Uber to Resume in Calgary December 6 2016

[Rutuu]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

And it accomplishes this only through a decidedly uneven playing field in which Uber's direct competition is held to far greater regulatory standards than even this new bylaw forces on Uber, and through the exploitation of a surplus drivers working at, near or below minimum wage level earnings.

The city took away the slanted playing field and it took away Uber's ability to pretend driving for them is all profit, no risk. Suddenly, we see just how lacking in innovation Uber truly is.

It's giving people a ride. How much should it pay? The rest of the world changed... It's embarrassing my home town won't with it.

[Resolute 14]

LMAO. Christ, Ruutu. You must be at Donald Trump levels of self-indulgent arrogance to actually think caving to a company like Uber makes a city "world class"!

[getbak]

I guess New York City isn't world-class either.

[kermitology]

As has been stated, the requirements are less stringent than NYC. Does that mean NYC isn't world class?

I know Ramit, and this is just childish. For shame. Didn't get exactly your way, fine, take your ball and go pound sand in Edmonton. See how well that goes for you.

Also, I take taxis fairly regularly to and from the airport, and in cities I travel to. Im convinced that many of you haven't been in a taxi. It's not that bad.

[Rutuu]

Originally Posted by getbak

I guess New York City isn't world-class either.

Sydney and NYC paid off their cabbies. Doesn't mean you have too.

If I started a company in Calgary tomorrow I hope that council doesn't reach into my pocket with a bunch of ridiculous fees.

If the insurance guys had a problem with drivers using their insurance designed for 1hr a day for an 8hr shift that's fine. Everything that council did and unfair playing field stuff is just protectionist and a payoff.

Like I said... It's only embarrassing when I visit home... Otherwise I can tap my app and have a car show up wherever I am in 4mins or less. The he offers me a bottle of water and a mint with everything charged direct to my credit card.

[Fuzz]

Lost in all this Uber nonsense is that the city has made the single biggest change in the livery bylaw in decades. Had this not been an Uber thing(and to their credit, they are the reason for this change) we would be hailing the city for finally doing something to release the stupid plate limit and allow the free market to decide how many vehicles are necessary for the city. Make not mistake, this is a HUGE change, and we will see benefits. I don't expect prices to come down, as the current rates seam to be the cost of doing business. But someone is going to enter the market, though it may be after our economy picks up and demand returns.

[Rutuu]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

LMAO. Christ, Ruutu. You must be at Donald Trump levels of self-indulgent arrogance to actually think caving to a company like Uber makes a city "world class"!

What does make it world class Resolute? Open for business or a bunch of local trade unions with their hats out?

Its giving someone a ride. I can offer you one right now. In fact when Uber does get approved send me a pm and your first ride is on me. I can send it right to your house and lock in your destinationfrom where ever I am.

[Rutuu]

Originally Posted by kermitology

As has been stated, the requirements are less stringent than NYC. Does that mean NYC isn't world class?

I know Ramit, and this is just childish. For shame. Didn't get exactly your way, fine, take your ball and go pound sand in Edmonton. See how well that goes for you.

Also, I take taxis fairly regularly to and from the airport, and in cities I travel to. Im convinced that many of you haven't been in a taxi. It's not that bad.

We'll they're a lot more places than Edmonton...

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Rutuu

What does make it world class Resolute? Open for business or a bunch of local trade unions with their hats out?

Its giving someone a ride. I can offer you one right now. In fact when Uber does get approved send me a pm and your first ride is on me. I can send it right to your house and lock in your destinationfrom where ever I am.

You will have to forgive me if I fail to find sympathy for a company that got what it wanted - the right to operate in this city - and is still behaving like an infant that just crapped its diaper.

You will have to forgive me if i fail to find sympathy for a company that feels background checks, proper licensing, insurance and inspections for a workforce that is interacting with the public and which has a far higher rate of accidents than the general public is unnecessary.

I don't actually write my council member frequently, but I will be sending them a note today applauding them for not caving to Uber yesterday, and advising them to hold firm against the company's upcoming whining while we await the provincial changes to insurance offerings.

Uber got what it wanted: a framework where it could legally operate in this city. What it is doing now is demanding special and protectionist treatment. In short, it is behaving exactly like those "local trade unions" you are whining about.

And yet, you have the arrogance to be "embarrassed' for this city. Please. This city will do just fine, with or without your pathetic attempt at pity.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by Rutuu

We'll they're a lot more places than Edmonton...

This particular franchise is shared management between Edmonton and Calgary.

Uber doesn't make your city world class. And it's not like they're some startup. But let's not kid ourselves here, uber is a taxi service without the livery license.

It's not a bunch of individuals, it's a centralized ride for hire service.

And as history proves, this will not end well for drivers.

[Rutuu]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

You will have to forgive me if I fail to find sympathy for a company that got what it wanted - the right to operate in this city - and is still behaving like an infant that just crapped its diaper.

