GhostofPotvin29
New member
CarltonTheBear said:
Which tells me about the taxi rates where I live since I always found when I was in Toronto that the taxi rates were so cheap compared to home.
Taxi Drivers vs. Uber
- Thread starter CarltonTheBear
- Start date
Which tells me about the taxi rates where I live since I always found when I was in Toronto that the taxi rates were so cheap compared to home.
dappleganger
Active member
Potvin29 said:
Here's an article on the topic.
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/03/are-taxis-safer-than-uber/386207/
hockeyfan1
New member
A family member & I have taken the taxi many times throughout those last few years, particularly when we've had to go downtown (I don't like driving downtown due to poor parking facilities and/or too much walking to & fro. We've taken mostly Beck taxi, since they give out a senior's discount to seniors for example, plus their cabs appear cleaner and their drivers courteous. One will almost always find an 'uncourteous' or one that doesn't know the roads well or is not particularly accustomed to the passenger's directions, etc., etc. Yes, in every group, there are a rotten few, but...
... if I had to switch now to ?ber I'd be hesitant, even if it means paying much less. I've heard that, as one poster here also mentioned, some of ?ber's drivers have been convicted of crime-- sexual assault, harassment, etc. Never heard of that happening with traditional taxi drivers.
The good part about ?ber is that they utilize an app, prepayment (via credit card), the individual can track the driver as he/ she is arriving, and if say, a parent needs to send their teen somewhere (and can't drive them), they can track exactly where the ?ber cab is going and when the individual arrives at their alotted destination. All good, provided the ?ber driver is not some sort of nut.
The caveat with ?ber is that they are not insured nor regulated, unlike the taxi industry. This is where we draw the line. Taxi drivers need to pay a fee to the company, don't retain or make a lot for themselves , many have families to support, work in a regulated industry, are insured, ete., and thus resent the intrusion of an upstart company such as ?ber that operates largely 'hands free'.
Sure it's cool to utilize the usage of technology as ?ber does while charging far lower rates, but I still believe they should be subjected to some sort of regulations. In fact, the entire taxi industry could use a revamping -- higher standards should be set that should be applied to all across the board (including ?ber) -- such as clean car interiors, a knowledge of the city /area they operate in, proper English spoken, uniforms (as an identifying marker), different payment systems (cash should be accepted by ?ber if that were to be possible for people who want to pay in this way; and c . cards, etc., should be accepted by taxis), etcetera.
... if I had to switch now to ?ber I'd be hesitant, even if it means paying much less. I've heard that, as one poster here also mentioned, some of ?ber's drivers have been convicted of crime-- sexual assault, harassment, etc. Never heard of that happening with traditional taxi drivers.
The good part about ?ber is that they utilize an app, prepayment (via credit card), the individual can track the driver as he/ she is arriving, and if say, a parent needs to send their teen somewhere (and can't drive them), they can track exactly where the ?ber cab is going and when the individual arrives at their alotted destination. All good, provided the ?ber driver is not some sort of nut.
The caveat with ?ber is that they are not insured nor regulated, unlike the taxi industry. This is where we draw the line. Taxi drivers need to pay a fee to the company, don't retain or make a lot for themselves , many have families to support, work in a regulated industry, are insured, ete., and thus resent the intrusion of an upstart company such as ?ber that operates largely 'hands free'.
Sure it's cool to utilize the usage of technology as ?ber does while charging far lower rates, but I still believe they should be subjected to some sort of regulations. In fact, the entire taxi industry could use a revamping -- higher standards should be set that should be applied to all across the board (including ?ber) -- such as clean car interiors, a knowledge of the city /area they operate in, proper English spoken, uniforms (as an identifying marker), different payment systems (cash should be accepted by ?ber if that were to be possible for people who want to pay in this way; and c . cards, etc., should be accepted by taxis), etcetera.
Kin
New member
It takes only the briefest of google searches to find instances of traditional taxi drivers convicted of all manner of offenses.
http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2015/10/30/cab-driver-convicted-of-manslaughter-in-long-boarders-death.html
http://www.metronews.ca/news/halifax/2015/11/09/halifax-taxi-driver-guilty-sex-assault-wants-license-back.html
http://www.therecord.com/news-story/4616501-cab-driver-convicted-of-sexually-assaulting-teen-girl/
http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2015/10/30/cab-driver-convicted-of-manslaughter-in-long-boarders-death.html
http://www.metronews.ca/news/halifax/2015/11/09/halifax-taxi-driver-guilty-sex-assault-wants-license-back.html
http://www.therecord.com/news-story/4616501-cab-driver-convicted-of-sexually-assaulting-teen-girl/
WhatIfGodWasALeaf
Active member
Nik the Trik said:
Exactly, I'd say conservatively at least 90% of the bad press and fearmongering surrounding Uber is funded directly by their competition.
Kin
New member
Patrick said:
I can't speak to any sort of aggregated data on crimes committed by Uber drivers vs. regular Cab drivers but I do think there's some manner of common sense that can be applied here. If you're worried about being assaulted by a cab driver(as a large-ish man it's not something I think about) then you're going to want the company you get your rides from, I'd assume, at least have a screening process that weeds out, say, people who've been charged with crimes like that.
