***Update (07/11/17) VICTORY! Edmonton City Council just voted against allowing "Uberizing" public transit in the city! Letting an unaccountable, entitled multi-national corporation design transit infrastructure is just about the worst idea we’ve ever heard -- and we're so glad that Edmonton City Council agrees! ***
Uber is taking its first step towards privatizing public transit in North America. And Ground Zero is Edmonton, Alberta.
Senior Edmonton city staff have been upfront about plans to privatize public transit--including pushing the idea of handing out public money to ride-sharing companies like Uber and canceling bus routes in underserviced neighbourhoods.
The city is set to debate its new transit strategy in just a few days, so we don't have much time to act.
Uber is no replacement for an essential public service. It is a profit-hungry, multi-billion dollar corporation that will strip worker protections, safety regulations, and fairness to make a buck.
Uber thinks it’s found a friend in Edmonton to test its new privatization scheme-- and we’re going to prove it wrong.
This couldn't be a worse idea. Edmonton would likely subsidize only part -- not all -- of Uber fares, so fares for people could skyrocket. And it could make folks that rely on transit to get to work unable to get to work during rush hour when Uber is liable to turn on surge pricing.
This idea to hand over something as critical as public transit to a for-profit industry that has shown so little regard for worker and rider safety is as poorly timed as it is ludicrous. But Uber’s pals on Edmonton’s council are pushing for it.
Make no mistake: if Uber wins this fight, we will see more and more cities start to “experiment” with Uberizing their transit systems. And the results will be disastrous.
Tens of thousands of SumOfUs members, including Uber drivers and riders, helped prevent Uber automatically winning another 5-year license to operate in London last month. Together we have also resisted gigantic corporate-led trade deals like TTIP and CETA which threaten the very idea of public services and the common good.
Will you tell Edmonton that subsidizing billionaire ride-sharing corporations with public money is a terrible idea?
More information
Maclean's. 19 May 2017.
ProgressAlberta. 23 June 2017.
Metro Edmonton. 31 May 2017.
The Verge. 6 March 2017.
