Yellow Cab driver John Bowen is asking the City of Oceanside and North County Transit District, why Uber drivers are allowed to pick up curbside.
Bowen said it’s a double standard that cab drivers are required to have a city business license and adhere to strict industry regulations to be able to pick up passengers curbside at the Oceanside Transit Center, while Uber drivers have free rein.
“I just see a great double standard here: Uber is being given one set of rules and cab drivers are being given another set,” Bowen said. “We are very severely regulated by the government and that’s my main point. You can’t have Uber running wild doing what it feels like. They are having an unfair business competition advantage because of that.”
Cab drivers follow state and city regulations. Many cities have not adopted rules for Uber and other application-driven pickup services.
State regulations for Uber drivers include background checks and a requirement for third-party liability insurance, but Bowen said rules fall short of the assurances cab drivers provide for customers, which include a business license and regulated cab fare rates.
Bowen wants at least the same curbside pickup restrictions as there are at San Diego's Lindbergh Field, where Uber drivers are limited to pick up in a designated area. He said this would help level the playing field for himself and fellow cab drivers who are trying to make a living.
“Uber, as I see it, is encouraging people who want mad cash to make a few bucks, and it’s undercutting the individuals who are really working to support their families,” Bowen said.
Bowen spoke to the North County Transit District board in July, and Oceanside City Council in August to state his concerns. He plans to speak to the North County Transit District board again on September 3.
