Canadian website PickupPal is a ride-sharing “service [that] is providing a venue for either passengers or packages to find or be matched to a driver—typically already traveling in a certain direction or destination.” PickupPal uses its own software to match travelers and drivers, and then it’s up to them to negotiate prices, since PickupPal makes its money through advertising on the website itself. A pretty innovative service that gives travelers a bit more flexibility when traveling between cities, especially ones that are perhaps a bit more underserved by the bus/train/plane. The good news/ bad news situation for PickupPal is that they’ve become successful enough that their competitors are trying to shut them down.
PickupPal finds itself under threat from their closest competitor, intercity bus operator Trentway-Wagner. The latest salvo in the cutthroat battle to increase intercity travel market-share was submitted in mid-May to the Ontario Highway Transportation Board (OHTB). At challenge is the fact that the car-sharing service allows drivers to collect money by offering rides between cities. According to Trentway-Wagner lawyer Robert Warren of WeirFoulds LLP:
Any time anybody operates such a service and they don’t have to comply with all these regulatory burdens, then it’s unfair competition in my client’s view,” Warren said. “They do erode substantially what really is a low-margin business.”
Considering that PickupPal has over 100 000 users registered, and about 10% based in Ontario, this challenge is a serious issue (not to mention that since it’s mighty hard to get between the Prairie provinces and the eastern provinces without travelling through Ontario). At one broad stroke, 10 000 users would be unable to use the service, plus any others who were hoping to travel from through the Windsor-Quebec City corridor (only the most-densely populated and industrialized area in Canada with about 17 million).
PickupPal has published a letter of support from Christine Stewart (who happens to have been Canada’s former Environment Minister) on their website, and according to her letter, similar ridesharing organizations operating in Ontario who have appeared before the OHTB have been shut down. Just below this letter of support from the Hon. Stewart is a petition addressed to Ontario’s Premier, Dalton McGuinty. And therein lies PickupPal’s power: since users go to its website in order to login and try to matchup with rides, they always pass by the link to the petition.
The power of mobilizing a dedicated and passionate userbase in a small geography: political influence.
For more on car-sharing:
- Why I Sold My Car, or How I Learned to Stop Driving and Love the Bus
- Eco-Effective Decisions: Why Own a Car When You Can Share One?
- What Grabs You: Reducing Gridlock, Making Green Friends
Photo Credit: richardmasoner via Flickr’s Commons
It is quite common for all aspects of life including culture, etiquette, business and law to face with challenging situations nowadays. This is caused by the exponential growth of Internet. What actually should happen here is for the old and fast-outdating laws to get mended paving way for the new scientific developments serve humanity. If government policy and entrepreneurs' approach towards developments in science and technology is progressively changed resolving of issues arising from the wide use of Internet would not get dragged on.
The confused commercial enterprises seem to be seeking refuge behind the outdated laws and practices rather than looking into creative ways of prospering under new conditions.
With some of the 'brilliant' public policies pursued, I am not surprised if some Genius considers putting a stop to carpooling as an incentive to the automotive industry here.
In the wake of a very steep competition nowadays, I think companies should make use of any technology to make their customers satisfied. Too bad they will be shut down.
I agree with Harsha. The old and outdated laws should be changed for the betterment of the community. I think what should be done here is for Trentway to stand up to the challenge and introduce innovation to their bus services.
@Rezzie: Unfortunately, on November 2008, they indeed ceased operation in favor of Trentway-Wagner.