Sunday 12 April 2015

Edmonton Taxi and Cabs - How they have changed over the Years

In Edmonton, Taxi and Cabs have revolutionized the way we go about our day to day business, but they have also developed a lot since they were first invented.

In both Paris and London there were horse-drawn for-hire taxis known as Hackney Carriages, operating as early as the 17th century, with the first of these documented back in 1605 in London.


The next major development was not until the mid-1800’s, when an architect from York designed the Hansom Cab. They were light enough to be pulled by just one horse, as opposed to several, and the efficiency of this ensured it quickly became the norm worldwide. 

Then came the invention of the Taximeter in 1981 which was an electronic device that calculated passenger fares judged by the distance and time. This is where the name ‘taxi’ emerges from, and it has shaped the future of the industry to this day.


While in Edmonton taxi and cabs do not have a notable design or style, such as you would find in New York, or England for example, there is still a worldwide standard practice for taxis, which has been unchallenged until now.

The rise and possible fall of Uber

The latest development with Edmonton Taxi and Cabs, as in other areas, is the recent rise of the mobile application Uber.

Uber allows anyone with a car and a smartphone to taxi people around, with the mobile application taking a cut of the money.


Currently undergoing various different court battles with countries and cities alike, it remains to be seen if this will become the future for Edmonton Taxi and Cabs and elsewhere, or whether it is just a brief development in the history of the taxi. Only time will tell.

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