-By Madeline Matcheski

With the discussion of bus services in Owen Sound, including changes to one-hour service and the City’s unwillingness to provide evening or Sunday transit, comes the notion of a surge in other driving services. We might expect taxi services to be flourishing in these conditions. When we asked taxi services about the state of driving services in the area, however, their response was, “If I’m going to be honest, not well.”

Taxi services in Owen Sound report up to an average of 250 passengers per day. This is all dependent on date and popularity. Many of the riders hire their services due to their age, health and their inability to afford a car. Drivers are always busy offering rides anywhere in town for the price for up to $35 and all across Ontario.

For this reason, Owen Sound Taxi services are in desperate need of drivers. Despite not advertising at the job fair in the Bayshore on Thursday, there are always jobs available. 

“We are always in need of other drivers,” said one service provider who had to rush off after the interview to do another run.

Acquiring qualifications to be a taxi driver is, “easier than you think.” Qualifications include the ability to read, write and speak English, be 18 years of age, complete the necessary forms, have a G license, be familiar with the location, and be in good health and character.

There is a downside to being a taxi driver, however. Some report earning very little because of the cost of the business, commissions and competition. One driver reported only earning $7-$8 per hour, half of the minimum wage.

“We are entitled to minimum wage,” they said, “It’s not fair.”

For a driver, obtaining a taxi license costs $100 for certification and $80 for yearly renewal (or $240 for 3 years). One taxi service with 4 cars reported paying about $300 per day on gas, especially with the rising gas prices. This coupled with the $700 per year for brokership, and $250 for each cab per year, can get costly. 

To take a taxi in Owen Sound, the starting price is $4.85, with an added $1.15 per km. For example, a taxi drive from a 28th St. West apartment to the nearest grocery store would be $9.00 each way without tip.  By comparison, a trip on Owen Sound Transit costs $3 for single adult fair and maximum $70 for a monthly pass.

These taxi prices are not controlled by the taxi companies themselves, but by a by-law set by the Owen Sound Police Services. The by-law also covers ride-sharing services, with the same costs, although Uber and Lyft have yet to arrive in Owen Sound. 

For those that don’t own a car to get around town, it’s becoming more inconvenient to find other modes of transportation. Driving services are becoming unreliable or costly, for both drivers and customers, and they are in desperate need of discussion in Owen Sound.