TORONTO

When it comes to Uber, Toronto-area residents are less concerned with what the ride-sharing company is doing to the taxi industry than they are with their personal safety in the absence of municipal regulations.

An independent Environics Research Group survey found 56 per cent of residents support Uber with the support being stronger among those who use the service. Only 49 per cent of non-users support it.

But 60 per cent of respondents overall were concerned about the lack of municipal licensing and the implications for their safety with unlicensed Uber drivers.

The results were released Wednesday in conjunction with an online discussion platform designed to gather residents’ thoughts on regulating the app-based service.

“We know how the taxis feel, we know that the city is spending a lot of time right now researching and developing policy, we know how Uber feels and what they are experiencing. The voice we felt we weren’t hearing was that of residents and users and people living in the municipalities where the service is either being accessed or being considered within the larger transportation system,” said Environics vice-president Jodi Shanoff.

It’s a chance for people to say how they would expect the city to regulate a service like Uber, she said.

The Environics survey showed that most people don’t believe Uber drivers are safer than cabs. Only 15 per cent of Uber clients strongly agreed Uber cars are safer and only 4 per cent of non-users strongly agreed.

Although people will rely on Uber itself to provide some safety assurances, Shanoff said, “Ultimately people are going to rely on the city to establish the regulatory framework that’s going to give the sense of security that there’s accountability and recourse in the event that there are safety issues with the service.”

Concern about Uber infringing on the taxi industry was minor among survey respondents, she said.

“People are looking to find efficient service at cost savings so if there is a safe alternative that provides it, it doesn’t appear to be a big concern that the taxi industry may be losing money at the hands of that,” said Shanoff.

Eighty-four per cent of Uber users like the idea that there’s competition to the taxi industry and 73 per cent of people overall agree.

Uber usage increases significantly with income level and drops with age. Only 13 per cent of users were in the $40,000-income category versus 22 per cent of those earning $100,000 annually or more, although use drops off at the $150,000 mark.

Not surprisingly, Uber use also drops according to age with 39 per cent of users between 18 and 29, and only 4 per cent over age 55, said Shanoff.

The online Environics survey of 1,005 Toronto-area residents was conducted between Nov. 12 and Nov. 26. The findings are considered accurate within 3.1 per cent 19 times out of 20.

http://goo.gl/TwGj45

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MARGATE

 A woman has described the harrowing moment she heard screeching brakes as a man on a mobility scooter collided with a car in Margate.

The crash happened on Marine Gardens at around 12.30pm today, and witnesses say the taxi left the scene.

Kerry Keating, 32, said: “I heard the screeching of tyres and brakes and this huge thud, and a cry of pain.

“I ran outside to see an elderly gentleman in his mobility scooter in the middle of the road and luckily he was still upright.

“There was a black taxi at an angle behind the scooter and its bumper was hanging off.

“As I was making the call to the emergency services, the taxi driver fixed his bumper back to his car, looked at me said ‘thank you’ and drove away.

“I was absolutely shocked, he was in a company labelled car and the bumpers come off so it’s not exactly going to be easy to get away with.

“I don’t know what he thinks he’s going to be able to.”

Police spokesman Scarlet Jones said: “Kent Police received a report of a collision at 12.50pm on Wednesday, March 16, involving a pedestrian in a wheelchair and a car.

“Officers attended the scene in Marine Gardens, Margate. Injuries are believed to be minor.

“Inquiries are ongoing to establish the details of the car involved, which reportedly left the scene.”

“I was standing in front of the man on my walking sticks to protect him from the traffic until the police and ambulance arrived..." Kerry Keating

Mrs Keating, who suffers with multiple sclerosis, says she had to stand in front of traffic for nearly 10 minutes.

She said: “I was standing in front of the man on my walking sticks to protect him from the traffic until the police and ambulance arrived.

“I asked another man to try and push the mobility scooter onto the pavement but it was difficult because all the wheels were buckled and bent.

“A bus and other cars were trying to get past.”

Police and ambulance crews attended the scene before treating the man for his injuries.

Mrs Keating said: “Fortunately it looked like the scooter had taken the worst of the impact but the man was complaining of leg and back pain.

“He was in shock and I think he must have been badly winded as he was unable to talk."

http://goo.gl/zZTau7
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 SOUTH SHIELDS

 A Taxi driver may have crucial information for police investigating an allegation of rape.

The incident happened inside an address in Hyde Street, South Shields on Sunday, February 28.

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of rape and have been released on police bail. 

Detectives are carrying out enquiries and are keen to speak to a taxi driver who may have taken the victim and two men from a taxi rank in Anderson Street to Hyde Street, both in South Shields, between 2.55am and 3.05am.

Officers are keen for the taxi driver to get in contact as a witness as it's thought they may have key information that can help police with the investigation.

Detective Constable Alison Brown said: "We'd like to speak to the taxi driver who took the victim and two men to Hyde Street in the early hours of Sunday February 28, possibly around 3am in the morning or maybe slightly earlier.

"The taxi driver may have information that can help in our enquiries and we're keen to speak to them as a witness."

http://goo.gl/Ruk4l2
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MANCHESTER

 A taxi driver who spent four hours caring for a vulnerable pensioner after discovering him cold and disorientated in a bus stop has been honoured by GMP’s Chief Constable.

Kamaran Rasheed came to the aid of William Place, 87, after he ended up locked out of his home.

Mr Place had been visiting his wife Moreen at the Manchester Royal Infirmary earlier that evening but lost track of time and left later than normal.

When he arrived home, he found the entrance to his shared sheltered housing in Manchester had been padlocked shut, and he didn’t have a key.



Confused, the pensioner wandered onto Stockport Road to the bus shelter where he was seen by Mr Rasheed, 44, at around 2am.

Knowing that the bus service had stopped for the evening, Mr Rasheed dropped off his fare and went back to the bus stop to offer Mr Place a lift home free of charge.

He decided to stop off at McDonalds to get the retired police officer a hot drink to warm him up before taking him to Longsight Police Station.

It was at this point that PC Peter Crowe drove past and approached the pair thinking it was a dispute.

He was soon heartened to learn that Mr Rasheed in fact intended to take Mr Place home for food and a warm bed, or to pay for a hotel room for him.

They took him home but Moss Care didn’t have an out of hours service and the lock needed to be removed by the officer.

In total, Mr Rasheed stayed with Mr Place for four hours.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins branded his actions a “glowing example of community spirit”.

“Mr Rasheed’s dedication ensured that this vulnerable man was looked after and rescued him from a potentially serious situation and I’m delighted that William is now safe and well.

“His actions that night deserve to be recognised. I am proud to be able to award him with a Chief Constable’s Commendation.”

Mr Rasheed, who is also a foster carer, said: “At first I only stopped to tell him that the buses had stopped, but he told me he wasn’t waiting for a bus. I offered him a lift and took him to get a warm drink before I took him to the station. I just did it because it was the right thing to do

“It’s wonderful to receive this commendation. It was new experience and I never thought I would be recognised with anything like this so I’m really proud.”

http://goo.gl/Tn2iH5