In a nutshell, this article explains how Toronto is trying to become a city that evolves with changing times and technologies by allowing Uber to prosper with traditional taxi services.

I agree with the article’s perspective that the future of transportation lies in Uber, and not taxis. Cities should, like Toronto, aim to adapt their laws to accommodate for the drawbacks in ride-sharing services, while still giving them room to prosper and contribute to the economy.

The Toronto government’s stance boils down to this; Despite the fact that Uber’s existence lethally threaten the taxi industry, Uber should be allowed because people love it for its low price and high efficiency over traditional cabs. From a utilitarian perspective, it’s a good move.

Still, the livelihoods of thousands of taxi drivers will be compromised. Although Toronto’s aim is to “balance fair regulation for taxi industries while safely introducing… Uber to the market”, this is easier said than done. There will inevitably be a painful adjusting period where cab drivers are losing jobs.

The article states that banning Uber is like “trying to stop people from using smartphones or ATMs.” When the world transitioned from bank tellers to ATMs, there was also a painful period where tellers lost jobs. But the ATM transition had, in the long term, advanced the banking industry by making deposits and withdrawals more convenient. Uber is much like that.

For new ideas to live, old ideas must die.