Taxi Drivers Comparing ISIS to Uber Drivers

Aesopian

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[video=youtube_share;B7zXoSY1R6s]https://youtu.be/B7zXoSY1R6s[/video]

http://www.vice.com/read/taxi-drivers-are-comparing-uber-to-isis-and-hanging-onto-moving-vehicles-in-protest

Toronto Taxi Drivers Are Comparing Uber to ISIS And Hanging on to Moving Vehicles in Protest

Toronto taxi drivers completely lost their shit during a citywide protest against Uber on Wednesday, comparing the ride-sharing company to ISIS and causing traffic jams and injuries.

Tensions between local taxi operators and Uber have been mounting since the company set up shop in Toronto in 2012. City council has been debating how to regulate Uber, but it seems taxi drivers have run out of patience—and common sense.

On Wednesday, thousands of them descended on the city's core in their cabs, blocking major traffic arteries and pissing commuters off by driving as slow as 3 MPH. As they neared City Hall, all hell broke loose.

Chanting "this is an UberX," one cabbie who identified himself to Global News as Suntharesan Kanagasabai started banging on the window of a white Honda and trying to open the driver's door. The alleged Uber driver then peeled off, but instead of letting go of the vehicle, Kanagasabai held onto the front and was essentially dragged mid-air through traffic.

"We are trying to get a point across, that's what we're trying to do," he later breathlessly told reporters, noting that he has 22 years of driving experience.

Not done there, Kanagasabai then likened Uber to the most notorious terrorist organization on the planet.

"Uber is going to be like ISIS my friend, Uber is ISIS," he shouted. "Do you know what ISIS means?"

To his credit, reporter Mark McAllister told the disgruntled driver he was "going a little bit too far."

"You're claiming that Uber is bringing terrorism to Toronto?" he asked, to which Kanagasabai replied, "Yeah!" (Which begs the question, do you know what ISIS means, dude?)

Another cab driver ran down a cop on Yonge Street, causing minor injuries; according to police, one person was arrested and a bunch of tickets were handed out for slow driving.

All the drama prompted Toronto Mayor and Grandfather-in-chief John Tory to ask everyone to chill the **** out.

"The point has been made... [but] we cannot allow our cities to have these dangerous activities to continue during rush hour," he said.

Meanwhile, some cab companies, including Beck, are distancing themselves from the methods being employed by protesting drivers. The Toronto Taxi Alliance said it doesn't support "any tactic which will disrupt traffic or transportation for Toronto drivers and residents."

Taxi drivers claim Uber isn't playing by the rules and is causing them to lose business. But Wednesday's antics didn't likely help their reputation.

Follow Manisha Krishnan on Twitter.
 

Aesopian

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Admitting that gets you banned. We need our psycho posters to not really post about it. It's just better.
 

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I don't agree with their methods but I do feel bad for them. Technology is nice and all... Until you lose your job from it.

I literally don't see the reason taxi drivers can't become Uber drivers if Uber is so bad to their business. If you can't beat em, join em.
 

BaBaBlacksheep

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I literally don't see the reason taxi drivers can't become Uber drivers if Uber is so bad to their business. If you can't beat em, join em.

I may be totally wrong on this but heard that New York was one of the few markets you can actually make a living driving for uber because they pay so little.
 

BringBackDitka54

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I may be totally wrong on this but heard that New York was one of the few markets you can actually make a living driving for uber because they pay so little.

I could see that, but why would Uber be so popular everywhere then? These drivers have to be making better than min. wage.
 

Aesopian

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I could see that, but why would Uber be so popular everywhere then? These drivers have to be making better than min. wage.

https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/3b2o27/eli5_why_do_cab_companies_hate_uber_so_much_isnt/

I found this on Reddit...

"Can companies are subject to more regulations which makes the competition unfair. Cabs have very strict requirements about how much money they can charge, while uber changes their rates all the time. Cab companies can only put a certain number of cabs on the road at one time while uber can put as many as they want. Cab drivers are subject to strict background checks and need special insurance on their car, while uber has much lighter standards for both of those."

"Well no company wants to compete but the real issue is that there are a ton of rules that cab drivers have to follow that cost them time and money that don't apply to uber drivers. Cab drivers don't feel that is fair and makes it hard to compete."

"That is usually their argument. Sometimes they argue that, at the least, they should be able to follow the same rules that Uber does.
And they do lobby. The trick is that Uber's policy has basically been that they will operate even in the face of contrary law, in the hopes that the population will ultimately like Uber so much that the laws will change---taking the risk that they might get in trouble."
 

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What I don't like about Taxi's is that I always get stuck with a guy with foreigner terrible English that provides terrible small talk. I don't mind the foreigners but when you have been here for over five years and you still have limited understanding of the English language and haven't assimilated into the American culture and just stick to your area of town it rubs me the wrong way.
 

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A guy I at the place I get my oil changed worked for Uber for several months while out of work. He was doing it full time, but said he was pulling in $1k per week. He did do some horrible drives at times that other drivers turned down though (like Libertyville to Mokena during rush hour).
 

Aesopian

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A guy I at the place I get my oil changed worked for Uber for several months while out of work. He was doing it full time, but said he was pulling in $1k per week. He did do some horrible drives at times that other drivers turned down though (like Libertyville to Mokena during rush hour).

I believe they get paid more the better car they drive and I wonder what I can write off on my taxes for driving for Uber on the weekends if I buy a new car.
 

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