Montreal mayor unveils new image, safety measures for taxi industry

Theglobeandmail.com
Aug. 20, 2015

A blueprint aimed at making Montreal cabs safer for drivers and passengers includes provisions for electronic payments in all taxis, the installation of cameras and a “signature or distinctive image” for all vehicles.

“The whole taxi industry is now ready to turn the corner,” Mayor Denis Coderre said Thursday as he released details of the plan.

Tenders for the cameras will be launched this fall and the mayor expects installations to be completed by the end of 2016.

The plan also calls for all taxis to be equipped with GPS and panic buttons.

Mr. Coderre said work will begin in the fall on the city’s new taxi image and it will be ready as of next year.

Asked at a news conference if he had any colour preferences, the mayor jokingly responded: red, white and blue, a reference to the jerseys of hockey’s Canadiens, football’s Alouettes and the former Montreal Expos baseball team.

The plan includes a dress code but it hasn’t been decided yet whether that also means cabbies will have to wear uniforms.

It also calls for more ecological or “green” taxis - hybrid and electric vehicles - by 2017.

Mr. Coderre said the modernization of the industry will be finished for the city’s 375th anniversary, in 2017.

“We want the metropolis to shine,” he added. “My objective is to make the taxi industry a model of performance and efficiency.”

Several others present were concerned with the Uber ride service.

Mr. Coderre reiterated he believes the service is illegal and that Uber drivers don’t follow rules such as having taxi permits and liability coverage.