Uber to Resume in Calgary December 6 2016

[fundmark19]

On my way to the Roughnecks game on Saturday I parked my car in my work parkade since I am planning on drinking and walked down 7th towards Nexen building. I missed the train so I decided to try and hop in a cab so that I can get to the game and minimize the amount of game I was missing. I see 10 taxis all with their lights on lined up on the road and think this is perfect.

Walk by the first one no one inside...weird so I go to the second no one inside. Sure enough all 10 cabs had their lights on and not a single driver was inside or near any of these cabs. I then waited 10 mins for the next train and proceeded to miss the first half of the game. Thank you taxis! I sure wish Uber was around!

I did get a taxi home at 3 am and it was great service. I always have great 3 am Taxis but never any luck during regular times.

[TheAlpineOracle]

This is unfolding exactly the way I knew it would. City of Calgary doing their best to make it impossible for Uber to enter the market but just enough to say they tried and point the finger at Uber. Absolutely disgusting. Those who don't do want Nenshi wants, suffer the rath regardless of how it effects Calgarians as a whole.

The City better hope Edmonton doesn't get this going, because if they do and we don't, there is going be some political blow back. Calgarians have had enough of their taxi industry.

[corporatejay]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

This is unfolding exactly the way I knew it would. City of Calgary doing their best to make it impossible for Uber to enter the market but just enough to say they tried and point the finger at Uber. Absolutely disgusting. Those who don't do want Nenshi wants, suffer the rath regardless of how it effects Calgarians as a whole.

The City better hope Edmonton doesn't get this going, because if they do and we don't, there is going be some political blow back. Calgarians have had enough of their taxi industry.

If 500/year in annual fees makes Uber unable to operate they can leave. If driving weekends, that's 5 bucks a night. C'mon. This is all on Uber.

[accord1999]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

This is unfolding exactly the way I knew it would. City of Calgary doing their best to make it impossible for Uber to enter the market but just enough to say they tried and point the finger at Uber. Absolutely disgusting. Those who don't do want Nenshi wants, suffer the rath regardless of how it effects Calgarians as a whole.

This is pretty standard Uber tactic. Short of the city allowing Uber to self-regulate itself, it's always going to complain. Afterwards, what happens depends on the value of the market, the backbone of the government and the amount of popular support Uber can generate.

So that's why you have the hodge podge of regulations ranging from heavily regulated NYC, modestly regulated markets like Houston and Las Vegas to many almost-anything-goes markets which has led to drivers driving for 23c/mile in Detroit.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

This is unfolding exactly the way I knew it would. City of Calgary doing their best to make it impossible for Uber to enter the market but just enough to say they tried and point the finger at Uber. Absolutely disgusting. Those who don't do want Nenshi wants, suffer the rath regardless of how it effects Calgarians as a whole.

The City better hope Edmonton doesn't get this going, because if they do and we don't, there is going be some political blow back. Calgarians have had enough of their taxi industry.

The city has made what appear to be sane regulations that maintain a level playing field BUT finally allow other operators other than licensed taxi's. This can only be seen as a good thing. The result is that if a "rideshare" cor other company wants to operate, they can, but will probably have to charge creates similar to Taxi's. I have no doubt some one will take the city up on this offer.

Curious, what part of the regulations do you think are unreasonable? Basically the only difference between Calgary and Edmonton are the type of vehicle inspection required, and maybe the city would be flexible on this, requiring alternating major/minor, or an initial major with minor ones done until a mileage cutoff.

[OldDutch]

I am totally fine with similar rates to a Taxi. In San Francisco short trips were comparable there. What makes them better is their service level. Taxi service is Calgary like almost everywhere is staffed with people who make you feel far too often resented for hiring them. Then they want expect a tip at the end.

My experience Uber has the best service bar none. So if someone can reproduce availability, predictability, and consistent service and charge me the same awesome. I'm sure most would agree here too.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

This is unfolding exactly the way I knew it would. City of Calgary doing their best to make it impossible for Uber to enter the market but just enough to say they tried and point the finger at Uber. Absolutely disgusting. Those who don't do want Nenshi wants, suffer the rath regardless of how it effects Calgarians as a whole.

The City better hope Edmonton doesn't get this going, because if they do and we don't, there is going be some political blow back. Calgarians have had enough of their taxi industry.

Like others I don't see the issue with the cities proposal.

Proper insurance,
Vehicle inpsections,
Back ground checks,

I don't think the class 4 license should be required as its just a fee and a test and doesn't add value but having it is pretty reasonable. I think the big winners here are the Cab Drivers who currently rent plates and work for nothing will have options on who to drive for.

If a company can't make it work with these restrictions then I don't particularly care. The free market with minimum regulation can now set the price for car services. Barriers to entry are also relatively low which should lead to sufficient competition to keep price down. The minimum regulation ensures safe vehicles. Im disappointed it took 3 years to do but it appears close to right.

[TheAlpineOracle]

The Class 4 licenses and the amount of yearly inspections is the City tactic i'm not happy about. The rest I have no other issue with. This prevents casual Uber drivers from entering the market. No one is just going to start driving with Uber until they see it's for them. They are purposely limiting the amount of drivers. There's not another practical applications for these requirements other than that.

