Calgary Taxis: 383 new plates & 8.1% rate increase

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I can't deny it's a step in the right direction, but IMO, the price increase just smacks of catering to the Taxi commission who are trying to control the market, and, ergo, is not designed to benefit Calgarians to the best it could be.

Yep, if they would've stopped at the license increases, it would've been a positive step. But increasing the prices is obviously some back-door appeasement....because apparently the taxi industry in Calgary is working under totally different supply/demand forces than the rest of the world. And here I thought when you increase supply, prices tend go down.

[Vulcan]

Cab prices have always been set by the Taxi Commission. Some of you say you want it to be a free market but the brokers and others who hold Taxi plates could just get together and set their own price, which could be worse. Taxi rates will always go up, it's a victim of inflation mostly controlled by the gas price, price of the vehicles, insurance and repairs.

The biggest mistake the Taxi Commission made was putting a freeze on the plates and it will be pretty painful to take that away now.

I'd suggest that the biggest reason you can't find a cab late at night when you're drunk is because the drivers are sick of the unruly passengers that they pick up.

[drewboy12]

Still so much cheaper then here! If I cab home from the bar, about 1km... $15. Took a cab from the airport to my house the other day, about 15km trip $52.

[TopChed]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Cab prices have always been set by the Taxi Commission. Some of you say you want it to be a free market but the brokers and others who hold Taxi plates could just get together and set their own price, which could be worse. Taxi rates will always go up, it's a victim of inflation mostly controlled by the gas price, price of the vehicles, insurance and repairs.

The biggest mistake the Taxi Commission made was putting a freeze on the plates and it will be pretty painful to take that away now.

I'd suggest that the biggest reason you can't find a cab late at night when you're drunk is because the drivers are sick of the unruly passengers that they pick up.

I don't think you understand the free market everyone is referring to. The reason it would be desirable is because you could not fix prices without being undercut.
And your next point is that the system was/is a mess and thus should always be one?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Yep, if they would've stopped at the license increases, it would've been a positive step. But increasing the prices is obviously some back-door appeasement....because apparently the taxi industry in Calgary is working under totally different supply/demand forces than the rest of the world. And here I thought when you increase supply, prices tend go down.

As should be obvious, the taxi commission does not work on anything approaching a supply/demand model. The supply and the price are both artificially set. As a consumer, you have the choice to use the service at that cost, or don't.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

As should be obvious, the taxi commission does not work on anything approaching a supply/demand model. The supply and the price are both artificially set. As a consumer, you have the choice to use the service at that cost, or don't.

It's not much of a choice if any competition (ie. Uber) is not even allowed to operate. The choice should be between taxi companies/drivers, not whether you take a taxi or not.

[terminator]

This is gonna butcher cabbies.... 383 new plates on the roads is really going to kill their business. I hope the city is doing a staged release.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Cab prices have always been set by the Taxi Commission. Some of you say you want it to be a free market but the brokers and others who hold Taxi plates could just get together and set their own price, which could be worse.

There would be no more brokers as there would be no more limits on plates. Taxi licenses should only act as a simple document allowing you to conduct business...not as some cottage-industry investment tool for a select few.

And sure, if the existing companies want to get together and collude on prices, go nuts. That is exactly when individual Uber drivers would be able to swoop in and offer lower rates. If people want to pay higher prices for a more organized/professional company...they can. If the want a cheaper option...they can do that too. But at least you have the choice.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by terminator

This is gonna butcher cabbies.... 383 new plates on the roads is really going to kill their business. I hope the city is doing a staged release.

Only if the demand isn't there.

[Burninator]

Coun. Richard Pootmans noted “change is coming” to the taxi industry via new apps like Uber and other technology that will “radically change the market” and he supported deferring decisions on future releases until more evidence is amassed.

I thought they were going to talk about Uber in council this month? Sounds like they are stalling on it again for no reason.

Henriques said the new plates, unlike the first 1,311 taxi licences the city issued, will be non-transferable and thus not tradable like a commodity.

That is good.

