Calgary Taxis: 383 new plates & 8.1% rate increase

[Rutuu]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Sometimes you wait so long, you end up finding another way, or getting a different cab, so the calls get all turned around too and a call can get wasted, adding more confusion, and trouble to the cabbies as well.)

Uber accoundts for this scenario by compensating the driver the minimum charge if the request isn't cancelled in the first 5mins.

Pretty good...it also allows you to call or text the driver if they're having trouble finding you and vice versa.

[Daradon]

Have no experience with Uber but it sounds freaking awesome and I hope we get it in Calgary soon. Then these lobbies that wanted to use their power to put Calgarians over the barrel and making the situation more unsafe than it needs to be can really decide if all that fighting was really worth it, or if they had been a little bit more reasonable, they wouldn't be threatened now.

I'd would REALLY love to see that.

I was just 'justifying' why I have sometimes resorted to 'stealing' other peoples cabs. Cause it's gotten so messed up out there, often it doesn't even matter. Often the people who have called the cab, are gone already anyway.

[ExiledFlamesFan]

This is such a greasy industry. The more we can do to open it up the better.

The cab industry in Calgary is the closest thing we have to a mafia run organization.

[Rutuu]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Have no experience with Uber but it sounds freaking awesome and I hope we get it in Calgary soon. Then these lobbies that wanted to use their power to put Calgarians over the barrel and making the situation more unsafe than it needs to be can really decide if all that fighting was really worth it, or if they had been a little bit more reasonable, they wouldn't be threatened now.

I'd would REALLY love to see that.

I was just 'justifying' why I have sometimes resorted to 'stealing' other peoples cabs. Cause it's gotten so messed up out there, often it doesn't even matter. Often the people who have called the cab, are gone already anyway.

Not targetting you...but I had the some serious skepticism when I started using Uber, but now I realize all my worries were unfounded and it's a FAR superior system.

It also gets rid of crappy users as you're rated as well and if you have a bad rating drivers won't pick you up. Plus with the system linked to your credit card it removes the issue of people running on cabs without paying, so as a driver you're more protected.

The fact the city blocks the service is not unique to Calgary, but when they use the guise of "protecting the people", it's garbage because Uber is superior in every way.

[Swarly]

My biggest problem with the current taxi system is how unreliable it is (which uber would solve with GPS tracking in app). Apparently if you call and book a taxi that is still no guarantee that there will be a cab available when you booked it (WTF is the point then?). I have had too many cabs not show up when I've booked them that I don't bother to use cabs anymore when heading out. I will always choose car2go when I can and only resort to cabs when absolutely necessary (drunk).

A friend of mine nearly missed a flight due to a cab not showing up, after waiting an hour extra she drove to the airport and did the park and jet thing. Which is now the only way I go, from my place mid-city it is $50-60 each way by taxi or ~$60/week to park my own car there, they even pull your car to the front and have it running and warm for you if you use their app right when you land.

Another thing to consider is cabs are some of the worst drivers I see on the road. I have been in 3 accidents in my life, 2 of them while being a passenger in a cab, 1 being a passenger in a friends car and a cabbie hit us.

;tldr cabs suck, I try to never use them but would try uber

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Swarly

A friend of mine nearly missed a flight due to a cab not showing up, after waiting an hour extra she drove to the airport and did the park and jet thing. Which is now the only way I go, from my place mid-city it is $50-60 each way by taxi or ~$60/week to park my own car there, they even pull your car to the front and have it running and warm for you if you use their app right when you land.

I always take a town car to the airport. It's a fixed price, and from where I live its about $2 more than the average cost of a cab. They're more reliable about showing up on time, and its a nicer ride.