Uber protest could disrupt Games
Taxi driver says frustration with ride-booking app could lead to ‘dangerous’ situation
Rising cabbie anger over lost income to unregulated — and cheaper — UberX drivers could potentially explode during the Pan Am Games, taxi industry representatives warned Thursday.
They were at city hall to voice growing frustration with Mayor John Tory and Toronto police for allowing the unregulated “bandit cabs” to operate in the city. They said that the UberX service is “killing” the taxi industry.
UberX uses a cellphone app to connect private car owners with paying passengers across the city.
Sam Moini, a taxi fleet operator, said drivers are reporting their earnings have decreased 40 to 50 per cent — which they blame on competition from UberX.
“The taxi industry is on its last legs, and if UberX is continued, the taxi industry will be destroyed,” Moini said.
“We don’t want what happened in France to happen here, that’s absolutely the last thing that we want, but when people feel like they have nothing left to lose, they become dangerous. And we don’t want that to happen here in Toronto.”
Last week, thousands of French taxi drivers blocked roads to airports and train stations in Paris as part of a nationwide demonstration against Uber. Reuters reported that protest- ers burned tires and turned over cars on major streets, prompting riot police, at one point, to intervene with tear gas, according to the wire service.
If trouble should erupt during the Pan Am Games, Tory and Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders will share the blame for allowing UberX to operate without regulation and licensing fees, said Sajid Moghul, head of iTaxiworkers Association.
The mayor’s office released a statement Thursday afternoon.
“The Mayor is sympathetic to the struggle drivers are facing — but we reiterate the best solution is to come to the table and move this industry forward,” the statement said. “Strong-arm tactics and veiled threats will not accomplish anything.”
Councillor Jim Karygiannis, who rented the city hall committee room for Thursday’s news conference, said he supports the taxi drivers in their fight against Uber, but he is “not supportive of civil disobedience.”
He is tabling a motion at next week’s council meeting asking city staff to study the impact that Uber’s new carpooling app will have on TTC ridership.
The City of Toronto is seeking a permanent injunction to shut down all Uber operations here. A judge reserved his decision after a two-day court hearing last month.
Insurance officials have warned UberX drivers that they need commercial policies. Uber says it has a $5-million policy with AIG Canada to handle additional damages not covered by personal policies.