So I think one of the reasons Uber may be receiving the scrutiny it is is because someone out there is making a ton of money off of the company and a case could be made that part of the reason they make so much is because they are able to undercut their competitors precisely because they don't have the regulations in place that(you hope) cut down on such offenses. As such, you might argue they're more liable than a traditional cab company.
But I'm the first to admit, I don't know the ins and outs of Uber's business.
hockeyfan1
New member
?ber, ?ber, ?ber...What's in it for you?
An Uber ride is different from hopping into a taxi. When you download Uber's app and get into a car summoned with the mobile reservation system, you agree to a host of terms and conditions by default. And Uber is young enough that situations like this one are still largely uncharted territory.
Since Uber launched five years ago, it's grown rapidly. It now has cars driving around 204 cities in 45 countries, and the company claims to cover 55 percent of the US population with its offering. It's also the highest-valued venture-backed company in the world right now, with a valuation of $18.2 billion.
...Uber is a so-called ride-sharing service that puts potential drivers through a background check so that they can become an impromptu taxi driver using their own car and Uber's tech platform. For each ride a driver carries out, Uber gets a cut of the fare -- typically between 20 percent and 25 percent.
"People don't know what they're getting into when they get into one of these cars, they don't know what they're getting into when they download the app," said lawyer Chris Dolan of Dolan Law Firm, who is representing a 6-year-old girl struck and killed by an Uber driver earlier this year. "They're giving Uber a free pass -- up to death."
Dolan claims Uber's terms and conditions are a way for the company to absolve itself of any liability in cases of injury or accident and to avoid responsibility for a driver's actions. "It completely covers their ass and says 'We're not responsible for anything that happens to you, period,'" Dolan said. "It says, 'You can be raped, you can be killed, you can be murdered, and it's not our responsibility.'"
Uber spokesperson pointed CNET to its webpage on safety. The page details the background checks drivers go through -- which require county, state and federal checks that go back seven years -- and the $1 million liability insurance they must carry.
The fine print of Uber's terms and conditionsclearly says that passengers accept a risk by using the service.
"You understand, therefore, that by using the application and the service, you may be exposed to transportation that is potentially dangerous, offensive, harmful to minors, unsafe or otherwise objectionable," Uber's terms and conditions read, "and that you use the application and the service at your own risk."
While there are risks in using Uber and Lyft's service, are cabs any better?
Taxi drivers have assaulted passengers. The difference, Sutton said, is that cab companies are usually accountable in such instances.
Regulations for taxi companies vary from city to city, but all cab companies must have liability insurance of at least $250,000 The key, however, is that most taxi companies also have a backup umbrella policy to cover rare occurrences, like a passenger slipping on ice or being attacked by a driver,
While Uber requires its drivers to have $1 million of liability insurance coverage, which is higher than many cab companies, it's unclear if this would cover incidents like a driver attacking a passenger. This type of insurance coverage is typically meant for car accidents.
http://www.cnet.com/news/how-risky-is-your-uber-ride-maybe-more-than-you-think/
An Uber ride is different from hopping into a taxi. When you download Uber's app and get into a car summoned with the mobile reservation system, you agree to a host of terms and conditions by default. And Uber is young enough that situations like this one are still largely uncharted territory.
Since Uber launched five years ago, it's grown rapidly. It now has cars driving around 204 cities in 45 countries, and the company claims to cover 55 percent of the US population with its offering. It's also the highest-valued venture-backed company in the world right now, with a valuation of $18.2 billion.
...Uber is a so-called ride-sharing service that puts potential drivers through a background check so that they can become an impromptu taxi driver using their own car and Uber's tech platform. For each ride a driver carries out, Uber gets a cut of the fare -- typically between 20 percent and 25 percent.
"People don't know what they're getting into when they get into one of these cars, they don't know what they're getting into when they download the app," said lawyer Chris Dolan of Dolan Law Firm, who is representing a 6-year-old girl struck and killed by an Uber driver earlier this year. "They're giving Uber a free pass -- up to death."
Dolan claims Uber's terms and conditions are a way for the company to absolve itself of any liability in cases of injury or accident and to avoid responsibility for a driver's actions. "It completely covers their ass and says 'We're not responsible for anything that happens to you, period,'" Dolan said. "It says, 'You can be raped, you can be killed, you can be murdered, and it's not our responsibility.'"
Uber spokesperson pointed CNET to its webpage on safety. The page details the background checks drivers go through -- which require county, state and federal checks that go back seven years -- and the $1 million liability insurance they must carry.
The fine print of Uber's terms and conditionsclearly says that passengers accept a risk by using the service.
"You understand, therefore, that by using the application and the service, you may be exposed to transportation that is potentially dangerous, offensive, harmful to minors, unsafe or otherwise objectionable," Uber's terms and conditions read, "and that you use the application and the service at your own risk."
While there are risks in using Uber and Lyft's service, are cabs any better?