[getbak]

Back in November/December, Uber was stomping its feet that the proposed bylaw in Edmonton was unworkable and they'd have to shut down if it was passed. Now, they're saying that the bylaw that was passed in Edmonton is wonderful and should be the model that Calgary follows.

Does anyone know what, if anything, was changed between the proposed and approved bylaws in Edmonton, or is this just Uber being Uber?

[Fuzz]

Class 4 is a provincial requirement. I'm not sure the city could wave that, even if they wanted to. I've got my class 4, I don't see it as a major impediment. You need a medical, driver record check and a longer road test. There may have been another written test, too. Can't remember.

[jammies]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

This prevents casual Uber drivers from entering the market.

Yah, that's unfortunate, everyone knows that your average Calgary driver is an example to the rest of the world in ability, courtesy, and understanding and adherence to traffic laws. We definitely need entry barriers to be a low as possible to allow the naturally skilled drivers here to oversupply rideshares and allow Uber to make as much profit as possible.

Once Uber has crushed the taxi cartel, I'm hoping a similar company can break through the maze of regulations surrounding the restaurant business and enable "meal-sharing". Health inspections are just The Man keeping you in the thrall of Big Pizza!

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by jammies

Once Uber has crushed the taxi cartel, I'm hoping a similar company can break through the maze of regulations surrounding the restaurant business and enable "meal-sharing". Health inspections are just The Man keeping you in the thrall of Big Pizza!

This raises an interesting point. Why is livery overseen by municipalities rather than say, the Ministry Of Transportation, unlike Alberta Health overseeing the conflation above?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

The Class 4 licenses and the amount of yearly inspections is the City tactic i'm not happy about. The rest I have no other issue with. This prevents casual Uber drivers from entering the market. No one is just going to start driving with Uber until they see it's for them. They are purposely limiting the amount of drivers. There's not another practical applications for these requirements other than that.

So it is a bad thing that people who intend to drive commercially be obligated to acquire a commercial license?

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

So it is a bad thing that people who intend to drive commercially be obligated to acquire a commercial license?

Yes.

Just get me a ####ing ride when I need one. Someone. Anyone.

[para transit fellow]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

This raises an interesting point. Why is livery overseen by municipalities rather than say, the Ministry Of Transportation, unlike Alberta Health overseeing the conflation above?

Alberta transportation does oversee transportation but for some reason left out "unscheduled passenger transportation" from the list of things it would regulate. It regulates driver licencing (the class 4 standard) and insurance requirements for vehicle registration. but is basically uninterested in taxis

If I were to guess, it goes back to the era when inter-municipal bus transportation was a big effort to regulate, inspect etc... and they really didn't have resources to also regulate the local taxi work of dozens of communities across Alberta

In the absence of Provincial regulation, The city of Calgary created it's taxi regulations. Calgary brought in their own vehicle inspection standards as the province does not require CVIPP inspections for "unscheduled passenger transportation"

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by heep223

Yes.

Just get me a ####ing ride when I need one. Someone. Anyone.

Well, I think you're presenting a fairly emotional reaction here which is fair, but really, I can think of a couple reasons minimum why not having some regulations is a bad idea.

I'm all for the total destruction of the taxi cartel here but let's do this intelligently. If I get in a car and I'm drunk I want to be able to know for instance, that it has the capability to stop, and has brakes, for example.

[verda13]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Well, I think you're presenting a fairly emotional reaction here which is fair, but really, I can think of a couple reasons minimum why not having some regulations is a bad idea.

I'm all for the total destruction of the taxi cartel here but let's do this intelligently. If I get in a car and I'm drunk I want to be able to know for instance, that it has the capability to stop, and has brakes, for example.

The fact is, the few times I do go out and need a lift home, I want a ride from ANYONE. I have paid strangers and gypsy taxis to drive me home. The cost is irrelevant, I'm sure Uber could charge more then the taxi cartel and keep busy.
Regulations are fine, but get to it already. TBH, I have more faith in personal/uber vehicle safety then the taxi fleet I've encounter here.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by verda13

The fact is, the few times I do go out and need a lift home, I want a ride from ANYONE. I have paid strangers and gypsy taxis to drive me home. The cost is irrelevant, I'm sure Uber could charge more then the taxi cartel and keep busy.
Regulations are fine, but get to it already. TBH, I have more faith in personal/uber vehicle safety then the taxi fleet I've encounter here.

That may be true now, but when Uber is squeezing the drivers for every penny, you can bet drivers are going to be cutting corners to save money. Uber offers nice pay when it enters a market, then keeps cutting back. That's why I think regulations are necessary.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by heep223

Yes.

Just get me a ####ing ride when I need one. Someone. Anyone.

Is it a bad thing that the restaurant you go to for lunch requires both a business license and health inspections?

Do you hold a laissez-faire attitude towards everything, or are you just pouting in this one specific instance?

[PsYcNeT]

Big government, always getting in the way of free market livery transport. Damned Lieberals and Dippers.