Ride shares have been getting a lot of attention in Ottawa as of late. As a result of new ride share companies starting up, getting a cab in Ottawa has become a much more difficult decision than it used to be. There are now more options for someone looking for a ride, but new ride share options are extremely controversial and in some cases, can be dangerous. The City of Ottawa has come down hard against ride share companies and fully supports the existing cab companies as the only legal form of taxi. So why is the city so adamant about promoting the use of regulated taxis? Here are some of the threats that the city wants the consumer to be aware of:
• Unpredictable pricing: if you’re taking a cab in Ottawa, your fare is extremely predictable. All cabs have a base rate and a fare that rises when you move a certain amount of metres and when you wait a certain amount of time. Ride shares on the other hand boast lower prices, but if the demand is high enough, raise their rates exponentially. On a busy evening like Halloween, you could be stuck with a $75 fare with a ride share, as opposed to a $25 fare from a cab in Ottawa.
• Insurance: while a cab in Ottawa is required to have $2 million in commercial liability insurance, ride shares operate in an ambiguous, undefined grey area. It’s debatable as to whether or not commercial liability insurance is even necessary for a ride shares. This could leave you in a very compromising position if your driver gets into an accident.
• Legality: operating ride shares in Ottawa is illegal right now. And the City of Ottawa is famously conducting sting operations of ride share drivers throughout the city. Instead of taking a cab in Ottawa, if you were to take a ride share, you run the risk of your vehicle being stopped by a bylaw officer. Nothing puts on a damper on your day like being ticketed.
• Safety: if you’re riding in a cab in Ottawa, there are certain checks and balances that ensure your safety. The vehicle must be, at most eight years old, frequently inspected, and damage-free. The drivers are also required to go through a police record check, take courses on city geography, customer service and accessibility. Ride share drivers and vehicles typically have no checks and balances aside from having a “relatively” new car that complies with local laws.
As a consumer in a rough economy, it’s not surprising to look for ways on how to save a dollar here and there. We’re all looking for ways to stretch our dollar and at first glance, ride shares seems like a viable way to do that. But when weighed against the sheer number of threats that a ride share poses in comparison to a cab in Ottawa, the best choice is crystal clear. And with the implementation of modern technology, like an app to schedule your pickup, it’s never been easier.
