Cab complaint a valid concern

We are interested to see the results of an Airdrie-based cab company owner fighting two tickets given to drivers who picked up local residents from a Christmas party in Calgary.

Calgary and Airdrie officials have told us bylaws in both cities state taxis that pick up residents in a certain city must have a licence from that municipality.

Therefore, a Calgary cab can drop off residents but cannot pick up in Airdrie and an Airdrie cab can drop off but not pick up in Calgary.

We understand these rules because if a cab is not licensed in the city it is doing business in, that municipality has no say on the mechanical condition of the car or quality of service.

However, the bylaws also create a great inconvenience for residents from both communities.

If you are an Airdronian going to downtown Calgary to have a few drinks, and you call a cab so you do not have to drive, that is considered a responsible decision.

However, once you have had those drinks and are ready to come home, you have to call a different cab company from Calgary to try and get a ride home.

We all know how hard it is to get through on Calgary cab company phone lines on a weekend, especially around the holidays.

You could be waiting for hours and some people will choose to drive, rather than wait out in the cold. Or they may choose to get into an over-full car with no seatbelt. Or they may choose to stay at someone’s house who they barely know.

These are obviously not responsible decisions but people who started out trying to do the right thing are resorting to alternative means of transportation or lodging arrangements that may be unsafe as a direct result of these bylaws.

With the Province’s stricter drinking and driving laws coming into effect, and the lack of cabs in the big city to the south, there has to be a better solution.