London city hall: Councillor warns of backlash over Uber rules

LFPress.com
Feb. 5, 2017
Patrick Maloney

City council risks facing a consumer “backlash” if Uber leaves London in response to regulations ordering its drivers to install dashboard cameras, one politician warns.

Attempts to regulate the ridesharing colossus have grown complicated, leaving city council balancing public safety with the need to welcome innovation — and some battling the perception they’re going too far to accommodate Uber.

The latter suggestion is facing Coun. Maureen Cassidy, who helped push through adjusted regulatory fees per Uber’s request. She’s also staunchly against council’s just-approved requirement that its drivers install security cameras as taxi operators are required to do by the city.

But the Ward 5 councillor is shrugging off that accusation, and believes if the camera rule remains, Uber — whose ride-sharing app has 900 drivers in London — could leave.

“As far as what Uber wants and doesn’t, I don’t really care,” Cassidy said. “It’s a matter of making sure we do it (the regulation) right. There would be a big backlash if they shut off the app (in London). I think people don’t realize the backlash we will get from that.”

Uber has left other cities in the past, such as Calgary, until politicians there rewrote their bylaw to suit them.

London’s so-called vehicle-forhire bylaw was refined by council last week, though it still requires a final approval on Feb. 14. Essentially, there are two parts that irked Uber officials:

• The regulatory fees were too onerous, Uber warned politicians in a recent letter obtained by The Free Press. Coun. Jesse Helmer echoed Cassidy in pushing ahead a revised fee structure, based on Uber’s request. It was approved.
• Uber doesn’t believe its drivers, often part-timers looking to make a few extra bucks, should have to buy interior cameras, even though cabs must have them.

City staff have suggested the cameras are a good idea, especially in the wake of sexual assault charges against a London Uber driver in December. Council voted 7-6 to make them a requirement.

After the Jan. 31 council meeting, an Uber official said the company will decide on its next step for drivers in London.

Chris Schafer, an Uber public policy manager who attended the meeting, pointed out it would cost more than $1,000 per vehicle to install a camera, a prohibitive amount for average drivers who work five to 10 hours a week. Cassidy remains convinced cameras aren’t needed — and she’s willing to have the requirement erased for all taxis, Uber or otherwise.

“I don’t think cameras guarantee anybody’s safety,” she said.

The London Taxi Association represents traditional taxis and has railed against Uber’s bylaw-busting ways. The association is unhappy with Cassidy’s approach.

“In my 10 years (on council) I never saw anybody try to put forward everything an illegal operator wanted,” said Roger Caranci, a former politician who now works with the association. “To me, that was troubling and it was surprising.”

Uber says no other city requires interior cameras of its drivers.

Based in California, Uber is a tech firm whose app links people needing rides with people who use their private vehicles to pick them up for a fee. It’s upended the traditional taxi industry across North America.