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Muhammad Tariq is sworn at a lot less often these days — one of the many changes to Saskatoon’s transportation industry in the last year.

Tariq, who drove a taxi in Saskatoon for about seven years, switched to driving full time for Uber in May.

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He drives about 60 hours a week and pulls in more than $1,000. He applauds Uber’s rating system, which rates both drivers and passengers.

The ratings filter means less swearing than he used to get as a cabbie, he said in a January interview.

“Right now, I am very happy. My passengers are very happy with the Uber. Once they switch to Uber, they never go back to cab again.”

Tariq, who takes passengers on about 20 rides a day, said he bought a 2012 car for nearly $10,000 for his new venture.

“I am happy because it’s not too much of an investment compared to taxi,” said the immigrant from Pakistan, who has lived in Saskatoon for about 12 years.

The price of the new car and its maintenance is still less than the investment for a taxi, even though Tariq estimates the cost of a taxi plate has dropped from $200,000 to $50,000 this year. A single taxi plate is typically shared by more than one driver.