TappCar ride-hailing company gearing up for Calgary market

Another ride-hailing company is planning to enter Calgary's market after Uber took its cars and went home.

TappCar, an Edmonton-based company that just started up there a month ago, is looking to expand south.

"We have receiveda lot of feedback from potential customers in Calgary, and actually a significant amount of our downloads are already from Calgary," saidTappCarspokesperson PascalRyffel.

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Earlier this year, Calgary revised its Livery Transport Bylaw for ride-hailing companies to operate in the city under specific conditions.

But Uber saidthe new regulatory frameworkparticularly alicensing fee of $220 per driver, per year would make it impossible for the company to operate in Calgary.

Ryffelsays his company would be happy to pay the required annual fee.

"Because nobody's going to hire a crappy driver, who has an old car and smells funny, you know, if they have to pay $220 for them for a year," he said.

"So that's why we think it's good for companies to be forced to invest in their drivers."

Competition heating up

Roger Richard, president of Associated Cab Calgary, says he is ready for the competition.

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"I'll compete with everybody and anybody," he said.

His company is launching an app of its own, as have other taxi operators.Richard says the city's new bylaw, which gives companies more lee-way to set their own rates, will help.

"The good will prevail and the bad will fall, and that's what a deregulated system is all about," he said.

TappCar is hosting a meeting with potential drivers on Wednesday evening.The company is hoping to hire 200 drivers before they launch in Calgary.

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