UberX drivers blocked, intimidated by 2 Montreal cabbies

A passenger who witnessed a confrontation between a pair of Montreal taxi drivers and twoUberX drivers says he's still not dissuaded from using the popular car-sharing service.

Alexandre Meterissiancalled for anUberX from the corner of Sherbrooke Street and St-Laurent Boulevard one early afternoon last week.

Ijust hope that taxi drivers, instead of just fighting the system, will actually offer a service that is better or at least equal quality to Uber.- AlexandreMeterissian

But when he got into the backseat of the car, he said, a cab driver drove in front of theUberX and blocked it from leaving.

Meterissian told CBC Daybreak on Tuesday that the taxi driver launched into a tirade, calling the UberX driver a scab and threatening to call the police.

He said that a second cab driver blocked the UberX car when his driver tried to get away.

Meterissian said he settled his bill with the driver, got out and called a second UberX car an SUV this timefrom across the street.

• Two Montreal UberX drivers fined and have cars impounded
• Uber Montreal requests to be regulated in Quebec

He said the cab drivers attempted to block the SUV as well, but failed when the vehicle got up onto the sidewalk to get away. He said the entire altercation took about 15 minutes.

Daybreak Montreal9:18UberX and Montreal taxi driver confrontation

Alex Meterissian found himself in the middle of a taxi standoff last week when the uberX car he ordered was cornered by two taxis. Kamal Sabbah of the Montreal Taxi Owners' Association reacts to this story and explains why frustrations are running high.

Kamal Sabbah of theMontreal Taxi Owners' Association said he doesn't condone what the taxi drivers did, butunderstands why they did it.

"Ninety-five per centof taxi drivers and owners, they're doing a very good job," he said on Daybreak. "This is how they feed their families."

• uberX illegal, says Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre
• UberX stealing cabbies' jobs say protesting taxi drivers

UberX is currently operating in a grey zone in Quebec. Mayor Denis Coderre and Transport Minister Robert Poti say the service is illegal, and Montreal police have impounded cars used for UberX purposes.

Yet UberX continues to operate in Montreal, and Uberofficials have said they have no intention of stopping.

The company has asked the province to make clear rules about car sharing.

There are currently about 4,000 licensed cab drivers in Montreal, according to Sabbah.

The introduction of Uber to Montreal has been a hotly debated topic at the municipal and provincial levels, with cab drivers going on the offensive by saying the service is compromising their ability to make a living.

Meterissian said that for customers like him,traditional taxi services just aren't cutting it in terms of quality. He said they should take the opportunity to adapt and offer better service.

"Uber is offering a fantastic service, and Ijust hope that taxi drivers, instead of just fighting the system, will actually offer a service that is better or at least equal quality to Uber," he said.