Why we need Uber, now
By Cazzy Lewchuk, Opinions Editor
Vancouver is considered a world-class city. We have hosted a World’s Fair and the Olympics, and continue to host TED Talks every year. Despite being a metropolitan hub with millions of people, we are one of the largest cities in North America that does not have Uber. It’s not just that one specific app that’s banned, as Vancouver voted in October to not allow any new taxis or ride-share services.
It is not just a convenience issue for letting ride shares into Vancouver, it is one of safety. Taxi companies are mostly reliable, but there are very few in the city, and on peak times the wait can take hours. With a SkyTrain that stops running before the bars even close and many suburban bus routes stopping hours earlier, many can end up stranded far from home in unsafe conditions. Taxis are not only expensive, but there are some times when one needs a ride immediately instead of waiting for a dispatcher to radio someone to find your location an hour later. In extremely popular locations, like Vancouver International Airport, there can be hundreds of people waiting to get a taxi.
I am fortunate enough to be male and to live in an accessible transit area, and have not had a lot of difficulty or safety concerns with being stranded. However, there have still been nights when I have been unable to get a taxi for a long time and been left out in the cold, intoxicated and frustrated. I have felt taken advantage of by taxi drivers who picked me up only to demand a flat fee up front, or told me they could only take me downtown instead of my home in East Vancouver, while driving in East Vancouver.
Many have expressed concern about Uber’s lack of regulation or its effect on taxi companies. However, Uber does background checks, and there are not a lot of incidents reported where it does operate. If the issue is specific to Uber, such as its pricing scheme, Vancouver is still doing a disservice by not allowing any ride shares to operate, even locally-created ones. The additional refusal to allow any more taxi licences into the city shows that the deep pockets of higher-ups in a small industry are more important than the demands and safety of millions of people across the Lower Mainland.
Carpooling is still done frequently, and one can organize “unofficial” payment for rides through Craiglist or other informal services. Uber offers a safer and more reliable way to make these transactions, but the city has repeatedly banned them from making a presence in the area. Uber works just fine in the many Canadian and international cities in which it operates currently. Vancouver may cave and get a ride share eventually. But we want and need it now.
