CALGARY- Every holiday season in Calgary, you can expect to see twinkling Christmas lights, falling snow—and freezing revelers standing on curbs trying to unsuccessfully flag down a taxi.
“It sucks getting to work, I can’t get a cab,” complains one commuter. “I’ve tried the apps and calling, still nothing.”
Not only do Calgarians have to deal with a lack of available taxis, but a new report going before a city committee this week shows only about 30 per cent of drivers actually respond to dispatches. Just over 35 per cent are ‘booked in’ waiting for a call, and about 33 per cent are ‘signed on’, meaning they’re on duty but simply roam the streets.
Get breaking National news
Checker Cabs blames it on customer no shows.
“The drivers have gotten frustrated, they’ve gone to pick up customers and they’re not there,” explains Kurt Enders, president of Checker Transportation Group. “If a driver gets two or three ‘no trips’ they’ve wasted an hour, and they have to feed their families.”
Many customers agree that hailing a cab is easier than calling ahead for one. However, that goes against city bylaws, meaning Checker Yellow Cabs is trying something new.
“Last week we started giving the drivers the phone numbers of our customers, so they can confirm that the customers are going to be there,” Enders says, adding that putting more cabs on the streets won’t help the problem.
“It’s a balancing act. If you have an oversupply, then during slow times or regular times of the year, drivers starve.”
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.