The City of Calgary has passed a new bylaw to allow companies like Uber and Lyft to operate, but the company says it’s still too difficult to abide by.
After months of work, city council has come out with a new bylaw to deal with ride sharing services.
Once the bylaw is in effect, ride sharing drivers will be able to operate in Calgary if they have:
- An annual operating licence from The City of Calgary
- A Valid Class 4 driver’s licence
- An annual police background check
- Proof of valid commercial insurance as required by the Government of Alberta
- Proof of eligibility to work in Canada
- Proof of provincially-approved 134-point mechanical inspection, conducted annually or every 50,000 km whatever comes first
The amended bylaw comes into effect on April 4, 2016.
Ramit Kar, general manager of Uber Alberta, says the fees are still too high and the rules are too difficult to adhere to.
"The bylaw that has passed has made sure that ridesharing will not come back to Calgary. We're going to continue to advocate to make sure that Calgarians' voices are heard in terms of the return of ridesharing," he said.
He has been asking for rules similar to those passed in Edmonton recently, whereby Uber pays the City of Edmonton $50,000 per year plus six cents per trip.
