Uber starts in Windsor, sparking excitement and anger

Windsorstar.com
Nov. 13, 2015
By Craig Pearson and Derek Spalding

View video link: http://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/uber-starts-in-windsor-sparking-excitement-and-anger

Despite all the hoopla and acrimony Uber has triggered, it may not be drastically different than a regular taxi.

At least from a rider’s perspective. From a driver’s viewpoint, it’s a different story.

It’s of course too early to say for sure. But a head-to-head comparison on Uber’s first day in Windsor shows the growing app-based ride-sharing service took a little longer than Vets Cab and cost about the same.

The Windsor Star’s unscientific experiment consisted of calling a Vets Cab at the same time as requesting an Uber ride through a smartphone app Thursday afternoon - shortly after the ride-sharing service launched locally at 3 p.m. Journalists took the rides to Windsor Airport, waited about a half an hour, then did the same test back to the Windsor Star.

The comparison: Vet’s cost $24.70 to the airport, compared to Uber’s $20.20. The Vets Cab took five minutes less for the journey, though it was the Uber driver’s first-ever fare, and he had a glitch with the phone that took a few minutes to sort out before he could proceed.

On the way back, however, Vets cost $21.70 while Uber charged $22.46. Vets took nine minutes less, since cabs were waiting at the airport.

For a $20.20 ride, the Uber receipt included $3 for the base fare, $10.80 for the 6.1-mile trip, and $4.90 for the 20-minute ride. Uber takes 20 per cent while the driver takes 80 per cent.

Meanwhile, Uber fans cheered the arrival of the modern company.

“We’re pleased,” said Uber Canada spokesperson Susie Heath, noting that her company launched simultaneously in Windsor, Kingston and the Niagara region. “The apps turned on at 3 p.m. and people seemed to be taking rides right away and enjoying it.

“It seems to be going well.”

Regular taxi drivers, however, feel Uber has been handed an unfair advantage by Mayor Drew Dilkens, who welcomed the new company to town.

“We plan on meeting with the mayor next week and voicing our concerns,” said John Toth, vice-president of Unifor Local 195 which represents Vets drivers. “But I was glad to see the mayor said he expects all drivers to follow the law.

“In the meantime, cab drivers are upset. They are law-abiding citizens while some other people come in and break the law.”

Toth said taxi drivers are required to do a number of things: use a meter, install a camera, carry at least $2 million commercial insurance, pay annual licence fees, pass a test, and much more - all not required of Uber drivers.

Vets Cab now has an app to compete with smartphone business, but cabbies still consider the deck stacked against them.

“If the laws are going to be addressed, then we would hope to be involved in that process,” Toth said. “It should be a level playing field and the same bylaws should be followed by all drivers.”

According to Windsor’s licensing department, the city has 218 licensed taxi plates, which cost $400 a year; 494 drivers who pay $110 a year for a taxi licence; and four brokers, such as Vets Cab. Uber drivers pay none of those fees.

But cabbies say the highest cost is a hidden expense. Though a one-time licence purchase costs $1,500, the city only issues new ones when the population increases, so drivers end up buying them from retiring drivers, which they say run for $50,000 to $80,000. Taxi drivers fear the addition of Uber will significantly devalue the licences they own.

“The last plate sold for about $80,000 and they’re down to about nothing today,” one driver said.

That same driver, who has been behind the wheel of a taxi for more than 25 years, said Uber will change the cab service landscape in Windsor. He likes Uber’s driver rating system that can bar an operator if that person receives criticisms from customers.

John, a new Uber driver who picked up a Star reporter in a yellow Hummer H2, said he’s interested in simply making a little money on the side when not driving a truck.

“It’s a good opportunity for people,” he said. “It creates diversity.”

John has never worked as a taxi driver before, but he attended an Uber seminar that attracted a lot of potential drivers and figured he would give it a whirl.

“It’s convenient,” he said. “I think it’s going to work well.”

Head to head

From Windsor Star to Windsor Airport on Thursday afternoon

Vets Cab: $24.70
Uber: $20.20

From Windsor Airport to Windsor Star

Vets Cab: $21.70
Uber: $22.46