Posted on 12/17/2015 9:17:21 AM PST by beaversmom
CENTER CITY (WPVI) -- A huge demonstration blocked traffic for more than an hour Wednesday in the heart of Center City.
Cab drivers, limo drivers and Uber Black drivers came together to block traffic and protest Lyft and Uber X.
Protesters with the Taxi Workers Alliance and the Philadelphia Limo Association lined the streets of Center City. Dozens marched straight to the District Attorney's Office.
Their message - they want the city to shutdown Uber X and Lyft drivers who they say are operating illegally in the city.
One of those taxi drivers, Jamal Brown, tells us, "We can't advertise in our taxi to make a couple extra dollars. We can't do a lot of things in our taxis to increase our earnings because of the Parking Authority's regulation. Meanwhile, they're not regulating Uber and Uber X and Lyft."
Taxi drivers and Uber Black limo drivers, who are in compliance with city regulations, say if they have to follow the rules, so should everyone else.
Ali Razak from the Philadelphia Limo Association says, "There's 12,000 illegal drivers. There's numerous crimes happening every day. Everybody's aware of that, but everybody wants to point their finger and say 'oh I don't know anything about it.' Somebody needs to take responsibility."
The protesters say they feel ignored and overlooked by the city. They want to see the Philadelphia Parking Authority do more, but admit it would be difficult.
Ronald Blount is the president of the Taxi Workers Alliance of Philadelphia. He tells us, "The Philadelphia Parking Authority, they've done the best they can. They only have eight enforcement inspectors going against thousands of illegal Uber X in the city. So, they need help."
A spokesperson for Uber released the following statement on Wednesday:
"Many taxi and limousine drivers are understandably frustrated because the Philadelphia Parking Authority's outdated rules make it harder to earn a living when the public has shown they want more affordable options. Each year, the PPA requires limousine drivers to pay $404 per vehicle for a PPA sticker and $130 for their chauffeur's permit to be renewed. They also subject drivers to obsolete vehicle restrictions and onerous insurance requirements. We believe statewide reform of the PPA that allows for regulated ridesharing will benefit both riders and drivers."
Action News spoke with a representative from the Philadelphia Parking Authority who says the agency conducts regular stings to go after the illegal ride-sharing operations, and the agency says those stings will continue.
Black Drivers Matter!
Maybe you should be fighting the regulators then, not the businesses people WANT
I am a reservation agent for a company that provides taxi services for over 900 US companies. What these drivers claim is true. There are myriad rules, regulations, guidelines...whatever you want to call them, that govern taxi drivers. Uber drivers have to obey none of them...yet. But I have seen gov’t operate long enough, that they will have to, eventually. Once that happens, it’s downhill for Uber, because it costs money to do these things that gov’t says you must do in order to operate.
And there is the problem. Governments regulate everything they can lay their hands on until it collapses under the burden. They love that golden goose, right up until it dies.
Kinda like Citizens vs illegal aliens. What happens if the illegal taxis are driven by illegal aliens?
I'll care about "illegal cabs" right after we deal with the illegal aliens...
e can’t do a lot of things in our taxis to increase our earnings because of the Parking Authority’s regulation. Meanwhile, they’re not regulating Uber and Uber X and Lyft.”
Have they never thought of getting rid of the regulations on THEM?
The entire taxi and mass transit industries should be deregulated.
Another article and video/interviews with Taxi Drivers here:
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/breaking/Center-City-Taxi-Limo-Uber-Lyft-Protest-362655171.html
Oh, twernt fair, twernt fair at all!
Uber BLACK car requirements. You must have commercial car insurance, a TCP, and an airport permit. Your vehicle also must meet these criteria: Sedan, crossover SUV, or full-size SUV.
Uber Car Requirements • I Drive With Uber
www.idrivewithuber.com/uber-car-requirements/
Thanks for link.
My pleasure, beaversmom.
Don’t care.
I cheer any new idea or technology that removes unnecessary government regulations.
... to destroy the old taxi industry and the livelihood of thousands of its cabbies.
Wow. Such garbage. I drive for Lyft, had to have my car inspected, pass a physical, have more than adequate insurance - my riders have sworn off Uber and taxi’s long ago. I have a permit to go to the airport and do - and could care less about what I am costing a cab company to keep a non-english speaking, non caring individual who just got off the boat to keep a job from me. This isn’t Isalmabad - its a city in America! Grow up ... call Lyft!
In agreement with ya.
I’m sure you meant to say “undocumented cabs”. /sarc
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.