Feature/Profile Archives

“There’s something called the Bang and Olufsen effect, which is the actual amount of expenditure to achieve the last 5 per cent of benefit. For every person to be served within a certain time, every single vehicle out there needs to be a PTC or for a taxi. So, to highlight the effect of serving everybody in a very precise timescale avoids and ignores the conflict between other traffic and the provision of PTCs. It’s not always possible to achieve particular service levels.

“That was a finding that we see over and over again, the numbers of vehicles create required for service levels of a particular type will in and of themselves create significant harm by their presence, not just with emissions, but things like avoidable accidents.”

Feature/Profile

Burlington Taxi closes its doors

November 30, 2021 RWN Staff

Taxi News, along with thousands of Burlington residents and politicians, was saddened to hear the news of Burlington Taxi’s closure. Reporter Mike Beggs is working on an in-depth story which we will post as soon as possible.

Toronto City Hall Photo: Toronto.ca

News Opinion/Column Ride Hailing news Taxi industry news

November 30 report to Licensing Committee does not contain accurate comment from stakeholders, David Reti writes Councillors

November 30, 2021 Guest Contributor

from VFH drivers around the world, all form the basis of the regulatory system THAT ALREADY EXISTED before PTCs were “legalized.” This includes improving public, passenger and driver safety and fairness, which were largely removed to “accommodate” PTCs entering the market.

Feature/Profile

“We could all be deplatformed, at any minute, for any reason. That’s the whole point.”

November 29, 2021 RWN Staff

Despite the fact that Uber has a clear directive on its website that parents are required to supply a car seat for children that need them, drivers are often asked to ignore the law and transport the kids without the safety seat, Phillips says.

“In this case, the parent complained that my refusal was based on racism, which is ridiculous,” says Phillips, who is a well-known activist for the rights of rideshare drivers “However, both companies used the opportunity to deplatform me, I suspect because of my activism work. I think anyone would find the timing suspicious.”

Guest Contributions On the Road with Mike Murchison

The highway owes you nothing

November 28, 2021 Mike Murchison

Regardless where you run: be it along the Danforth, or across the foggy flatlands of Idaho, neither the city streets nor the highway owe you anything. You owe them your best in all you do. Regardless what you drive or where, don’t ever lose sight of what a privilege it is to drive. It’s just that: a privilege.

A bad fare, a bad load can make or break your attitude, which can lead to self righteous action on your part. You know what I mean. Road rage, aggressive driving. Stupid things that can risk your privilege.

Opinion/Column Ride Hailing news Taxi industry news

Toronto Council made the right decision: to put safety first, drivers need training

November 28, 2021 Rita Smith

There’s an elephant in the room every time Toronto discusses the vehicle for hire file, and it’s this: rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft need access to a constant, endless pool of amateur drivers because the average rideshare driver lasts less than six months in the job. Rideshare doesn’t just need drivers; it needs a big, deep pool of Redundant Drivers earning a pittance in order for its business model to function.

Feature/Profile Ride Hailing news Taxi industry news Trucking

5th Estate looks at BC Flood: how predicatable was this catastrophe?

November 26, 2021 RWN Staff

CBC’s The Fifth Estate has already taken a look at the storm, the flooding and the infrastructure damage which occurred in British Columbia as a result of the November weather event, and the results are not good.

Feature/Profile

WTFC writes Minister Qualtrough about lack of accessible facilities for truckers across Canada

November 23, 2021 Rita Smith

Qualtrough points out that all truckers on the road, with disabilities or not, must meet every requirement set out in law and pay all fees and licenses dictated by government: “So why are businesses along the route not required to meet the law as well, by providing accessible facilities?”

Along her the letter and meeting request, Walker sent Qualtrough two short videos shot by a truck driver Tyler Meldrum illustrating inaccessible facilities that literally have mould growing in the shower, which was set up with a milk carton – ostensibly, for wheel-chair using patrons to sit on while showering.

Feature/Profile Guest Contributions On the Road with Mike Murchison

This trucker aging like a fine wine

November 21, 2021 Mike Murchison

I find as I age, I don’t expect much from people anymore.

It’s not that I’m writing them off; it’s just that I have learned over the years that I have to deal with people where they are standing, whether they be high on the mountain or deep in the valley.

As a young man full of gas and gun powder, it was more a question along the lines of “What can they do for me?” Or, “How do I give my best ‘shuck and jive?”

I often shrugged off the concerns of others simply because addressing those concerns didn’t suit my needs. But that’s where aging has wonderful insights.