Edmonton City Council has voted in favour (8 votes for; 4 against) of legalizing Uber, allowing the company to start operating legally, on March 1st.
Here's the vote to legalize #Uber pic.twitter.com/jo94ADm22R
— Laura Osman (@LauraOsmanCP) January 27, 2016
CBC News reports council agreed to have minimum fares start at $3.25 by Uber and other private companies looking to start similar operations in the city.
Coun. Michael Oshry pressed for a limit on price surges, for up to four times maximum of the regulated rate, but councillors held off with a wait-and-see approach before setting a limit.
Mayor Don Iveson said “We’ll monitor this very closely and in six months’ time, if there’s predatory behaviour or gouging occurring, then council certainly reserves the right to strengthen the minimums and maximums.”
Uber’s general manager for Alberta, Ramit Kar, said Edmonton’s newly ratified bylaw is a model for other Canadian cities and believes issues related to insurance will be addressed, shortly.
Uber recently revealed despite not operating in Vancouver, over 100,000 people in the city have downloaded the company’s smartphone app.
The new bylaw states all drivers must possess proper insurance, either a commercial taxi policy or a new product that meets provincial regulations.
Yellow Cab president, Phil Strong said “We’re not scared of people coming to town as long as they’re playing right,” Strong said. “One still has to ask the question, ‘Why is it that an illegal company has been allowed to operate all this time?'”
Council chambers were again filled with taxi drivers, however this time they protested in silence, and most departed before second votes and the final reading of the bylaw.
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Excellent news! Now we just need it here in BC
Totally!
How is city going to compensate the taxi license owners who have paid upwards of 200k for a pocket number? Most of these people put their whole life savings to get a taxi license. Also it’s important to note that a taxi license bank loan is anywhere between 6-15% interest rate.
I do know one independent taxi owner operator. This guy puts in a lot of hours, endures lots of red tape, takes a lot of crap from riders. I do understand your point.
On the other side I can’t tell you how many times I’ve taken a taxi to YVR and had the driver try to over charge me. Unfortunately, this industry has left the door open to Uber