I was talking to someone the other day about uber. I was for it at one point and now not so much. He asked me if a new air line opened up to compete against west jet/ air canada that was unlicensed, unregulated and anyone could fly the plane would I get on that plane? And that is pretty much what uber is doing to cab and limo companies
Finally! UBER coming to BC
- Thread starter badbadboy
- Start date
I wish I could find the news item about WestJet. Been googling like crazy here.
From what I recall they had a 737 down at Boeing Renton for a repair and overhaul. The execs at Westjet didn't like the price quoted and Boeing told them that particular jet was unsuitable for flight. Next thing you know, the Westjet pilots were taxiing down the runway to get that 737 back to Calgary. i.e. unauthorized without a flight plan.
All I can say about Uber now is when you people are in the USA, try it out. It's friken awesome service, clean vehicles and an economical price to get around large metropolitan areas quickly.
I wonder how many people who were stranded at 4 AM on New Years in Vancouver would say "no way would I take an Uber". Pretty small percentage IMHO.
I think its time we all wise up. We need more rides and Uber or Lyft would allow us to have a decent ride at an economical price. The traditional taxi service is only making a select few millionaires richer for having the licences to operate taxis. They are the ones kicking graft up to the Vision party in Vancouver.
This 3 part CBC series on Uber is very informative:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/uber-playbook-taxis-canada-1.3411401
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/uber-plouffe-brett-wilson-taxis-1.3411413
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/uber-canada-gig-economy-1.3414206
JD
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/uber-playbook-taxis-canada-1.3411401
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/uber-plouffe-brett-wilson-taxis-1.3411413
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/uber-canada-gig-economy-1.3414206
JD
You keep on talking about the service being awesome. I am sure it is. But you are again ignoring the safety issue and the big money being siphoned out. Uber and other 'ride-sharing' services are totally unregulated. You are also ignoring the price-gouging by Uber. You are talking about anecdotes (new year's eve e.g.). 4 am on NY eve doesn't pop out of no where, people should be ready for it. If you are talking about taxi shortages, then the solution is more taxi licences, not allowing just anyone to start driving around and picking up people in his/her vehicles.
By the way, and this is important, did you know Uber jacks up its price during 'peak times'. People have been charged more than 5 times the regular price. I am sure you would love to be billed 200 bucks for a five minutes ride when you wake up on January 1 and look at your credit card statement.
Here is the link, if you don't believe it.
http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/price-go...w-year-s-eve-rates-anger-passengers-1.2721323
and this one http://bgr.com/2016/01/04/new-years-eve-uber-surge-pricing-reactions/
The two items above are not the first and certainly not the last examples of "awesome" service, as you put it.
You can argue "buyer beware" but you are willing to ignore a horrible practice of price gouging. Like someone pointed out above, would you be ok if a new airline came on scene that was not required to have trained pilots, its planes not required to be maintained and inspected regularly and why? because the planes look good?
Well, each to their own I guess, but honestly, although I know taxi industry has big holes to fill, but I would never take Uber.
Cheers.
Agree completely! Also the fact that the taxi company is responsible for their drivers and can be held accountable for their actions. With Uber anyone (with no background check!) can just sign up and drive you around and Uber will tell you they're independent contractors and they are not responsible. Definitely sticking with Taxis!
It might seem like I am anti Uber ......... but I guess I am ... so here is another proof in the pudding. ..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlT-msMY3sI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlT-msMY3sI
You seem really anti Uber, yet have never actually tried the service anywhere; at least you have never mentioned the real personal experience.
If you could give us any personal experience about a negative Uber experience, I would respect your opinion a lot more. Perhaps you are shilling for someone you know that has a taxi license? I don't know, what is your end game without some real personal experience?
So you mention the price gouging by Uber. What do you call it when a licensed taxi driver in the GVRD can program their meter for time, distance, time and distance, extras like bags, extras like waiting time and the list goes on and on.
Case in point: I took a taxi from my residence to Lonsdale Quay to catch the Canada Line to YVR. It was a Saturday noonish time and it normally cost me $17 incl tip. When I got in the cab I was asked if my end destination was YVR and I said no, it's Lonsdale Quay. Driver was obviously not happy seeing my large checked bag and punched a few buttons on the meter. I arrived at Lonsdale Quay and the cost had jumped to $25. Zero tip and I told him dishonesty won't win vs Uber.
