Last week police issued warnings about the possibility of uberX, a rideshare service that is gaining ground in other parts of the country.
Sgt. Carolyn Cameron said the RCMP’s concerns about uberX coming to St. Albert would be similar to concerns about unlicensed taxis.
“You have no idea who you’re getting into a car with,” Cameron told the Gazette. “Basically a rider is getting into a car with a stranger.”
While those are legitimate concerns, we are not sure they necessarily apply to uberX’s model and might in fact be better applied to taxis operating in the City of St. Albert.
uberX’s website states for its Edmonton drivers the company requires criminal background checks, a driver’s abstract, proof of insurance and vehicle registration, specific checks for any sexual offences, impaired driving and traffic offences and that every ride is covered by an insurance policy with coverage up to $5-million U.S. If that assertion is true getting into an uberX vehicle is no riskier than getting into a taxi in Edmonton.
However, taxis wishing to operate in St. Albert merely need a business licence and commercial registration for their vehicles. While some taxi companies in St. Albert do conduct criminal record checks on drivers and check driver’s abstract there are no bylaws enforcing that as a requirement. Edmonton has an extensive list of checks and training taxi drivers must adhere to.
Cameron raised the issue back in March with the city and pointed out that the majority of people who take taxis are from a vulnerable demographic such as the elderly.
Back in March, Mayor Nolan Crouse told the Gazette creating a taxi bylaw has not been on the city’s radar and very few public complaints have been received in regards to taxi services. That being said the economic development department has identified a taxi bylaw as part of its next three-year plan.
While that is a positive, council needs to take the issue more seriously. Policy changes should be proactive when it comes to public safety. It would be terrible indeed if changes came only after a serious incident, especially when the warnings have already been issued.
St. Albert taxi services also recognize the need to improve how taxis operate in the city. In March, both the owners of Aaron Taxi and St. Albert Taxi said they would be in favour of the establishment of a taxi commission and screening requirements. Both would help protect the local market and ensure consumer confidence, which would be positive for business.
A taxi commission could also help even the playing field for St. Albert taxis by establishing guidelines for the number of service providers and fares. Perhaps a better approach would be to regionalize taxi regulations considering the interconnectivity of markets in the greater Edmonton metropolitan area.
It is time council revisited this issue, it is definitely not one that should remain parked until it is driven forward by tragedy.