You will have to forgive me if i fail to find sympathy for a company that feels background checks, proper licensing, insurance and inspections for a workforce that is interacting with the public and which has a far higher rate of accidents than the general public is unnecessary.

I don't actually write my council member frequently, but I will be sending them a note today applauding them for not caving to Uber yesterday, and advising them to hold firm against the company's upcoming whining while we await the provincial changes to insurance offerings.

Uber got what it wanted: a framework where it could legally operate in this city. What it is doing now is demanding special and protectionist treatment. In short, it is behaving exactly like those "local trade unions" you are whining about.

And yet, you have the arrogance to be "embarrassed' for this city. Please. This city will do just fine, with or without your pathetic attempt at pity.

How do you know so much about Uber? I smell somebody with a few Internet articles under their belt and not a lot of first hand experience. I'm open minded though... Give me your Uber resume.

[Rutuu]

Originally Posted by kermitology

This particular franchise is shared management between Edmonton and Calgary.

Uber doesn't make your city world class. And it's not like they're some startup. But let's not kid ourselves here, uber is a taxi service without the livery license.

It's not a bunch of individuals, it's a centralized ride for hire service.

And as history proves, this will not end well for drivers.

Fundamentally I don't see driving people around as a full time gig anymore. We may differ but times change.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Lost in all this Uber nonsense is that the city has made the single biggest change in the livery bylaw in decades. Had this not been an Uber thing(and to their credit, they are the reason for this change) we would be hailing the city for finally doing something to release the stupid plate limit and allow the free market to decide how many vehicles are necessary for the city. Make not mistake, this is a HUGE change, and we will see benefits. I don't expect prices to come down, as the current rates seam to be the cost of doing business. But someone is going to enter the market, though it may be after our economy picks up and demand returns.

Yup.

I was thinking about this, and if the cab companies were smart, they'd launch their own version of Uber tied into their existing systems. The new bylaw allows them to take app-based hails and offer competitive pricing like Uber does, so they should launch a service where people can sign up to use their own personal vehicles to provide rides under these new rules.

There's no putting the genie back in the bottle, so they can either fight against the inevitable and eventually lose, or they can embrace the changes and start moving away from being an all-in-one provider that owns and operates a fleet of its own vehicles and instead just becomes a middleman between riders and drivers, taking a percentage off the top of every fare.

[peter12]

So, the Kalamazoo shooting pretty much encapsulates the safety concerns that a lot of riders feel when taking an Uber ride - inflated, or no. Simply put, the trust quotient with a taxi driver is higher - you know that they move experience dealing with the public than some guy who wants to take advantage of surge pricing on a Friday night. Sure, that taxi driver may be a bit too salty for your liking, but he is also probably sick of being racially abused and harassed by drunk passengers.

Uber is pretty indicative of what firm behaviour is like in a perfectly competitive market. Very few barriers to entry, lots of competition, and thus, very low profit margins. That is why the company has to gouge its drivers, and that is why, increasingly, companies like Lyft are turning towards a more taxi-like model (Lyft just partnered with GM to allow Lyft drivers without vehicles to temporarily rent GM cars). You need relationships with certain brokers to succeed in the transportation service industry. It is, as I have argued previously, a semi-public service, and thus, will eventually settle itself around a more monopolistic model where firms set prices, areas of service etc... That doesn't mean there shouldn't be room for competitive alternatives - NYC's Green Cab was created to service the Burroughs more thoroughly, and so far, has been incredibly successful. That said, it is still a cab company, and must operate by the same rules as Yellow Cab et al.

Calgary's by-laws, by comparison, are incredibly lax.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Rutuu

How do you know so much about Uber? I smell somebody with a few Internet articles under their belt and not a lot of first hand experience. I'm open minded though... Give me your Uber resume.

Sorry, but how is this a valid counter-argument?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Rutuu

How do you know so much about Uber? I smell somebody with a few Internet articles under their belt and not a lot of first hand experience. I'm open minded though... Give me your Uber resume.

The fact that you have repeatedly dodged every criticism of Uber's behaviour is telling. Just tells me that we both know you have no rebuttal.

[nik-]

Rutuu's string of posts here are pretty much a disaster. Uber's "letter" basically just sums up the attitude with which they operate their business model. Bully their way into markets and then cry like little bitches if the cities don't bend over completely.

#### Uber.

[Weitz]

I'm disappointed. I try not to use cabs because the cost and inconvenience is out of line IMO, so I was hoping Uber would be able to stay. And even if they did with the new rules the cost would be too much again.

[Rutuu]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

The fact that you have repeatedly dodged every criticism of Uber's behaviour is telling. Just tells me that we both know you have no rebuttal.

No man... I know what people with unchangeable opinions look like. You win. 😀

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Rutuu

No man... I know what people with unchangeable opinions look like. You win. 😀

You haven't said anything beyond the anecdotal. How do you expect to change anyone's mind?