VP Of Yellow Cab Company On UberX: 'You Don't Know The Background Of The Person Picking You Up'
By Dom Giordano
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – On Talk Radio 1210 WPHT, Dom Giordano spoke with Ed Burkhardt, Vice President of the Yellow Cab Company, about the impact of the UberX car service in Philadelphia. UberX allows car owners to operate their own vehicles in a way similar to a taxi or limousine service through a smartphone app. However the Philadelphia Parking Authority believes the drivers are acting illegally and have begun impounding their vehicles.
Burkhardt agrees with the PPA's decision and said UberX is not safe for consumers.
"When you're picking people up, they do not know the background of that person picking them up, whether they could be a pedophile of another type of sex offender or whether they're a convicted felon. That's even before we begin talking about the insurance requirements. It is well established that personal insurance policies are not going to cover a vehicle in case of an incident or accident on a personal liability claim."
He contends that UberX is trying to evade regulations that taxicab companies must adhere to.
"Uber tries to portray them as a transportation provider, a broker if you will. There's brokers across Pennsylvania that are operating within the current regulations. Their app is not unique. I know us and other companies, if you go on an Apple of Google Play Store, you can get a sedan or cab with a couple clicks of a button."
Burkhardt believes Uber and UberX are putting other cab companies at the risk of extinction.
"If they allow Uber to continue operating in this fashion, how many legitimate companies are going to be left that they can't compete when they're paying excessive fees to regulatory agencies, whether in be the PPA or the [Public Utility Commission], and have to meet strict requirements on vehicles and drivers and certification processes. It's going to become cost prohibitive."
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