Taxi companies upset over council remarks regarding industry

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

In an attempt to heed residents’ complaints and address a lack of authority, town council requested administration to review the taxi bylaw two weeks ago, a decision that’s leaving Strathmore’s cab companies angered and frustrated about the paucity of protection for their companies.
Council tasked administration to focus their attention on Bylaw 08-25 during their regular council meeting on Aug. 5, after Councillor Bob Sobol addressed the issue following numerous complaints regarding the cleanliness of the vehicles, wheelchair accessibility, and the inability of bylaw officers to enforce such regulations.
The comments caused indignation with the owners of Strathmore’s cab companies that feel the greater issue remains insufficient protection from the town, by allowing taxis from areas such as Calgary, Chestermere, Airdrie, and Brooks to compete for business in Strathmore, even though it’s illegal for Strathmore taxis to cater to customers in their boundaries because of their bylaws.
“The town first and foremost has to step up to the plate, and if you’re not going to step up to the plate then get your nose out of my business and stay out of it,” said Marty Van Peuter, owner of Strathmore Economy Taxis.
“We’re totally allowed to smoke outside the cab, and we smoke inside the cabs too. Every nitwit in town smokes in the cab, and drinks alcohol in the cabs. They’re not allowed to do that, but the bylaw doesn’t enforce that; the RCMP doesn’t enforce it.
I’ve had cabdrivers assaulted over it, and there’s nobody to go to. The RCMP don’t want to look at it. You’re caught in the middle. If you’re a smoking cab driver, you might as well smoke with them. It’s the easy way out.”
The bylaw currently states that no person, partnership or corporation shall carry on the business of operating a taxi service in Strathmore, unless the person, partnership, or corporation holds a current Town of Strathmore business license.
Yet, local taxi drivers said vehicles from cab companies of surrounding areas can be seen tending to customers in town without officers questioning them about their whereabouts. While owner of Strathmore Shuttle Brenda Haf is in agreement that action is required to handle out-of-town cabs competing for business within Strathmore, she said it’s about time the town took the initiative and re-examine the bylaw.
“I’m insulted, my cabs are clean, they’re well-maintained, decaled, lights, my drivers have security criminal record check done,” she said, adding that she doesn’t allow alcohol or smoking in her cabs and has never had an issue. “With that bylaw I followed everything, because I don’t want to get fined. When my vehicles need to be maintained they’re into a licensed mechanic and get it done right. Each of my three vehicles have every cleaning product they need. You keep your van clean. If it needs to be washed go wash it. I don’t have an issue, I want my vehicles clean.”
She added she wants all taxicabs in town clearly decaled, yet, the bylaw only states that the vehicle has to be equipped with a fully functional, illuminated roof-mounted sign that identifies the vehicle as a cab. Furthermore, the regulation includes that every cab is required to be maintained in a good mechanical condition and that all parts of the interior and exterior are repaired or replaced whenever such parts exhibit excessive wear or damage or whenever repairs or replacements are requested by the permit inspector.
“That’s a fairly repetitious complaint that I’ve received, some having to do with the cleanliness of the vehicles, the mechanical ability of vehicles, and some of the driving habits of the drivers, and that was one of the main reasons why it was brought up, to bring something into our bylaw that would mandate that,” said Councillor Sobol.
“I honestly feel that this will be to the benefit of the companies. Quite frankly I know people that won’t drive in the taxi because of the smoke. So if they clean some of that I suspect it will result in an increase in business. It’s just an effort to make an even playing field for everyone, we want some common sense rules in there so that everything is equal to everybody and we lift their level of service to our residents a little higher.”
Despite emphasizing the inability of local taxis to provide transportations for anyone in a wheelchair and the seriousness of such concern, Haf and Van Peuter disagree. Being required to dish out at least $30,000 to update one vehicle to allow for such access, as well as receiving special training and certification, is not on the local taxicab radar, when non-profit organizations like the Handi-bus offer cheaper rates. According to Van Peuter, ramps were already bought last year, but with the Handi-bus offering rates at 72 per cent of the cost, it’s not financially feasible to install.
“You have to know how to handle these people, there are ways and means of handling people in wheelchairs, and you can’t just yank people out of a wheelchair,” said Councillor Rocky Blokland, who is also a member on the Handi-bus board.
“I got a copy of the bylaw and I’ve been reading it over the last week. It’s pretty vague and it should be updated. It’s seven years out of whack. They can put all they want in a bylaw but are the bylaw officers out there at 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning when infractions are going on against the bylaw?”
In regards to protecting the taxicab companies from out-of-town business, Blokland is of the same opinion that something needs to be added into the bylaw to add protection.
The inability to administer the current bylaw is among the reasons why the issue was brought before council two weeks ago. Some councillors are hopeful that changes to the bylaw will provide the bylaw office with the ability to enforce such regulations.
According to Van Peuter, however, town council doesn’t recognize the value of the business in Strathmore as more than just taking citizens from A to B.
“I’ve dealt with children being born in the taxi to people dying in the taxi,” he said. “We deal with everything that comes our way. As a town [they] have left the taxis unprotected in every way, and this council should be ashamed of itself.”