Could Uber protests back east impact its future in Vancouver?

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The battle for your transportation dollar is about to get even more ugly.

Taxi drivers in Toronto are set to unveil details of their plan to strike during the NBA All-Star festivities this weekend, while cabbies in Montreal have set up roaming roadblocks against Uber drivers today.

But those two events could affect the appetite for Uber here in Metro Vancouver.

“Whether that attention benefits the taxi drivers or not remains to be seen. Not all attention is good attention,” says UBC Sauder School of Business marketing expert David Hardisty.

Especially here, where Uber is still trying to get a foot in the door and make a good impression with local and provincial politicians.

More public support could increase that pressure on government.

“When the taxi drivers are all on strike how is everyone supposed to get around? Uber of course is the alternative. So it seems like almost providing an opening for Uber to provide an alternative. Some people may have never tried it before and maybe they will during the strike,” says Hardisty.

He ads, it’s likely most people in Toronto won’t support Uber and if things get ugly, they’ll get attention, which could lead to more Uber support here.

“Even if they don’t entirely have the public on their side, they could get a short-term gain. But I think in the long-term fight for them against Uber, they do need to have the public on their side,” says Hardisty.

Simon Fraser University marketing expert Lindsay Meredith says the Toronto strike during what is billed as a global event, can only hurt the reputation of cabbies, which in turn will point people towards the ride-hailing company.

“If there is in fact a strike, it will add a little fuel to the fire. That will push things a little more in favour of Uber’s side of the camp already. And Uber already has a pretty strong position. All these guys (cabbies) are doing is driving people into the arms of Uber.”