Uber to Resume in Calgary December 6 2016

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Another story that shows that even if municipalities legalize Uber, the Insurance industry has a long way to go to make driving for Uber economically feasible.....

Wawanesa is flat out asking it's policy holders if they driver for Uber. Say yes, and your policy is cancelled.

In a renewal questionnaire, Wawanesa Insurance is asking policy-holders if they are using their personal vehicles to drive for Uber or Lyft. (The latter American company does not currently operate in Toronto.)
If someone checks yes, “we would proceed with cancelling that policy following the appropriate regulations pertaining to cancellations,” Wawanesa manager Anne Barton wrote in email.

The only legal way to drive for Uber is to buy that pricey commercial insurance policy.

“We’ve updated our terms of service to more accurately reflect our business as it is today — for example, to cover new products like UberRush and UberEats, or the fact that many drivers now own their own phone,” Uber spokeswoman Susie Heath wrote in email.
“In the process we’ve also made them simpler and easier to understand, with much less jargon. There are no significant changes.”

Comerford said the new UberX driver contract makes it crystal clear “that the UberX driver is absolutely on the hook for getting commercial insurance,” policies that can cost in the range of $4,000 to $10,000 annually.

[OldDutch]

Totally anecdotal but the holiday parties gave me a chance to brush up on my small talk of the day. Almost every group conversation made it back to Uber. The general sentiment was that Nenshi was responsible for helping stop Uber based on his Loyalty to the taxi cartel and/or his NE voting block. I am not endorsing this viewpoint, but found it amazing so many different groups of people this was a common thread with common thoughts.

Many people said that it would be an election issue for them if it comes up a few years out. So right or wrong (as is any political issue) Nenshi looks to have some discontent brewing out there, and amongst a few voting areas (women, men, 20 something up to 40 somethings)

On a side, I never even logged into Uber until minutes ago. Wanted to see the fuss was about. I am headed to San Fran tomorrow and from my couch could see how much it was from SFO to my hotel. Amazing stuff. Totally going to try it and report back what I thought. Seems to be all the taxi pros with the lack of general ick factor (mine is the general expectation of 20+% tip on each ride now). Should be interesting!

[4X4]

Just want to thank Keys Please for the ride home on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning?). They answer their phone, they give you an ETA, and they drive you home in your vehicle.
It's more expensive than one cab ride, but cheaper than two cab rides, so it's a win. I drove to my cousin's place planning on crashing over, but then I called keys please and was home an hour later. I know they're way busier on certain nights, but I just want to plug them because they're a good service to the extent that they can be.

Keys Please - 403.255.4800

[jayswin]

God damnit 4X4, nice story and now I remember what company I was going to shout out to in this thread. Seriously, it was one of those Alzheimer moments....every time I opened this thread.

"I hate taxis, I hate what uber's doing, I KNOW I've used something that I want to mention in here". ****, I did that at least five times since this thread was started, and yes that was it. They are awesome. Much like Tron with his tipping when he can get a reasonable fair to Okotoks, I also end up nullifying any good deal with keys please with an excited, drunken tip at the end.

But yeah, they're perfect. I think they advertise as "about $10 more than a cab ride, but like 4X4 mentioned, it doesn't matter as you get the comfort and savings of driving your own vehicle to the destination and only paying for the ride home.

[jayswin]

It reminds me of one of my favorite stupid, younger moments - We took keys please home just obliterated drunk. My buddy in the backseat had to puke, so the driver pulled over. Buddy didn't quite make it and got a decent splash on the inside of the door and floor.

When he got back in he apologized profusely to the driver, followed by me adding in my own drunken apology, worried there'd be some fee or something. Driver looks at us confused and goes "Well, it's your car, so no need to apologize to me". We just looked at each other and drunkenly laughed the entire rest of the way home.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

On a side, I never even logged into Uber until minutes ago. Wanted to see the fuss was about. I am headed to San Fran tomorrow and from my couch could see how much it was from SFO to my hotel. Amazing stuff. Totally going to try it and report back what I thought. Seems to be all the taxi pros with the lack of general ick factor (mine is the general expectation of 20+% tip on each ride now). Should be interesting!

Don't bother man, we're Uber hero storied out in this thread. Do a quick search, we know the review already - You requested it, it came, a white, middle class driver engaged in conversation about white middle class stuff, you amazingly got a bottle of water.

It's great, it really is, but we've heard it all, the actual discussion has moved on to feasibility and how it's going to fit into our city legally, and it looks like it's going to happen soon.

[OldDutch]

Duly noted Jayswin! I'll keep my outdated thoughts to myself, cheers!

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Don't bother man, we're Uber hero storied out in this thread. Do a quick search, we know the review already - You requested it, it came, a white, middle class driver engaged in conversation about white middle class stuff, you amazingly got a bottle of water.

It's great, it really is, but we've heard it all, the actual discussion has moved on to feasibility and how it's going to fit into our city legally, and it looks like it's going to happen soon.

For people just joining the thread, I don't mind having stories about Uber customer experience and not having to go back pages to get it.

