The Uber vs. taxi debate is more heated than ever as Toronto tries to create a new set of rules to govern both the traditional taxi industry and the technology company app.

To see how Uber fared up against a taxi during the Pan Am Games, two Star reporters travelled from the Esplanade downtown to the CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Athletics Stadium at York University.

Travel routes

Legend:

Black = shared route

Blue = taxi

Red = uber

Unfamiliar destination flusters cab driver

Pickup time after request made: six minutes

Cost: $67.50 (including 10 per cent tip)

Trip length: 28.61 kilometres, 43:31 minutes

Route: From The Esplanade, I began our journey to York University on the Gardiner Expressway W., exited onto South Kingsway, made a quick right onto Bloor and continued north on Jane St. Finally, we turned right at Steeles Ave. W., but the driver mistakenly took a wrong turn at Murray Ross Parkway. After making a U-turn at a police barrier, we doubled back to Steeles and turned right at Founders Rd., arriving at York’s campus.

State of interior: My ride was absent of crumbs and garbage. The interior lining was scuffed along the edges, accented by dried mud. A few dirty rags were visible under the driver’s seat.

Experience: The Beck Taxi driver was in a cheery mood when he picked me up on a Sunday afternoon. That seemed to change, however, when I revealed my destination to be the CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Athletics Stadium.

He became flustered. After rereading the stadium’s address as listed on the Pan Am website to him three times, he pulled a map of Pan Am venue locations from his glove box.

“The (City of Toronto) gave me this paper but the addresses are not clear,” he said, as he attempted to simultaneously read the map and merge onto the Gardiner.

Five minutes later, he noticed I was holding an iPhone in my hands. He requested I input the venue’s name into the phone’s GPS. For the purposes of this experiment, I declined. Only a few minutes into the ride, both passenger and driver had grown frustrated with each other.

The rest of the ride was uneventful, consisting of small talk here and there. When we finally pulled up to the main entrance on Founders Rd., he thanked me.

Beck’s Response: Upon being informed of the results, Beck Taxi operations manager Kristine Hubbard emphasized the company’s commitment to safety and that drivers “should not be looking at something other than the road while (they’re) driving.”

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Hubbard also suggested the Star’s comparison was “unfair” because the cab was not requested through Beck’s mobile app. The app, which accounts for 17 per cent of the taxi company’s orders, “would have provided (the driver) with directions to exactly where you were going.”

The Uber experience

Pickup time: two minutes after request made

Cost: $41.67 (tip is built in)

Trip length: 40.52 km, 31.58 minutes

Route: The driver opted for what was the fastest route from the Esplanade to York University, according to Uber. As per the app’s instructions, we took the Gardiner Expressway and headed west until Hwy 427, which we took north to Hwy 401. We then went east on Hwy 401, and exited at Hwy 400, which we took until Steeles Ave. A left on Steeles brought us straight to the Founder’s Rd. entrance to the campus and where the Pan Am venue sits.

State of car: Aside from some crumbs on the floor, the driver’s Toyota Rav4 was in great condition.

Interaction:

Like many Uber drivers I’ve encountered, the driver was a talker. We chatted about the weather and how the Pan Am Games were affecting traffic. He gave me the option between air conditioning and the fresh air and offered to play music. When I politely refused, he jokingly asked why.

I wondered out loud why there were bags of Werther’s Original candies and granola bars in the pockets behind his front seats. He said he found himself driving around a lot of students, who always looked like they were in need of a pick-me-up. “You know how hungry students are?” he asked, offering me an energy bar.

Soon the conversation fizzled, and we rode in silence for about 15 minutes. He showed no signs of being confused after we got off the highway and I asked him to take me to a fairly specific drop-off point at York University.

I got out, he waved goodbye, thanked me, and sped off to pick up his next customer.

Uber has not responded to a request for comment.

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