[terminator]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Only if the demand isn't there.

besides fri/sat it is not.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Burninator

I thought they were going to talk about Uber in council this month? Sounds like they are stalling on it again for no reason.

http://metronews.ca/news/calgary/110...s-uber-nenshi/

The bylaw amendments passed by an 11-2 vote at city council Monday, with Nenshi and Coun. Druh Farrell opposed. Council then voted to have livery officials report back in September on where e-hailing like Uber fit in Calgary’s taxi and limousine picture.

Did that even happen?

[Bunk]

^ The Uber, e-hailing item went to the Taxi and Limousine Advisory Committee on Friday - so it'll be onto Council shortly. Don't know the exact date, but can find out.

I can tell you there have been a lot of meetings between Uber and City and Council members recently.

The thing with Uber seems to be is they think of themselves as a technology company - not a limousine/cab company. So minor details like proper insurance don't seem to be fully thought through. My personal hope is that we'll find a way for them to operate in Calgary.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Bunk

^ The Uber, e-hailing item went to the Taxi and Limousine Advisory Committee on Friday - so it'll be onto Council shortly. Don't know the exact date, but can find out.

I can tell you there have been a lot of meetings between Uber and City and Council members recently.

The thing with Uber seems to be is they think of themselves as a technology company - not a limousine/cab company. So minor details like proper insurance don't seem to be fully thought through. My personal hope is that we'll find a way for them to operate in Calgary.

Why is it that a company has to come and kiss the brass ring to set up shop here in Calgary? It goes to prove the existing laws are far too restrictive. As I said in the other thread, any politician that doesn't support essentially what Table 5 proposed above won't get my vote come election time.

[burn_this_city]

Why the fare increase? Not my fault these guys sit at the airport for two and a half hours before getting a fare. It was already $80 for a 25 minute ride to my house from the airport, approximately 50% more than it takes to fill their tank. Problem with the taxi system in this city resides with the taxi companies, not the fare system we had. We shelter incompetence and allow some of the worst drivers on the street to drive cabs.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

Why is it that a company has to come and kiss the brass ring to set up shop here in Calgary? It goes to prove the existing laws are far too restrictive. As I said in the other thread, any politician that doesn't support essentially what Table 5 proposed above won't get my vote come election time.

I'm pretty far from a taxi mafia apologist, but I think its reasonable to regulate that a driver for Uber (or Uber itself) needs to have insurance that will cover customers. Should the city require a 6 figure investment in a plate. No. Require insurance that covers customers. Yes.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

As should be obvious, the taxi commission does not work on anything approaching a supply/demand model. The supply and the price are both artificially set. As a consumer, you have the choice to use the service at that cost, or don't.

sure we have a choice.. to drive drunk or to not go out late.

A) driving drunk causes accidents in the city

B) not going out late and not contributing to the economy.

The city is promoting safe driving and a better nightlife but then they don't regulate taxis so it's counter-productive. This included a lower registration price.

[Resolute 14]

That's a false dichotomy, Girly.

[NuclearPizzaMan]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Here's my totally uninformed, moron-on-the-street, 3-step strategy.

1) Refund all current license owners their original license fee...but only what they paid to the City, not any perceived increase in value on the black market, or that they paid to some middle-man to rent the license. Protecting the long term investment strategies of a special interest group is not in the best interest of Calgarians. The City doesn't guarantee anyone else's investments either.

2) Charge a new license fee of $100-200 bucks a year (or whatever it takes for the City to do a background check on you and to inspect your car). No limits on licenses...you pass the checks, and you have the cash, you're good to go.

3) Sit back and let the market do it's thing. No special cabs for airports, no set hours, no set fees. Chances are the prices and the level of service will end up pretty close to what makes sense for everyone involved. It sure can't be much worse.

I really don't see the point in step 1, unless the license came with some sort of binding agreement saying the city is responsible for limiting the number of cabs for all time (which I would believe, the city is super terrible at negotiating on its own behalf).

[jofillips]

why does the city of calgary even need to be regulating or monitoring this??
Not their job imo