A new vehicle for hire bylaw in Fort McMurray means taxis can cost up to 30 per cent extra and the municipality is opening up to rideshare services like Uber.
Councillors for the Wood Buffalo Regional Municipality permitted the new vehicle for hire bylaw Tuesday night time, following greater than 20 shows from the taxi and ridesharing business about what they did — and did not — like about it.
Many needed to speak concerning the transfer away from a fixed-rate fare system.
‘Major disturbance’
The new fare construction means taxi drivers can cost a most of $5 for the primary 52 metres, $0.15 for every extra 52 metres and $0.60 per minute of wait time. Drivers may also select to negotiate a flat price with passengers.
That’s a change from the earlier set price of $3.80 for the primary 52 metres, $0.10 per every subsequent 52 metres and $0.60 per minute of wait time.
Taxi charges have not elevated since 2014 and drivers say present charges aren’t sufficient to assure a steady revenue, significantly in mild of accelerating insurance coverage, gasoline and restore prices. As a consequence, numerous drivers have left the business because the begin of the pandemic.
Under the new bylaw, charges aren’t set, which suggests corporations can select to cost lower than the $5 most.
Phil Walding, head dispatcher for Sun Taxi, stated the new pay construction will trigger a “major disturbance” to the business.
Without a set price, drivers can battle to have the bottom fares, which Walding feared may have an effect on each the security and high quality of service.
“They’re going to have guys fighting with each other for fares, like literally fist-fighting,” he stated.
He stated drivers are going to be put within the place of feeding their youngsters or fixing their cab, and he stated household will come first each time.
“Their cabs are going to fall into disrepair,” stated Walding.
Good first step
Under the new bylaw, taxi drivers can cost patrons $250 to clear up feces, vomit, urine or blood.
Administration stated taxi drivers can complain to the bylaw division if patrons do not pay the advantageous, and a bylaw officer can challenge a ticket.
However, the advantageous wouldn’t go to the motive force of the cab.
Councillors voted 5 to 2 in favour of the bylaw 5-2, with councillors Lance Bussieres and Ken Ball opposed. Four members — Keith McGrath, Lorette Waquan, Stu Wigle and Kendrick Cardinal — weren’t current for the vote.
Coun. Funky Banjoko stated the revised bylaw is a step in the fitting route however there’s nonetheless room for enchancment.
“I believe it was progress,” stated Banjoko. “We are not 100 per cent where we want to be but it’s a process and we have to get started.”
She stated a plan to usher in a taxi committee that represents business’s wants will assist form future adjustments to the vehicle-for-hire guidelines.
‘Healthy competitors’
Orandzeb Malik, proprietor of Sky Cabs, provided sturdy help for the bylaw.
“I think they gave us the opportunity and I think this is healthy competition,” stated Malik, who additionally drives a taxi as well as to working the corporate.
He stated the earlier low fare construction was problematic. He additionally may benefit from the new flexibility, saying he is pondering of charging $4.50 for the primary 52 metres as an alternative of the $5 most.
Meanwhile, the new approval for rideshare services within the municipality was cheered by entrepreneur Abdi Mursal.
Mursal’s new YMM Rider rideshare app for Fort McMurray was set to launch Wednesday morning.
Drivers are lined up and prepared to roll, Mursal stated.
“This is what we were hoping for tonight and council made it happen,” he stated. “I’m so happy.”