Uber to Resume in Calgary December 6 2016

[Amethyst]

Originally Posted by llwhiteoutll

The city will kill Uber quite easily. They'll just say that ride sharing is fine so long as you have a Class 4 license, vehicle inspection and the same commercial insurance as a cab.

Since most of the Uber drivers are doing this part time, none are going to fork out the cash to comply with the restrictions the city places on this. Uber will be effectively shut down, the taxi monopoly protected and the city can say that they changed the law to allow Uber to operate.

If those requirements will kill Uber, then I am in the "get rid of Uber" camp. As a potential customer, I have no interest in being driven by someone who does not have proper license, inspection, and insurance. As a fellow motorist on the road, I would not want to share those roads with someone driving without proper insurance.

It's too bad, because I agree the taxi industry in Calgary is awful, but if Uber can't provide its service without those three requirements, then Uber is not the company I want to see replace taxis (and I was someone originally advocating for Uber when I first heard about it).

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Amethyst

If those requirements will kill Uber, then I am in the "get rid of Uber" camp. As a potential customer, I have no interest in being driven by someone who does not have proper license, inspection, and insurance. As a fellow motorist on the road, I would not want to share those roads with someone driving without proper insurance.

It's too bad, because I agree the taxi industry in Calgary is awful, but if Uber can't provide its service without those three requirements, then Uber is not the company I want to see replace taxis (and I was someone originally advocating for Uber when I first heard about it).

Do you make sure when you get in a taxi they are fully licensed, registered and following all laws and bylaws?

No, so all this I hope uber follows the rules is just BS. At the end of the day, people just want a ride home. That's all this is about.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Do you make sure when you get in a taxi they are fully licensed, registered and following all laws and bylaws?

No, so all this I hope uber follows the rules is just BS. At the end of the day, people just want a ride home. That's all this is about.

I guess it's safe to assume they are, seeing as how the industry is so strictly regulated in this city, right? Not sure how some of them actually get licenses, though. Driving beside them, or passenging in their cars, I've wondered if the driver has a license. Not any different from regular drivers, which is kind of the point.

And WTF is class 4 anyway? Clearly not some higher level of driver learning. So if anyone can drive a cab, I guess anyone can drive an Uber.

I can't wait until this whole taxi cartel BS gets blown right up. It's a decade+ too late, but better late than never.

[corporatejay]

My anger at the city notwithstanding. Took a cab tonight through the checker app. It was pleasant, guy was nice. Said things were 50% busier tonight due to uber being banned. It was a 7.50 fare. I gave him a ten. He was happy. The end.

[Laughman]

Double post

[Laughman]

It's a bunch of part time drivers trying to make a few extra bucks to help pay for necessities and extras..... They aren't clearing 6 figures a year and driving lambo's around on Sunday's.

[CampbellsTransgressions]

No doubt, any person involved with MADD knows that the cab problem is contributing to drunk driving in the city.

Whatever. The City has been completely careless with regard to Uber. Did they really think that this wasn't going to be the ultimatum? Terribly run companies in badly run industries keep trying to pretend that the internet isn't a thing, and they keep losing. The City had the option of being progressive and opening the market for Uber, but they decided government racketeering was their best option. So be it.

Everyone loses, except the taxi companies, who will ultimately lose in the long run. They've been given a chance to reinvent themselves, but would rather hide behind the refs.

We're going to see more and more of this as we continue to lose traditional jobs. Just wait until the train drivers start losing their jobs, followed by the semi drivers. They'll be left wondering how technology hit them so hard, despite 10 years of warning from companies investing in automation.

What I find amazing is how we're seeing capitalists start to fail simply because they were poor capitalists. Market inefficiencies are being exploited, the consumer is benefiting, yet people do not like what is happening. I guess even traditional Conservative types aren't prepared for what liberty looks like?

[llwhiteoutll]

Originally Posted by Amethyst

If those requirements will kill Uber, then I am in the "get rid of Uber" camp. As a potential customer, I have no interest in being driven by someone who does not have proper license, inspection, and insurance. As a fellow motorist on the road, I would not want to share those roads with someone driving without proper insurance.

It's too bad, because I agree the taxi industry in Calgary is awful, but if Uber can't provide its service without those three requirements, then Uber is not the company I want to see replace taxis (and I was someone originally advocating for Uber when I first heard about it).

The biggest part is going to be the insurance and license requirements that the city determines, Uber already does a background check and vehicle inspection so that part is moot.

If the city decides that full commercial insurance and not some hybrid plan is required, then very few drivers will drive as it is mostly people doing this part time and wouldn't drive enough to recoup their costs.

I think a great idea would be to set a max price per kilometer and allow companies to charge what they want up to that limit.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by llwhiteoutll

The biggest part is going to be the insurance and license requirements that the city determines, Uber already does a background check and vehicle inspection so that part is moot.

If the city decides that full commercial insurance and not some hybrid plan is required, then very few drivers will drive as it is mostly people doing this part time and wouldn't drive enough to recoup their costs.

I think a great idea would be to set a max price per kilometer and allow companies to charge what they want up to that limit.

We've already determined the Uber vehicle inspection is woefully inadequate.
I think Uber should be required to complete a vehicle inspection similar to an out of province, say for any vehicle older than 2 years. Divers should also require a class 4 license, as it provides a requirement for a doctor's medical and has a higher standard for road testing than a class 5. They should also get the insurance sorted out. I don't think those are onerous requirements and would address the safety issues.

