Uber decision raises fears for taxi service

I have been taking taxis since a car accident in the mid-’70s. During this time, I saw the quality of taxi services and driver attitudes in Ottawa reach highs and significant lows. I am now retired, as is my husband, who no longer drives at night. I need and use a reliable taxi service more than ever before.

Before the introduction of regulations that curtailed taxi companies from running smoke-filled jalopies, and obligatory service training that stopped frequent belligerent attitudes on the part of inexperienced drivers, often targeting women, the taxi industry in Ottawa was getting to be an embarrassment for the nation’s capital.

Since 2010 or so, the industry has moved progressively but surely toward a more safe, professional and service-orientated industry after it had almost slid into total dysfunction. Of course, there are still exceptions but they are less frequent. I credit the city for this in part, but mainly the willingness of taxi drivers to adopt a good business approach to their services and accept the many changes forced upon them.

Enter Uber into the transport market. I tried them three times. For several reasons I have not returned to this service (timeliness of pickups; driving safety in winter conditions; assurance that the price was right). I guess you could say that I am not of the Uber generation. There are many of us still out there who want and count on our current taxi service.

Let’s hope that the City of Ottawa does not ruin a good thing by increasing the burden put on regular taxi drivers and giving almost a free ride to Uber. We have succeeded in ruining LeBreton Flats, Lansdowne Park, the Sparks Street Mall, many downtown businesses and the ByWard Market due to lack of parking — let’s not destroy a service that does allow noncycling-capable persons in this city to get to where they need to go without a car. SuzAnne Dore, Ottawa