Photo by Whitehorse Star
Jeff O’Farrell
City taking action on taxi safety complaints
The City of Whitehorse is responding to recent posts on social media from women expressing concerns about their safety in local taxi cabs.
The City of Whitehorse is responding to recent posts on social media from women expressing concerns about their safety in local taxi cabs.
The city issued a press release Monday, and the matter received a lengthy discussion at Monday’s city council meeting.
In its release, the city says it takes the issue of taxi safety very seriously.
It goes on to list a number of measures taken to screen drivers, from a criminal record check to requiring drivers to pass a supervised written exam in relation to the Vehicle for Hire Bylaw.
Passengers who have a negative experience in a taxi can call the city’s trouble line (667-2111) and the matter will be investigated immediately by an on-shift bylaw officer, says the release.
If the matter is of a criminal nature, the RCMP can be called at 667-5555.
Negative experiences can also be reported anonymously, the release notes.
It says the city has not received any formal complaints.
Jeff O’Farrell, the city’s director of community and recreation services, told council Monday night the city does regularly check taxis for compliance.
There were 27 tickets issued for infractions in 2020, he added.
O’Farrell said the bylaw department and RCMP also conducted two joint check stops last year to check for compliance.
Coun. Steve Roddick, who raised the matter for discussion, asked if in-car cameras stop recording when the meter is turned off.
They don’t, O’Farrell explained. He said the cameras are hardwired to the battery, and will continue operating for a period even after the engine is turned off.
He said the fine for an inoperable camera is $2,500.
“Passenger safety in taxis is something the city takes very seriously,” he reiterated for council, noting the Vehicle for Hire Bylaw is among the largest at 42 pages.
O’Farrell said the city contacted local women’s advocacy groups Monday to talk about the concerns being raised.
Coun. Laura Cabott said it was quite disturbing to hear about the types and numbers of complaints being raised, and the fact that women do not feel safe in Whitehorse cabs.
But she said she was really glad the city did reach out to the women’s advocacy groups to talk about the matter.
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Comments (21)
Up 0 Down 0
Nicole dick on Mar 14, 2021 at 4:01 pm
I had this experience with a cab in a red van in Whitehorse, he shut of his meter and his cameras and tried to take advantage of me and he is charged and no longer driving the cab! Something has to be done with this cab system.
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Rosie on Feb 8, 2021 at 3:39 pm
@mad Mack, yes how dare women not want to be assaulted or treated with basic respect. How terribly rude of them.
"Of course, the rest of us have to pay for that but the primary imperative of Canadian patriarchy is to protect women at all costs? Right?"
Canadian Charter of Rights states Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.
hmm equal protection you say, so yah then all groups, including women, would benefit from the increase spending that may be required. Welcome to society, its not always about you.
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wrappinitup on Feb 8, 2021 at 10:46 am
I have experienced great cabbies and some not so great. One great cabbie was a veteran from India, who was so kind and respectful to my husband who is a Canadian vet, I think of him often, lovely man. Others well, not so kind and others were just doing their job. There are many immigrants that work as taxi drivers, it is an entrance job for someone to get started in this country. There might be cultural friction but just like all humans, some are kind, some are not and others just want to finish their workday.
Find your favourites, get their number/name and ask for them. They are out there.
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Max Mack on Feb 7, 2021 at 12:21 pm
CoW's and RCMP's continued meddling and regulation of the taxi industry has fixed nothing. It has made it more expensive for the industry to operate; thus, the industry seeks cheaper labour, more cheaply maintained cars to operate, and evermore "devious" methods of making money.
Now, CoW (and RCMP) will seek to impose even tougher standards and more rules and possibly more technology to make the industry "safer" for women. This will, of course, fail as the industry cannot continually absorb ever-increasing costs and regulations without looking for ways to trim expenses. Or, government subsidies . . . hint, hint.
Foreign labour is already the cheapest option available. What's next? Hint, hint. . . .
I find it ironic that women's groups expect the cheapest, most unskilled labour to act like the privileged class of Victorian "gentlemen". All the while, they cry about patriarchy.
Since a cab company that guarantees their drivers a reasonable standard of living would quickly go out of business, perhaps CoW and GY should just quit pretending and guarantee cabbies a reasonable standard of living through subsidies? Of course, the rest of us have to pay for that but the primary imperative of Canadian patriarchy is to protect women at all costs? Right?
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What does a sheep say? on Feb 6, 2021 at 8:50 am
@Woodcutter - Josey is talking about an ideology not a party. I like the message in your post. It recognizes the reality that culture is a matter of the individual and how “they” choose to be. Your message is clear that we cannot sustain an ideology that advances notions of an “identity politics”. Surely, you have read enough of Josey’s posts to understand that basic element of his/her/their thinking.
Casting aspersions is little more than a commitment to moral perversions.
When we categorize people and things into groups with a presumption of some assumed characteristic we lose the ability to think with any degree of precision. This is the implicit intention of categorization - The loss of focus and distinctiveness. This is how we end up with prejudice and biases.
This is the purpose and the intent of media, big business, and government. Sandy’s Liberals are a current example of the false consciousness that has been drummed into society for the purpose of people ‘management’.
So, when Josey and critical others write satirically they are challenging you/us to think more deeply about how things are being run. Because the passive acquiescence of the masses is the intention of media, big business, and the government to distract us from things like the control of language through fascistic coup which in turn controls the prerequisite to the thoughtful engagement of a well-functioning society - This cannot be done through a Liberal ideology as it is a regressive, deconstructionist, philosophy that ultimately results in a singularity - Black hole - This is an inherent trajectory of following its principles to its logical conclusion.