Taxi drivers have assaulted passengers. The difference, Sutton said, is that cab companies are usually accountable in such instances.
Regulations for taxi companies vary from city to city, but all cab companies must have liability insurance of at least $250,000 The key, however, is that most taxi companies also have a backup umbrella policy to cover rare occurrences, like a passenger slipping on ice or being attacked by a driver,
While Uber requires its drivers to have $1 million of liability insurance coverage, which is higher than many cab companies, it's unclear if this would cover incidents like a driver attacking a passenger. This type of insurance coverage is typically meant for car accidents.
http://www.cnet.com/news/how-risky-is-your-uber-ride-maybe-more-than-you-think/
I feel bad for anyone who immediately fears that a random stranger is a sociopath. Going to the grocery store must be tough.
WhatIfGodWasALeaf
Active member
Nik the Trik said:
You need to pass a somewhat vigorous background check to drive for them, I have friends who have done it/do it. Is it perfect, of course not people fall through the cracks.
It's the same as any industry in that regard.
L K
Active member
CarltonTheBear said:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3211502/Rickshaw-driver-sexually-assaulted-young-clubber-seeing-crying-street-offering-home-free.html
I'm pretty sure the solution is to ban all transportation.
hockeyfan1
New member
L K said:
Of course, you're both correct. And oh yeah, we might as well stop living, too. The end of the world is upon us. :
L K said:
I'd respond to you but I don't trust doctors.
http://www.ibtimes.com/california-doctor-hsiu-ying-lisa-tseng-convicted-murder-prescribing-drugs-killed-3-2163779
L K
Active member
CarltonTheBear said:
Sure. When I refuse to give you antibiotics you complain. And then k give you extra opioids and narcotics and you complain because your respiratory drive stops. Make up your mind. Seriously though, that's pretty awful.
Also as a complete aside, ontarians might want to start paying attention to what Kathleen and Eric Hoskins are doing to health care in the province. It's not looking good over the next few years.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/report-toronto-taxi-drivers-to-strike-during-nba-all-star-weekend/
Worked so great the last time.
Worked so great the last time.
hockeyfan1
New member
If they plan on clogging/blocking up traffic again as they did last time, I doubt it will elicit anymore empathy from Torontonians. In fact, it may very well do the opposite (as it did before), as more people this time will be angrier at such tactics than before.
With traffic already as bad as it can get, sending commuters into chaos (again) won't solve anything, yes, even during NBA All-Star weekend. If Toronto Council & the mayor take this impending fiasco seriously, they'd take steps to avoid the city receiving a 'black eyed' reputation.
With traffic already as bad as it can get, sending commuters into chaos (again) won't solve anything, yes, even during NBA All-Star weekend. If Toronto Council & the mayor take this impending fiasco seriously, they'd take steps to avoid the city receiving a 'black eyed' reputation.
hockeyfan1
New member
The consumer is always right..the real issues: Űber vs Taxis:
Taxi drivers...go through a more complicated and costly process to acquire and maintain their job.
They are required to complete an intensive training course in order to get their taxi license. Their cars must also be inspected, and they can?t be more than eight years old.
A taxi driver is also required to have a taxi plate, expensive insurance, and must comply with city bylaws.
That last part is a major sticking point for Uber critics, who argue that the ride-sharing service is not subjected to these same rules.
?All these regulations, it?s all from the city, from the council. It?s not from us,? said Roukoz. ?They put all these rules on us, for cameras, for metres, for the age of the car, for insurance, and now with Uber taxi and the illegal taxis we don?t see any (bylaws) over there.?
Needless to say, the two services operate under noticeably different business models.
Taxis are under the thumb of larger transportation companies, and the also must comply with city bylaws, and aren?t equipped with modern technological features. Uber, on the other hand, has simple-to-use technological features that make it more accessible.
While Uber seems to have won the public?s support right now, it?s hard to ignore the giant Sword of Damocles that threatens to stop its drivers cold: the law.
http://thefulcrum.ca/uncategorized/taxi-vs-uber/
Taxi drivers...go through a more complicated and costly process to acquire and maintain their job.
They are required to complete an intensive training course in order to get their taxi license. Their cars must also be inspected, and they can?t be more than eight years old.
A taxi driver is also required to have a taxi plate, expensive insurance, and must comply with city bylaws.
That last part is a major sticking point for Uber critics, who argue that the ride-sharing service is not subjected to these same rules.
?All these regulations, it?s all from the city, from the council. It?s not from us,? said Roukoz. ?They put all these rules on us, for cameras, for metres, for the age of the car, for insurance, and now with Uber taxi and the illegal taxis we don?t see any (bylaws) over there.?
Needless to say, the two services operate under noticeably different business models.
Taxis are under the thumb of larger transportation companies, and the also must comply with city bylaws, and aren?t equipped with modern technological features. Uber, on the other hand, has simple-to-use technological features that make it more accessible.
While Uber seems to have won the public?s support right now, it?s hard to ignore the giant Sword of Damocles that threatens to stop its drivers cold: the law.
http://thefulcrum.ca/uncategorized/taxi-vs-uber/