EDMONTON — A week after Edmonton City Council passed a motion preventing Uber from working legally in the city, the ride-sharing company has launched an online petition.
Uber said the petition, which garnered more than 5,000 signatures by Wednesday night, is an attempt to show city council that the ride-sharing service is wanted by Edmontonians.
“The petition we released today (Wednesday) aims to provide a voice so that Uber riders and drivers can be heard,” said a statement from Uber spokesperson Xavier Van Chau.
Chau said Uber has been working to explore alternatives, after city council passed a motion last Tuesday that would see administration meet with stakeholders over the next few months and renew the discussion in the fall. The city asked Uber to temporarily suspend its operations in Edmonton until council decides to change current regulations, or Uber complies with the vehicle-for-hire bylaw.
READ MORE: Edmonton council passes motion that could put the brakes on Uber – temporarily
In its online petition, Uber said the move by council “will rewind the clock and harm the livelihoods of hundreds of drivers who partner with Uber.”
Prior to last week’s move by city council, many Edmonton taxi drivers were concerned that Uber drivers didn’t have to follow the same rules as the other 3,000 licensed cabbies in the city.
Uber launched in Edmonton in December. The ride-sharing service uses an app to match drivers with passengers. It operates as an alternative to taking a cab, public transit or driving yourself. The San Francisco-based company operates in more than 260 cities around the world, including Toronto and Ottawa.
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