Uber growing pains in the City of Toronto


The city is a abuzz with debates and controversies over Uber operating in Toronto. Uber recently added a lower cost service with UberX and just today launched a pilot with UberPool in support of the Panam games. Brilliant!

Taxpayer’s are divided and councillors seek to side with popular view points as usual.

Here is what I like about Uber:

  1. No more calling the night before to book a taxi to get to the airport.
  2. Not having to remember or record a taxi number.
  3. Allow 15 mins ahead in advance of estimated travel time and your Uber is at the door.
  4. I know who to expect as the name, license number and image of the driver is shared …that’s a lot more than I ever got with a ‘licensed, regulated taxi”.
  5. No cash transaction. The ride is instantly charged to my credit card and a receipt is issued immediately upon arriving at destination.
  6. I get to rate my driver. The taxi companies never bothered to ask me about my ride.
  7. I can order the level of service that meets my budget.
  8. I don’t have to worry about how short or long the distance is.
  9. I never have to worry about not having cash or my wallet as long as i have my cell phone to book a ride.
  10. Creates full time and part time jobs for those out of work or just require extra income. How can that be a bad thing for the economy?
  11. Every driver I’ve met so far has been polite and considerate.


Why the taxi system needs to reformed:

  1. It’s very likely that the your licensed, regulated drivers will refuse you a ride if the drive is too short.
  2. Most drivers are rude about accepting credit cards unless it is a ride from the airport or equally long rides. Ever waited for the transaction to complete while you wait in the car. Out comes the manual machine in some cases. Ugh!
  3. People seeking rides often have to wait in line-ups or risk hanging out on curbs to hail a taxi. For those questioning the safety of Uber might want to ponder this one…especially if you have a teenager trying to get home.
  4. Uncertainty around whether the taxi I booked the night before will ever show up
  5. Shortage of cabs during events in the city as they are servicing the busy areas only.
  6. No easy to use, convenient App in sight to use a taxi service reliably.
  7. The rules are defined in favour of the taxi system and not the consumer.
  8. The system is broke as you are just as likely to meet an unlicensed tax driver using falsified documents or car.
  9. Tax drivers are just as inconvenienced as the passengers by the system with high licensing fees and rules and regulations.
  10. Poor logistics for taxi drivers seeking passengers. Just look at the taxi stops and taxi line-ups around town. How is that good for their business?

Safety is cited as one of the main reasons to shut Uber down. Is that really rational or a perception held by those who are uncomfortable with the technology or have never used the Uber App. Safety cannot be regulated 100%. You are just as likely to be unsafe with licensed professionals as you are with unlicensed. It is called abuse of power which has been going on for hundreds of years! Let’s not pull that list, please.

Here are some questions for Toronto City councillors and the Mayor:

  1. Why are you intent on shutting down a service that consumers actually like and want?
  2. Are you actually capable of coming up with city by-laws that appease both sides?
  3. Isn’t UberPool perhaps the solution you were seeking to reduce grid lock and carbons making Toronto a greener and innovative city.
  4. As taxpayers, we should have the right to choose the service we wish to use from point A to B. For those that love taxis should be able to do so and Uber riders who enjoy the service should continue.

Even Thomas Edison had to step aside when he failed to read what consumers wanted and was unable to come up with a mass solution. It might just be time for the city to step aside and let the consumers vote. Isn’t that what shared governance is all about?

Are we all in the same century? Innovative companies will continue to use technology to break new barriers. This is hardly a new concept. Just look at what’s happened to the music and record industry and a number of other industries that chose to hit the snooze button.

A BIG Thanks to the Superior Court Judge Sean Dunphy to who rejected the City’s bid to request an injunction against Uber.

Welcome to the shared economy!