Smart phone app hails luxury cars for rich people frustrated by Toronto’s transit options

With Torontonians annoyed by a troubled taxi industry and public transit mayhem, San Francisco start-up Uber Technologies thought it’d profit off the city’s transportation woes. Today marks the Toronto launch of Uber’s app, which can hail a sedan or luxury car, track its location, calculate the fare based on time and distance and bill the user’s credit card. Naturally, it’s pricier than taking the TTC (though it lacks the flashy washrooms) or a regular cab: a quick ride from Yorkville to Union Station would cost about $21, a trip that a taxi can do for under $15. Still, we’ve got to admire Uber CEO Travis Kalanick for wading into Toronto’s transit wars. He told the National Post, “What is there, like two and a half subway lines here? It’s a good time to roll out transportation alternatives in Toronto.” Read the entire story [National Post] »

(Images: Commerce Court, Daniel Sahlberg; town car, Alden Jewell)