Toronto Taxi Drivers To Uber: “I Can’t Make A Decent Living Anymore”
Canada is now on the map again, thanks to Toronto’s taxi drivers. Toronto isn’t the only city facing uproar, but it has been one of the most violent. The Uber vs taxi battle isn’t a new conflict, but an ongoing argument that has been prevalent, especially on social media. Taxi drivers continuously leave bad reviews on the Uber app, plead to the media, beg to city hall and hide behind legislation and big government, in hopes of protecting their overpriced, subpar method of transportation.
“The sad reality with the rise of Uber is I can’t make a decent living anymore,” explained Lincoln Samuel to The Star in hopes of finding sympathy with his dying fulfillment of customers.
As the dust starts to settle between these two groups, at least for now, let’s review some of the opinions from local Torontonians.
“Yes, the DVD player robbed the VCR manufacturers and repairmen of a decent living.” said Asad Panhwar, an Uber user. “They adjusted and moved on. I suggest the taxi industry do the same.”
The stereotype may be that taxi drivers are unskilled foreigners who are basically stuck being taxi drivers due to lack of skill to do other jobs. They may not be able to adjust and move on. However, another stereotype is that they are constantly on their smartphone, talking to another taxi driver all day in another language to another driver to entertain themselves. So why don’t these taxi drivers move onto selling DVD players instead of VCR players, and start working for Uber? They certainly have the ability to use a smartphone.
“I took a cab on Friday, came up to 30 bucks and they took the long way.” explained Ruxandra Buture, an Oakville, Ontario resident. “Plus the credit machines aren’t working half the time. [I] took an uber back home, it was 16 bucks.”
Taxi drivers are paid based on the time and distance you’re in the car, and unlike Uber, there’s no receipt or record of the driver doing so. UberPOOL, the ride sharing branch of Uber, quotes riders beforehand, using their app’s mapping technology, so there are no surprises when it comes time to pay. Cristianne, of Uber customer service, told the this writer how UberPOOL works.
“No, you don’t have to pay the wrong turn for the trip since the price you see in your app at the beginning of the UberPOOL trip is the amount you’ll be charged, no matter what. This includes surge pricing that you may see on uberX during times of high demand. This fare is dynamically calculated based on the starting and ending points of your trip and the likelihood you’ll be matched — but it is your guaranteed rate for your trip. No surprises.”
“No the taxi company robbed you. Not UBER. They did this by living in the past outdated systems and dishonest behavior.” said Sara Arbelaez. “I take Uber because is fast, efficient and honest service that I rely on.”
Again, honesty and integrity was brought forward as an issue. Not only can Uber drivers not make the wrong turns to make more money, but rather there have been many cases where passengers, many picked up after spending at night out at the bar, have left valuable items such as phones, keys or wallets, and Uber has the contact information to trace down the owner.
“Why don’t they just buy a car and join the band wagon?” asked Andrus Lepmets II. “They already have a license to chauffeur people around.”
Ah, the obvious question. If Uber is so “overpowered” and has it so great, why don’t taxi drivers simply start driving for Uber? It may be because taxis get away with everything. They are not held to any standards. Like the time when a taxi driver turned down a passenger because it was too short of a fare and she was shot to death later that night. Taxi drivers would no longer be able to drive around, taking the long routes, turn down passengers, behave how they want, and drive dirty vehicles.
The consumer has spoken and not in favor of taxis. In a modern economy, where technology offers an alternative to everything from hotels and movies to parking to dog kennels. With an old industry behind hit fast with a company like Uber that is now worth more than Ford, GM and Honda combined, there is sure to be some backlash, even if Uber is a better option.
[Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images]
