New Uber rules: Did Toronto city council strike the right balance?

Mayor says new taxi regulations, which riled some councillors, cabbies and former Uber drivers, 'not perfect'

CBC.ca
May 4, 2016

After a long and at times heated debate, Toronto councillors agreed to new rules on Tuesday that will bring the ride-hailing service Uber under the city's regulatory wing.

Council created a new licensing category for Uber and will allow all cabs to adjust their rates during peak periods.

Uber spokesperson Ian Black said the company can operate under the new rules but traditional cabbies felt the city sold them out by letting Uber operate.

The debate from Tuesday's council meeting spilled over into Wednesday's Metro Morning show.

Here are some of the opinions that surfaced on the show.

Coun. John Campbell The Ward 4 councillor voted in favour of the new rules, saying they recognize that people want new options for getting around the city. "The consumer market has changed," he said. "We needed to make some recommendations so that passengers who take [ride-hailing services] are safe." He said the new rules strike the right balance. "I don't think they're too onerous on [ride-hailing services]companies. And I firmly believe both entities will be able to operate in a profitable way going forward."

​Coun. Shelley Carroll The Ward 33 councillor voted against the new rules, saying important safety provisions such as requirements for driver training and cameras in cabs have been removed. "We have made it rougher on the driver and 'peachy' for owners of companies like Uber," she said. Carroll also feels drivers will have a tough time making a living if prices are allowed to be adjusted depending on demand. "How [the driver] makes a living, I really don't know," she said. "They're going to get a lot of dabblers."

Remzi, a cab driver for 22 years, called in to Metro Morning to weigh in. He said the city has made a terrible decision, one that will prevent cabbies from making a living. "I think this is the worst deal of my life," he said. "There is no limits on the number of Uber taxis on the road. I don't know how I'm gonna survive." Remzi also felt the new rules remove essential safety measures.

Rhonda called in to say it's about time the city moved to let Uber operate legally. "I'm absolutely thrilled that council went ahead with this move," she said. She puts faith in the Uber system, in which passengers can rate their drivers. "People don't feel unsafe," she said. Rhonda said she has sympathy for taxi drivers who stand to lose their livelihood but said new technology is shaking the foundation of many businesses and people have to adjust. "People need to be able to adapt," she said. "I'm sure that the cab drivers will all adapt."

Corey is a former Uber driver who did well until the advent of UberX, the app that allows almost any car to connect with passengers willing to pay a fare. "You show me on paper how you can make money with UberX around. I don't understand it. It's good for the public but for the driver? You are not making money with Uber." He said factoring expenses, drivers would be lucky to make $3 on a $10 fare. He said you can't make a living as a full-time UberX driver.

Later Wednesday, Mayor John Tory weighed in, telling reporters at city hall that change in regulations for the taxi industry was necessary, given the entry of Uber and other businesses like it into the market.

"I believe that competition is necessary and good for the consumers, but I also believe that we have to do our best to mitigate the impact on owners and drivers in the taxi industry. Throughout this complex process, I have remained focused on producing the best public policy for the people of Toronto. Yesterday, council approved a regulatory policy that achieves that goal and while I said yesterday and repeat today it's not perfect, it is something that introduces I think a new era of ground transportation in Toronto."