With great amusement I watched as local luminaries and taxi industry representatives rattle their sabres over the launch of Uber car hailing services. This kind of affordable transportation option adds another mobility choice for Hamilton residents, who are already served by a heavily subsidized public transportation system, a tiny car-share system that survives on user fees, rentals and a low-interest (four per cent) city line of credit which they have maxed out already. Instead of embracing this innovative service, city bylaw staff will be hunting down Uber drivers to give them a ticket, which isn't worth the paper it's printed on, as Uber has already won in court. Perhaps we should concentrate on real problems, like the hundreds of slumlords, whose properties need to be inspected to ensure they comply. As for the taxi industry, it's time for evolutionary reform that puts the earnings back in the pocket of the drivers who do most of the grunt work. Just like Uber.
Mark-Alan Whittle, Hamilton
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