I am going to blunt here in a very factual way: The people/politicians who are perpetually mouthing off about things such as culture have no clue what culture is and ultimately, they do not care, it is to them another means of division and manipulation - A tool.
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Woodcutter on Feb 5, 2021 at 1:24 pm
The behavior of the cab company is a direct result of the culture that the organization they work for promotes. It has nothing to do with where these drivers were born. My cab company of choice is also staffed by first generation immigrants and their behavior is what would be expected for a any good person. JW once again connects everything to a political party ..koo koo and that's why conservatives won't win again.
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Josey Wales on Feb 4, 2021 at 4:50 pm
"I just think the town is full of bigots and racists and has no appreciation for all the cultural enrichment diversity brings, and the things we do for you."
said virtually every Liberal.
#believeallcabbies, #diversity, #blindfollowers, #JustwatchMe, #UNrules,
#publicsafetytheater
Up 20 Down 0
TheHammer on Feb 4, 2021 at 4:34 pm
Some cab drivers are not only disrespectful of the passenger, they are also disrespectful outside their cab. I experienced one such event of a cab driver being extremely rude to a shop assistant. It's a cultural problem. Also they can be bad drivers. Any bad driving should be reported immediately when you see the license plate.
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BnR on Feb 4, 2021 at 7:02 am
Rumour had it that a local cab company would pass on intel to local “entrepreneurs” on who was going out of town and for how long. All based on their friendly, chatty fares they were dropping at the airports.
Back in 60s and 70s, Yukoners used to deal with this sort of thing differently.
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Kathleen burke on Feb 3, 2021 at 7:47 pm
There are so many cab drivers that do not respect women. My friend had to fight for her change..cab driver thought he should have her $5.00 as a tip..she was definitely in her cups, and he thought he could take advantage..glad to say she got her change and he got no tip. No respect for women out for a fun night ...
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Nathan Living on Feb 3, 2021 at 5:21 pm
Can the city pull a license and stop a company from operating for a couple of weeks due to the bad behaviour of drivers? This may help.
Instead of continual complaints and avoidance by women of some taxi conpanies, as is hinted it's time to correct the problem.
Up 18 Down 1
bonanzajoe on Feb 3, 2021 at 4:23 pm
T and Woodcutter: It won't be long before this cab company will be taken over by the owners of the other ones. You know who I mean.
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bonanzajoe on Feb 3, 2021 at 4:17 pm
Political: That would be racist and some kind of phobe, or something.
Up 26 Down 3
T on Feb 3, 2021 at 2:13 pm
@Woodcutter
I will vouch for Friendly Taxi as well. I work a fly-in fly-out rotation and use them exclusively for going to and from the airport (or going home after a night out). They've done me a lot of favors including offering to let me ride for free and pay them back later when my card was eaten by an ATM machine. I've gotten to know every driver and have never had any issues with them.
I wanted to post this comment to let people know that there are trustworthy options in town, and I hope they'll post it because I don't work for the company so I'm unbiased in that regard so I'm not trying to self advertise. The nice thing about using the same company is you start to build a rapport with the drivers after a while, and true to their namesake, they're all very friendly.
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JSmonk on Feb 3, 2021 at 12:17 pm
We need to do better for our community. Our women and possibly children are at risk every time and it makes me sick to think about the injustices.
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jack on Feb 2, 2021 at 4:42 pm
I avoid taking cabs in Whitehorse. Last year my elderly parents took a cab home from the airport and realized that they were missing a luggage bag. My father got distracted with the crowd getting into and out of the cabs at the airport and guessed that another cabbie mistakenly pick up his missing luggage. My mother phoned the cab company and they promised to look around and ask the drivers: but no bag was found in the following days. Finally my mother told the cab company that the airport staff were looking at the video surveillance (but she hadn't spoken to the airport staff yet) and intended to phone the RCMP - magically the cab company located the missing luggage immediately following this call. Enough said.
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Woodcutter on Feb 2, 2021 at 4:37 pm
This has been going on for years and is a direct result of the taxi drivers turning customers into victims. I have a friend that had lost laptops and cell phones while using the taxi. When he gets a call, he is swore at. It seems all the taxi business is owned by one outfit except one. And that taxi sure is a Friendly.
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Ninni on Feb 2, 2021 at 4:35 pm
Yes, lots of issues with taxis in Whitehorse.
Fares range in different prices day to day, taxi cabs are dirty, run down and disgusting. See them sitting out front of hotels cleaning, putting oil and etc in engines, drivers sleeping/resting in them. I will walk or take a bus. Scary arriving at the airport and seeing you have to get into a taxi. I asked the two hotel buses to take me downtown rather than hopping in one of them.
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bonanzajoe on Feb 2, 2021 at 3:32 pm
I refuse to use this taxi service anymore. I walk, hitch hike or take bus if available. The last time I took one, the cabbie insisted on cash only, with hand written receipt. I knew pretty well where the money was going - into his pocket. And as Marylaker said, the job is only a sideline with many of them. I have proof of that, by the way. But no point in reporting it as nothing will be done, for reasons, I won't mention so my comment won't get kicked off.
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Politico on Feb 2, 2021 at 2:24 pm
Why doesn't bylaw and the RCMP do some undercover sting operations. That would get rid of the riff raft pretty quick!
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marylaker on Feb 2, 2021 at 1:00 pm
The same cab company name comes up over and over. I took out the name to protect the guilty, in hopes that my comment actually gets posted. People are saying they get hung up on when they complain. This company is out of control, yet seems to be availing itself of foreign worker employment programs in the Yukon. Makes me wonder if being a cab company is only a sideline to what they are primarily in business for. And some of the people they are bringing in have zero respect for women, or for laws and legislation.