The council, led by Mobility Committee Chairwoman Ann Kitchen, later this year could vote to require drivers for Uber and Lyft (and any such businesses to follow them into this booming marketplace) to have fingerprint background checks, much like drivers at traditional taxi companies.
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Dozens of taxi drivers expressed their concern and say companies like Uber are stealing their business and putting passengers at risk.
Calgary inched closer to allowing ride-sharing companies like Uber to legally operate within the livery industry Tuesday following a meeting of the city’s taxi oversight body.
CEO Travis Kalanick and other Uber staff and drivers were charged earlier this year with illegally operating or facilitating an unlicensed transport service over the company’s UberX service, which uses plainclothes drivers operating their own private cars.
Ride-booking service drivers will be subject to a random 1 percent audit once a month for airport officials to check their driver’s license and any violations such as outstanding warrants. “The draft is in English and we want it in Marathi so that maximum drivers can respond”, said an Uber driver.
Glen Cooper, an Aviva Canada spokesman, said the policies were cancelled after an investigation following Way’s tip that Uber drivers were using personal insurance for ride-sharing.
“There are a few instances where things like that happens, but it’s not very common”, said the Uber driver. “Most people would assume they are riding in a licensed, insured and qualified taxi, but they would never know the difference”.
Cab driver SCREAMING at my parents and me to get out cause the trip was too short despite my Dad being frail and unable to walk. But even there, Black sounds upbeat, saying he’s encouraged by comments last summer from Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard that he’s open to legalizing services such as Uber. The mayor’s office was planning to issue a response late Monday.
Instead, they were in line with about a half-dozen other travelers watching dozens of striking cabbies drive by, honking their horns in the pouring rain.
Airport Public Information Manager Rosemary Barnes said there are contingency plans in place. She said the airport’s door-to-door shuttles and limos “stepped up to the plate” to help travelers.
The Uber and Lyft apps, which show exactly how long it will be until a ride arrives were one of the most appreciated aspects of their service.
“We have to find a level of equitability for each of these services to co-exist.”, Halat said in an interview.
Tiu said he is for allowing ride-sharing companies to operate out of the airport but believes the city should treat both groups the same.
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Harbin said he and Chatman advocated for implementation of more strict regulations on Carrollton taxi drivers that were adopted by the city over the summer. He also warns of a “looming disaster” lurking under the deregulation in differing passenger insurance requirements for Uber and taxis – although the government says insurance rules are consistent. Los Angeles global Airport and San Francisco worldwide Airport have made similar requests, city officials said.