Meanwhile the city should start revoking plates of taxi drivers who don't follow the rules, and they should audit their driver training, because whoever is certifying these guys isn't doing their job.

[llwhiteoutll]

What's not on the Uber inspection that makes it woefully inadequate? I don't remember it being posted, but if it has I'd like to take a look at it.

The biggest challenge and the biggest area that will be exploited, is making it too cost effective for people to do this part time or for the lower Uber rates. If someone wanting to drive for Uber is looking at $10,000 in costs, no one will do it since you probably won't break even.

As for road testing, the government should take that over for all the testing, there are too many places where you can buy any class of license.

[Resolute 14]

God forbid that a company offering a taxi service be required to follow the same regulations as other taxi services.

And don't delude yourself. Uber is offering a taxi service, not "ride sharing". Ride sharing is something like carpool.ca.

[CliffFletcher]

Most people understand that Uber needs to follow some regulations. The reason city hall is getting roasted over this issue is that it has taken them this long to reform and fix the taxi system. They should have fundamentally re-structured the system years ago, instead of waiting until there was a gun to their head. Now they're paying a political price for years and years of foot-dragging. They get no sympathy from me.

[Amethyst]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Do you make sure when you get in a taxi they are fully licensed, registered and following all laws and bylaws?

No, so all this I hope uber follows the rules is just BS. At the end of the day, people just want a ride home. That's all this is about.

No, but I don't check my doctor's medical license when I go there either.

[Amethyst]

Originally Posted by llwhiteoutll

The biggest part is going to be the insurance and license requirements that the city determines, Uber already does a background check and vehicle inspection so that part is moot.

If the city decides that full commercial insurance and not some hybrid plan is required, then very few drivers will drive as it is mostly people doing this part time and wouldn't drive enough to recoup their costs.

I think a great idea would be to set a max price per kilometer and allow companies to charge what they want up to that limit.

To me, this isn't on the city, but on Uber. Insurance companies have said they won't cover a driver if he/she is driving for Uber under a personal policy. Uber should have been negotiating with an insurance company to provide appropriate coverage for their drivers, instead of trying to get around it with loop-holes. This behaviour is what changed me from a person who was signing petitions to get Uber in Calgary to someone who thinks that this particular company is not the solution to our taxi problems.

[Amethyst]

Originally Posted by 4X4

And WTF is class 4 anyway? Clearly not some higher level of driver learning. So if anyone can drive a cab, I guess anyone can drive an Uber.

I used to have a class 4 license. Finally went back to class 5 last year, because I no longer needed it for work and I was tired of the time and expense of doing the medical.

The road test is the same as for class 5, but you have less margin of error. I can't remember now, but class 5 you can get say 20 points off, but class 4 only 10.

Class 4 also requires you to get a medical when you renew your license. It's every 5 years under 40 and then the length of time your license lasts is reduced.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Amethyst

No, but I don't check my doctor's medical license when I go there either.

Well I'd say there's a material difference between what a doctor does and what the livery business does though so it's not really a fair example.

arent regulations supposed to keep people safe from companies cutting corners though? In this context, the stats point to Uber decreasing instances of drunk driving. So whatever regulations that are in place in my mind are actually working to keep things less safe by preventing Uber from operating.

[GGG]

Is background checks and class 4 license really required.

All rides are tracked by the system so I would find it surprising that criminals would use a dispatch system to find victims.

And unless we want to introduce government run testing private testing does not seem to produce any kind of quality in drivers. This seems like unnecessary regulation increasing barriers to entry.

To me some kind of per km driven while ap is on insurance product and vehicle inspections every 2 or 3 years would be what I would like the person driving me around to have.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Amethyst

To me, this isn't on the city, but on Uber. Insurance companies have said they won't cover a driver if he/she is driving for Uber under a personal policy. Uber should have been negotiating with an insurance company to provide appropriate coverage for their drivers, instead of trying to get around it with loop-holes. This behaviour is what changed me from a person who was signing petitions to get Uber in Calgary to someone who thinks that this particular company is not the solution to our taxi problems.

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/business...licy-1.3218872

It appears uber has been working on the issue to close the gap. Not sure what more they could be doing on it.

[adc]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Well I'd say there's a material difference between what a doctor does and what the livery business does though so it's not really a fair example.

arent regulations supposed to keep people safe from companies cutting corners though? In this context, the stats point to Uber decreasing instances of drunk driving. So whatever regulations that are in place in my mind are actually working to keep things less safe by preventing Uber from operating.

What stats are these? Have they been posted yet?

Also, maybe, although I doubt it, it reduces drinking and driving but that is done but cutting corners elsewhere.

So why are we making one area more unsafe to make a much smaller area safer?

[para transit fellow]

Originally Posted by GGG

Is background checks and class 4 license really required.

All rides are tracked by the system so I would find it surprising that criminals would use a dispatch system to find victims.

And unless we want to introduce government run testing private testing does not seem to produce any kind of quality in drivers. This seems like unnecessary regulation increasing barriers to entry.

To me some kind of per km driven while ap is on insurance product and vehicle inspections every 2 or 3 years would be what I would like the person driving me around to have.

Wow.. Why have any regs at all?