Mayor John Tory talks new Uber rules, Bloor bike lanes on Metro Morning

Toronto Mayor John Tory said this morning that sticking withthe status quo on taxi industryrules "was not an option."

The mayor made the comments on CBC Radio'sMetro Morningafter abusy week thatincluded approving new rules for Uber and giving the Bloor Street bike lane pilot projectthe green light.

• New Uber rules: Did Toronto city council strike the right balance?

• Toronto city council approves bike lane pilot project on Bloor

Tory was a prominent supporter of changing the taxi and Uber regulations. After a marathon debate Tuesday, council voted 27-15 in favour of changing the rules so that Uber and UberX, the controversial ride-hailing platform that allows almost anyone to operate their personal car like a taxi, can continue operating.

Taxi drivers and those who work in the industry voiced their displeasure, with one man yelling repeatedly that the mayor had sold them out.

Tory, however, said the advent of ride-hailing services like Uber meant the city had to create rules to bring them under the city's regulatory wing.

"I couldn't come out of the council meeting with the status quo," said Tory in conversation with host MattGalloway."It's about fair competition and ensuring ground transportation is offered in as innovative a way as possible."

Tory admitted Uber made things difficult bychoosing to operatebefore the service was legal.

"They came in in a way I don't approve of, where they pretended it was the wild west," said Tory.

Despite this, Tory said the city needed to act because the lack of rules left riders users of ride-hailing service vulnerable while traditional cabs operating by the rules were struggling to compete.

Mayor John Tory talks about shootings in Toronto, thinks more people feel freer to carry guns than they used to

8 years ago

Duration 2:26

Mayor John Tory talks about the increase in shootings in Toronto and how he thinks more people feel freer to carry guns in the city than they used to.

Cabbieasks about income lost to Uber

During his appearance on Metro Morning, which was streamed live on Facebook, Tory alsotook questions from the audience.

One caller, a cab driver named Yusif,asked why Uber was allowed to operate illegally for more than a year.

Tory responded by saying that the city lost a court injunction against Uber and added that city enforcement officers issued "hundreds" of tickets against Uber drivers.

But by the time that was happening, Uber had already become a popular established service in the city.

"Some of these offences under our current laws were difficult to enforce," said Tory. "By the time I was in the mayor's chair for six months, Uber had hundreds of thousands of users."

Regarding lost income for traditional cabs, something Yusif also asked about,Tory said he believes the new rules will stabilize he industry and help traditional cabs compete.

"We've drastically reduced the fees paid by people in the cab industry," said Tory. The mayor also said the new rules for the first timegive cabs freedom to adjust fares up or down depending on demand.

Mayor John Tory says it's his job to "try things" like approved Bloor bike lanes pilot project

8 years ago

Duration 1:12

Mayor John Tory says it's his job to "try things" like approved Bloor bike lanes pilot project

Bloor bike lanes: 'we're going to see if this works'

Another topic the mayor dealt with this week was a one-year pilot project to create separated bike lanes on a 2.5 kilometre section of Bloor Street West between Avenue Road and Shaw Street.

• POINT OF VIEW |As Bloor Street bike lane debate looms, Matt Galloway reviews the route

Tory and a majority of councillors voted in favourof the bike lanes. Cyclists have been calling for bike lanes on Bloor for years while many business owners are worried that removing parking for the lanes will hurt their business.

Tory emphasized that the lanes are part of a pilot project, one that will give the city crucialinformation about building transportation "for the 21st century."

"This is not a revolutionary idea for our two kilometresof Bloor Street," said Tory. "They're doing it on a rigorous measurement basis so if they don't work we can take them out."

Paul called in to this morning's show to saythat the lanes will"create increased congestion" on Bloor.

Tory'snot certain that's true.

"Nobody is going to be out of their car if we don't give them an alternative," said Tory. The mayor said if the lanes aren't well used or cause traffic congestion, they can come out.

Mayor John Tory says "maybe" he should have met with Black Lives Matter in public initially

8 years ago

Duration 1:22

Mayor John Tory talks about his decisions around meeting with Black Lives Matter Toronto and his plans for a future meeting with the group.

"We're going to try this and see if it works," said Tory.

The mayor also fielded questions about gun violence, carding and development in the city's west end.