Uber will be legal in Ottawa … great news for electric vehicles !

Ottawa City Council, with a vote of 23 to 1,  created a new category in its Taxi and Limousine regulations.  As of September 30th 2016, Uber will now be considered as a Private Transportation Company (PTC).

Reading all these changes, I am now convinced that the most viable solution for both taxis and Uber vehicles is to cut the gas expenses.  Opting for an electric vehicle is the best option.  Drivers will keep more profits.  City wins because the money will stop going to oil producing countries.  Citizens will win because there will be less smog in the city.

Changes in fares and the more options for type of vehicle will help convince taxi fleets to be creative.

Electric vehicles must arrive in great numbers in Ottawa.

What are the other changes ?

• Taxis and Uber vehicles will need a $2M insurance coverage
• Taxis will have less restrictions for vehicles sizes.
• Cameras (police accessible only) will remain in taxis, but not mandatory in Uber vehicles.
• City of Ottawa will be in talks with Federal government regarding HST in Uber vehicles.
• Taxis and Uber vehicles can be a maximum of 10 years old.
• Eliminating the $1.50 service fee for customers paying with credit and debit in taxis.
• Eliminating the college taxi course for drivers.
• Reducing the taxi licence fee by 40 per cent.
• Street hails and taxi lanes are still taxi exclusive rights.
• Taxi drivers using an app will be able to lower the fares.  City will not regulate Uber’s pricing.

City of Toronto is next.  Will other canadian cities do the same ?

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