Post your story OldDutch, there are people who want to hear it.

[Temporary_User]

I'm a huge proponent for Uber, but I've had some less than great experiences with it as well. I've taken roughly >25 uber rides all over the U.S. in the last year.

Sometimes you get the people that don't speak English and can't help you as a tourist as well. Other times people just don't realize you don't want to talk as much as they do. They think because they picked you up you are a prime candidate to test their stand-up routine on.
A lot of Uber drivers are part time people just looking for some extra cash in the evenings. They are driving for fun. They don't want to actually be the person who picks you up and drops you off without saying a word like a cab.

The main reason I love uber is the app. GPS your location and then be able to see exactly how far away your cab is is great.

[Fuzz]

Uber should have come in as service to sell or license, either to cities or cab companies. They wouldn't have had to dealt with flouting regulations, dealing with insurance, driver relations etc. It all adds up to big costs for no real reason when they could have avoided all that.

I'm not really sure trying to run a taxi company in hundreds of markets against embedded incumbents protected by government is the best strategy. From what I have heard, the app really is the best part of it. Why bother with all the headaches of the rest?

[Dan02]

It's not just the app they're competing on though, it's price and quality of service as well. Yes they could have a extremely small part of the pie if they licensed out their app, but they're going for a giant chunk of it.

[btimbit]

That's no solution to consumers either. The difference between cabs here and Uber is more than just the app

[Fuzz]

Is it really though? I mean, once the taxi co's are driven out of business, and Uber drops rates it pays to drivers, the only ones willing to drive are going to be the most desperate. The driver rating system could be provided as part of their package. I just don't see the need to run a taxi company.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Is it really though? I mean, once the taxi co's are driven out of business, and Uber drops rates it pays to drivers, the only ones willing to drive are going to be the most desperate. The driver rating system could be provided as part of their package. I just don't see the need to run a taxi company.

My guess is that the real value is in the data they are collecting, and, presumably their ultimate goal is to sell all their fare data to google once self-driving cars become cabs.

[llwhiteoutll]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Is it really though? I mean, once the taxi co's are driven out of business, and Uber drops rates it pays to drivers, the only ones willing to drive are going to be the most desperate. The driver rating system could be provided as part of their package. I just don't see the need to run a taxi company.

If the taxi companies took the same approach to driver ratings as Uber does, there would be almost no drivers in Calgary who would be driving.

One of the biggest changes that should be made mandatory for each cab is that there is a functioning, updated GPS unit in the vehicle. And require the drivers to use them.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Just want to thank Keys Please for the ride home on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning?). They answer their phone, they give you an ETA, and they drive you home in your vehicle.
It's more expensive than one cab ride, but cheaper than two cab rides, so it's a win. I drove to my cousin's place planning on crashing over, but then I called keys please and was home an hour later. I know they're way busier on certain nights, but I just want to plug them because they're a good service to the extent that they can be.

Keys Please - 403.255.4800

So what's the deal insurance wise with these guys. I assume that nenshi should be warning us against them.

Essentially someone else is using your car for business purposes. And the car the guys arrive in is most certainly being used for business purposes and therefore insurance wouldn't be valid.

Are keys please licensed by the city?

[llwhiteoutll]

Originally Posted by GGG

So what's the deal insurance wise with these guys. I assume that nenshi should be warning us against them.

Essentially someone else is using your car for business purposes. And the car the guys arrive in is most certainly being used for business purposes and therefore insurance wouldn't be valid.

Are keys please licensed by the city?

According to their website, they are covered under your policy while they are operating your vehicle. As far as theirs goes, one would assume that they require commercial insurance.

[accord1999]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I'm not really sure trying to run a taxi company in hundreds of markets against embedded incumbents protected by government is the best strategy. From what I have heard, the app really is the best part of it. Why bother with all the headaches of the rest?

The taxi market overall isn't really that big. The only viable reason that I've seen for the reported valuations is that Uber has a chance to replace all forms of transportation, from personal commutes, mass transit deliveries, etc by being cheaper than them.

Though by attempting that strategy, they are driving away their better drivers because the rates for major cities like Detroit, Atlanta and Charlotte are now barely enough to cover vehicle operating expenses. And now there's also the labor law court case going through California as well from disgruntled drivers.

[Resolute 14]

New Year's Even partygoers in Edmonton had the opportunity to pay up to $1200 for a ride home thanks to Uber's price gouging algorithms.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmont...4-71-1.3387808

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

New Year's Even partygoers in Edmonton had the opportunity to pay up to $1200 for a ride home thanks to Uber's price gouging algorithms.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmont...4-71-1.3387808

haha that's pretty funny, I think there should be a cap on the surge pricing but this guy is clearly a moron. He was warned multiple times about the surge pricing.

Further more, where the hell did they go? even with a 9x surge price that's a $133 ride at regular prices or probably over $200 in a cab, were they doing laps around the city for fun? If we use Calgarys taxi rates that's a trip of about 120km.(not counting in any wait time that might add to the metre)