RIDE-SHARING ERA BEGINS

Bylaw opens door to Uber and Lyft

The ride-share era has arrived in Saskatoon, despite ongoing concerns about its effect on the taxi industry.

City council voted 8-2 Monday to approve a long-discussed bylaw to accommodate appbased ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft.

Representatives from the Canadian arms of Uber and Lyft who attended Monday’s council meeting said they could not say how long it would take to start operating in Saskatoon.

The bylaw has taken effect, though, and council heard a business licence could be approved within a day of an application.

“I realize the taxi industry is frustrated with this, but this is something we’ve been working on for two years,” Coun. Randy Donauer said.

Coun. Hilary Gough and Coun. Bev Dubois voted against the bylaw. Both also voted in favour of deferring approval of the bylaw for two months until some questions could be answered.

Most on council, however, had no appetite for a postponement, despite a steady stream of speakers from the taxi industry who fear for their livelihoods.

“I’m finding this process is rushed and I’m not sure why,” Gough said.

Gough wondered whether it was realistic to have ride-sharing vehicles on the road for New Year’s Eve if the bylaw was approved.

More than a dozen speakers, most of whom make their living in the taxi industry, appeared to complain about the bylaw, which closely resembles what had been discussed.

The bylaw includes a minimum fare for ride-sharing trips, $3.75, that is the same as the minimum taxi fare. Many cities have opted not to impose a minimum ride-sharing fare.

Kelly Frie, the general manager of Comfort Cabs, suggested the bylaw failed to take into account the taxi industry’s pleas for fairness. Frie pointed to the absence of a cap on ride-sharing vehicles as unfair and unworkable for the taxi industry.

His feelings were echoed by others, some of whom had appeared at previous meetings to speak.

“We have spent hours and hours with you,” taxi plate owner and driver Mubarik Syed told council. “I have no idea how you can justify such a destructive approach.”

Syed suggested city hall may find it easier to disrupt an industry with 85 per cent newcomers and immigrants because they are less likely to complain.

“I’m going to be living on the street,” said Vincent Moostoos, a taxi driver for 21 years.

Uber Canada representative Michael van Hemmen said his company helps reduce impaired driving. Council also heard that further changes to the bylaw that governs the taxi industry should be revealed sometime in the spring.

One proposal from the city is replacing 24 seasonal plates with 30 to 48 part-time plates that could only be operated by one driver for up to 12 hours a day.