with and the one group that controls them....the cartel.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

But the reality is what the city is doing is illegal (accepting bribes). So, who cares, right? City looking after their own financial well being, people looking after their financial well being.

What? Bribes? Who is the city taking bribes from? Who at the city is taking these bribes?

That's a pretty big accusation.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by transplant99

What does that have to do with the "safety" concerns?

Its a joke allright and apparently you have fallen for it.

Again if it had anything to do with the safety of vehicles on the road as the city has claimed, they would have inspections for ALL vehicles on the road, not just one subset that people make money with and the one group that controls them....the cartel.

I can't speak for other vehicles but Taxis get a mechanical inspection every 6 months which I think is reasonable for a vehicle that transports the public. It's something that Uber doesn't do and should.

When have I ever defended the cartel that controls the licences. I do defend the need for proper insurance, driver training and safety inspections though.

Apparently you're going off on your usual ignorant rant where you don't understand the issues.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by getbak

What? Bribes? Who is the city taking bribes from? Who at the city is taking these bribes?

That's a pretty big accusation.

Is it really? Outside of the realm of possibility?

what explains the city's bizarre stance on taxis? Regulations? Uh huh, okay then.

[Geordi]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I can't speak for other vehicles but Taxis get a mechanical inspection every 6 months which I think is reasonable for a vehicle that transports the public. It's something that Uber doesn't do and should.

Just wanted to point out that Uber does require inspections. It's when you activate and every year though. Just google "uber calgary inspections", it's the second link

http://www.driveuber.ca/s/Vehicle-In...on-Form-V4.pdf

There's a lot of misinformation and assumptions out there apparently.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by bagofpucks

One other passenger and driver risk that I don't believe has been brought up is life insurance. All of the policies I have seen (certainly not an expert!) state that if you died while doing something illegal the coverage is void.

As a passenger you're not doing anything illegal. As a driver, you're going against city by-law, would that be applicable?

Although I'm pretty sure I'll never get life insurance paid out, so that to me is a moot point.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Geordi

Just wanted to point out that Uber does require inspections. It's when you activate and every year though. Just google "uber calgary inspections", it's the second link

http://www.driveuber.ca/s/Vehicle-In...on-Form-V4.pdf

There's a lot of misinformation and assumptions out there apparently.

Okay, that's a partial one out of three.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I can't speak for other vehicles but Taxis get a mechanical inspection every 6 months which I think is reasonable for a vehicle that transports the public. It's something that Uber doesn't do and should.

I am saying that the city issued a statement that one of the reasons they oppose UBER is because of no safety inspections on that vehicle. The problem with that stance is that...that same vehicle does not require any safety inspections as long as it isn't used to make the owner of the car a few bucks on the weekend driving that car. So their stance that it is a "public safety concern" is a load of horse puckey because that car, whether used as an uber or not, is still the same car whether it has one, two or 4 people riding in it and whether or not that driver is getting paid.

When have I ever defended the cartel that controls the licences. I do defend the need for proper insurance, driver training and safety inspections though.

I never said you did defend the cartel. Where are you getting that from?

Apparently you're going off on your usual ignorant rant where you don't understand the issues.

Aaaaaand there it is. You go complete jackass and get personal like always.
Well done.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by getbak

What? Bribes? Who is the city taking bribes from? Who at the city is taking these bribes?

That's a pretty big accusation.

That's the question, isn't it? Why is the City so intent on butt-raping the citizens of Calgary, by maintaining this inexplicably horrendous "taxi service industry"?

It just blows my mind that there has been no correction in the industry in my adult life. And it's clearly sanctioned by the City. So yeah, who is getting their palms greased? I actually want to know. And in the meantime, bring on Uber. I'd use them out of spite, even if it cost more than a taxi.