Calgary cab drivers look to put the brakes on Uber-friendly bylaw tweaks

Roughly150 frustrated taxi drivers packed into a room Thursday to speak out againstproposed changes thatcould encourageUberto come back toCalgary.

Many in attendance at the Livery Transport Advisory Committee meetingsaid they don't understand why Calgary would consider making any accommodations for this particularride-hailing companyespecially when other operators such asTappCar have agreed to the city's current rules.

"Uber's still not satisfied.They're bullies.They're invading each city the waythey want,and they're imposing their rules on everybody," said taxi driverOmarBaidoun.

But Ubermaintains thatCalgary's current fee structure is"cost-prohibitive."

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Under the current bylaw,Uber would have to pay the city$1,753 per year, plus an additional $220 per registereddriver.

The LTAC metThursdayto decide whether to tweak the current rulesby introducing an alternate set of rules that companies could choose to operate under, which would include a$0.20 fee perride, a$15 fee per driver and an administration fee based on the number ofdrivers.

Michael van Hemmen, Uber Canada's public policy manager, said the proposed changeswould be a "step in the right direction."

"Our hope is to be in Calgary as soon as possible. Hopefully, we'll be able to do so very shortly after council makes any changes."

The LTAC meeting lasted approximately six hours before it was adjourned. Discussions will resume Nov. 18.

If LTAC approves the changes, the report will come before astanding committee of council, and eventually will go tocity council for a vote.