Associate Cab drivers upset by deregulated fares

[Poster]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I will be so happy once this fake industry is busted right up. 20 years of calling cabs and getting crappy service, meanwhile, there are 150 of them just sitting at the airport. Can't get a ride from 17th to 20th&50th. Only 10 minutes away. Too short. Ok, let's go to Bridlehood! Nope, too far. F.off.

Open it up to people that want to do this job. Stop allowing the local taxi mafia to control a service that is pretty important to the community. There are lots and lots of people that want to frequent pubs and bars, and then get home responsibly. The taxi situation in this city is so piss poor, it makes Calgary Transit look like a good option.

And I don't need to hear from Pylon, the guy who doesn't drink, or Peter12, the guy who has a cab the minute he steps outside, I'm talking about all the actual people that go to a pub on Saturday night, and have 3 or 5 or 8 drinks, and are responsible enough to budget for a cab ride home, but then get stood up on the side of the road for 2-3 hours. I can't believe there is this vocal faction that thinks this is part of the hard knocks of life, and the alkies that want a drink should just deal with it by not leaving the house. How these people think it's reasonable that people wait for hours upon hours for a ride on a summer Saturday, let alone a winter Saturday is just mystifying. But I guess if you don't go out past 8pm, it's not a problem? Especially now that Uber has proven that there are people that are willing to drive us "party animals" home at 1-2am for a reasonable price, and within a reasonable amount of time. I guess the whole taxi racket is just that. A racket.

i think the taxi business sucks and is a racket. ripe for a disruption like Uber.

however, i have lived in Calgary for 20 years, never had a problem getting a cab and have never had a taxi reject me for a ride.

the things i like about Uber and I have used it in many other cities:

1) no cash, hop out of the car and say thank you. no hassle with a tip either.

2) you can see the route they took and if it was within a reasonable guideline

3) post trip email summary

4) you can see where they are while on route to you.

these are all things the taxi business could have invested in and frankly I have seen taxi companies who have done this. I dont know how to post pictures, or I would of the taxi in Chicago that I was in.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Poster

i think the taxi business sucks and is a racket. ripe for a disruption like Uber.

however, i have lived in Calgary for 20 years, never had a problem getting a cab and have never had a taxi reject me for a ride.

the things i like about Uber and I have used it in many other cities:

1) no cash, hop out of the car and say thank you. no hassle with a tip either.

2) you can see the route they took and if it was within a reasonable guideline

3) post trip email summary

4) you can see where they are while on route to you.

these are all things the taxi business could have invested in and frankly I have seen taxi companies who have done this. I dont know how to post pictures, or I would of the taxi in Chicago that I was in.

If you've never not been able to get a cab in Calgary or have one reject a fare, you must not take cabs very regularly, or when you do, you must take them during non-peak times. This is a regular occurrence in this city.

Not saying this is you, but I often hear people in the 45-65 range say at my work say, "It's not a problem, i've never had a problem getting a cab". Well when the only time you take a cab is getting to and from the airport, your not going to have a problem. Airport is a desirable fare, generally not during peak times, and they are lined up there about 50 deep.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by Poster

I dont think you understood the point I was making!

If the cost to run a safe, reliable, technology enabled soluition that puts more cars on the road costs more than current, so be it. the problem I have is consumers wanting more but offering less and being surprised when that isnt sustainable.

as for this industry, I think its #####. if the taxi people had invested in new solutions, then Uber wouldnt have found the space to move in. Uber is good for drivers as it gives them options. however, if we as consumers value Uber because its cheaper, how does that support a sustainable industry?

i dont want people to work with my company because I am cheapest. thats not sustainable. i want to add enough value to their needs so that they can pay me a rate that allows me to not just stay in business but to also invest in the company and is profitable.

Right now the bulk of cab fares are neither paying for the drivers wages or the equipment, 50 percent or more is just getting skimmed off by a plate holder who doesn't do anything more than throw the odd 'donation' to city hall to keep the monopoly going.
I have no problem with my cabbie getting 20 bucks an hour plus operating expenses, an average half hour trip would probably cost 20 then.
As it is cabbies are getting little more than minimum wage and I'm paying forty bucks for a medium trip most of which just goes into a middle mans pocket

[T@T]

dbl

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Poster

however, i have lived in Calgary for 20 years, never had a problem getting a cab and have never had a taxi reject me for a ride.

No offence but I don't think you get out much, at least late at night!

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

Right now the bulk of cab fares are neither paying for the drivers wages or the equipment, 50 percent or more is just getting skimmed off by a plate holder who doesn't do anything more than throw the odd 'donation' to city hall to keep the monopoly going.
I have no problem with my cabbie getting 20 bucks an hour plus operating expenses, an average half hour trip would probably cost 20 then.
As it is cabbies are getting little more than minimum wage and I'm paying forty bucks for a medium trip most of which just goes into a middle mans pocket

Which is no different than any other business. There are middle men in pretty much every business.

The problem isn't with the license holders, it's with the entire industry. I agree with a lot of what you are saying but if you bought a license 20 years ago as an investment or got lucky with the draws would you not want to make money off your investment as well?

Don't see the license holders as the problem as anybody who would have a chance to own one would attempt to make money on it. Middle men are everywhere. I have a big problem with the way our government protects the taxi industry as if we owe them anything. There are more than enough people who would do that job so why are they constantly protected? These taxi drivers weren't complaining when they were making 100k plus during the boom so now that times are tough they are complaining? Guess what? Almost every Albertan is being effected by this economy one way or another, what makes them special? And if they're making a little above minimum wage (which I know for a fact isn't close to true), and even if it was, so what? There are minimum wage workers everywhere, and hate to break it to you but driving a taxi isn't harder than serving fires and a burger.

[llwhiteoutll]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

There are minimum wage workers everywhere, and hate to break it to you but driving a taxi isn't harder than serving fires and a burger.

Especially these days when most drivers don't bother to learn the city, use a GPS and demand to be given turn by turn directions.

Had one guy tell me he didn't know how to get into or out of Copperfield because it is a brand new neighborhood.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

I agree with a lot of what you are saying but if you bought a license 20 years ago as an investment or got lucky with the draws would you not want to make money off your investment as well?

It shouldn't be an investment. Period. The fact that it is an investment is the biggest part of what is wrong.

While transportation for hire is quite often a matter of convenience (faster, saves visitors from renting cars, etc), the fact remains that not being able to take a car for hire is often a public safety issue. I have several first hand accounts of people driving drunk due to a lack of taxis. Or better yet, taxis refusing to pick up passengers because they are too drunk.

I have also heard of people being left outside in the cold due to a lack of taxis.

If you run a business or invest in a business; you should be able to invest in said business in a way that helps make the business money. Setup a dispatch centre, create mobile apps, co-ordinate advertising. The sole purpose of you making money should not be to limit supply in a way that puts the public in danger. Especially seeing as the point of the business is public service.

[calgaryblood]

I obviously agree with all that just disagree with blaming the actual license holders as anyone would do the same thing in their position. Blame the taxi industry and the government but most of the license holders are average joes who are just trying to make money off their "luck". I don't think many people understand how these licenses were first given out, at first anyone that wanted one could have one and then when they froze it, it obviously brought up the value of these licenses that were essentially free to begin with.

So again, I agree with what most are saying but there seems to be disdain with the actual license holders when the blame isn't on them.

[Vulcan]

I'm pretty sure most of the licence plate holders are the brokers.