Uber launches online petition to raise public support for Vancouver service

Earlier today, San Francisco-based Uber launched an online petition for Vancouverites to display their support for the implementation of the ride sharing service.

The petition on Uber’s website urges Vancouver City Council and the provincial government’s Passenger Transportation Board and Ministry of Transportation to reverse their policies and allow the smartphone app to connect local passengers with drivers.

In the petition’s introduction, Uber describes Vancouver as a “launching pad for countless innovators and trailblazers across many industries.”

“That’s why so many residents are disappointed by Vancouver’s limited transportation options,” Uber writes. “To make matters worse, the Province of British Columbia, at the behest of the taxi industry, isn’t putting consumers first or thinking about how new innovations can create better transit solutions for all.”

“The taxi industry is hard at work to shut out innovators like Uber and preserve their cartel. With the lowest number of taxis per capita in North America, Vancouver residents and visitors are woefully underserved when it comes to transportation options.”

Uber’s decision to seek public support through an online petition comes after the provincial government’s announcement this week that it would use an undercover sting operation to bust illegal drivers. The Vancouver Taxi Association, which represents local taxi companies, also added its weight to the fight by filing a lawsuit against Uber, claiming that the smartphone app-powered service has an unfair competitive advantage as it does not follow government regulations.

Last month, the City of Vancouver enacted a six-month moratorium on Uber’s operations in the city in response to pressure from the taxi industry.

At the time of publication, within only a few hours after launch, Uber’s petition to operate in Vancouver has already received more than 6,000 signatures.

To sign the petition to urge government officials to reverse their position on Uber, click here: https://action.uber.org/vancouver/

Uber Vancouver petition text

Dear [Recipient’s name],

As someone who values choices in transportation, I urge you to welcome Uber in Vancouver and British Columbia.

The existing taxi market does not meet consumer needs in terms of reliability, safety or convenience.

Cities around the world are embracing ridesharing as a 21st century solution to problems of congestion, traffic and emissions, but the benefits of the Uber platform extend way beyond that. Consumers love Uber because its technology helps connect them to the safest and most reliable rides on the road. Drivers love Uber because the platform allows for increased earnings and total work flexibility. Cities love Uber because ridesharing provides entrepreneurial opportunities, decreased DUI fatalities, and better service in traditionally underserved neighborhoods.

The local taxi interests are fixated on finding ways to block the introduction of this new and desperately needed technological advancement in Vancouver and British Columbia — at the expense of consumer choice and safety.

I ask that you recognize the merits of new technological innovation and work with — rather than against — Uber to bring more transportation choices to Vancouver. We are people looking for entrepreneurship opportunities, people regularly underserved by current transportation options, and people simply looking for a safe ride home on a Saturday night; we ask that you please empower our right to choose!

Thank you.

Sincerely,
[Your first name] [Your last name] from postal code [Postal Code]

 

Feature Image: Uber via Shutterstock