Uber use increases along with calls for its ban in Toronto: Forum poll

Toronto’s love-hate relationship with Uber is intensifying – with more people both using the ride-sharing service and calling for its ban.

That was the finding of a recent Forum Research Poll conducted exclusively for CityNews on July 14 and 15.

The random sampling of 825 voters found that close to a quarter (22 per cent) have used Uber. That’s up from 18 per cent in April and just 12 per cent in November, 2014.

But along with the increase in usage comes a spike in opposition.

Almost twice as many voters polled (26 per cent) now approve of a ban or restrictions on the controversial service, compared to just 14 per cent in April.

“While more and more and more people use Uber, it appears that familiarity is breeding a type of rejection,” said Forum Research President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff.

The poll also found that females are the group most in favour of a ban, likely over safety concerns.

“It is interesting that females are among the groups with the highest approval for banning the service, and this may be the result of apocryphal tales of attacks by Uber drivers,” Bozinoff added.

Earlier this month, city council unanimously voted to ask both police and municipal officials to crack down on UberX drivers — diffusing threats by the taxi industry to stage traffic-crippling protests in the midst of the Pan Am Games.

On Thursday, taxi and limousine drivers launched a multi-million-dollar class-action lawsuit against UberX and UberXL.

The lawsuit seeks $400 million in compensation, $10 million in punitive damages and an injunction prohibiting UberX from continuing to operate in Ontario.

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