Uber launched in Windsor on Thursday to the delight of some customers and to the chagrin of many cabbies.
Derek Spalding of the Windsor Star reports that local cabbies are echoing complaints often heard around the country: That Uber has far more advantages and gets away without paying fees and licenses that cabbies are required to pay.
“We plan on meeting with the mayor next week and voicing our concerns,” John Toth, vice-president of Unifor Local 195 which represents Vets drivers, told the Windsor Star. “But I was glad to see the mayor said he expects all drivers to follow the law."
“In the meantime, cab drivers are upset. They are law-abiding citizens while some other people come in and break the law.”
The Star reports:
Toth said taxi drivers are required to do a number of things: use a meter, install a camera, carry at least $2 million commercial insurance, pay annual licence fees, pass a test, and much more — all not required of Uber drivers.
The Star also compared service between Uber and regular cabs and concluded:
A head-to-head comparison on Uber’s first day in Windsor shows the growing app-based ride-sharing service took a little longer than Vets Cab and cost about the same.