So really who is price gouging, price fixing in a zero competitive marketplace? Not Uber but the status quo.
By the way the taxi was ragged ie a POS, smelled and the driver had a shitty argumentative attitude because I didn't want to spend $70 to YVR when I could spend less than $25 via taxi, SeaBus and Canada Line to YVR.
I reviewed my Uber App expenses from Uber on that trip. Six individual trips, distance and time was approx 50 + miles and an hour driving time. The total cost was $65 USD or approx $100 CDN.
Example 1 : A person riding in an Uber vehicle injured in an accident is not insured because the Uber vehicle's insurance is void.
Exame 2: A pedestrian crossing the street who is hit by an Uber driver's car is not protected as the Uber driver's insurance is void.
For me that is compelling enough to not support Uber.
Exame 2: A pedestrian crossing the street who is hit by an Uber driver's car is not protected as the Uber driver's insurance is void.
For me that is compelling enough to not support Uber.
From driveruber.ca
All drivers are required to carry valid personal auto insurance, which will be your primary coverage. Every ride on the uberX platform is backed by $5,000,000 of contingent coverage for bodily injury and property damage to third parties. This means that if, in the event of an accident, your own personal insurance is exhausted or does not apply for any reason, passengers, pedestrians, other drivers, and the community at large can rest assured knowing that ridesharing partners remain covered by a robust first-class policy.
All drivers are required to carry valid personal auto insurance, which will be your primary coverage. Every ride on the uberX platform is backed by $5,000,000 of contingent coverage for bodily injury and property damage to third parties. This means that if, in the event of an accident, your own personal insurance is exhausted or does not apply for any reason, passengers, pedestrians, other drivers, and the community at large can rest assured knowing that ridesharing partners remain covered by a robust first-class policy.
Actually the Toronto City Councillor interviewed on CBC TV this week expressed in no uncertain terms that Uber drivers' insurance policies in Ontario are void as the drivers are in violation of terms of use. The insurance agencies are in agreement. It would be equivalent to insuring a vehicle for pleasure use only and using the vehicle for commercial purposes. Uber wants the law to be changed to allow them to self insure their own drivers. It's just another example of how Uber wants us to accommodate them in setting their own rules.
You might want to check out the Insurance Bureau of Canada's work in that regard with the provinces insurance interests.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/insurance-bureau-of-canada-pushing-to-get-uber-drivers-covered/article26792745/
I just read the article you linked and it actually supports my arguement. The ibc would like rule changes to allow them to sell uber insurance (out of self interest) and at present they are not able to, so Uber drivers are uninsured. The irc is also an organization of private insurers, in BC our insurer is ICBC which is not a private insurer and not a member.
It's not a problem to resolve legal issues people! The problem is competition! This can be put up to the political level. Most of the human beings on Earth want competition in order to improve quality at the least cost possible.
The fact remains that the BC Gov are now warming to the idea of Uber ride sharing to be available to its citizens.
Crown Corporation ICBC will most likely have a policy in place for Ride Share drivers and it will be part of the insurance disclosure questionnaires.
Those who like the status quo and those who are pro ride share will put their $ where their respective mouths are on this issue. The marketplace will decide what works for them in the end.
Crown Corporation ICBC will most likely have a policy in place for Ride Share drivers and it will be part of the insurance disclosure questionnaires.
Those who like the status quo and those who are pro ride share will put their $ where their respective mouths are on this issue. The marketplace will decide what works for them in the end.
Of course if ICBC changes its protection policies they could choose to extend coverage to other 'taxi like services'. However presently to operate a commercial passenger vehicle in Vancouver you also require: a vehicles for hire license from the City of Vancouver, a passenger transportation licence from the province, a chauffeur's permit from VPD, a class 4 driver's license from ICBC, a police background check from VPD, and a TaxiHost Pro certificate from the Justice Institute. So it's actually beyond just a provincial decision.
None of those are insurmountable problems and merely a cost of doing business.
The way you paint Uber is some sort of rogue entity that is apparently according to some opinions in this thread are not good corporate citizens. I don't recall, have you ever tried their service? There seem to be a number here who have zero experience with Uber yet are clamouring to support the taxi associations efforts to keep low cost alternatives to an under serviced population.
Funny how a few of the most legislated states in the USA NY, NJ and CA have embraced it and it coexists with huge taxi fleets in those major cities.
