Nearly 12 hours after it first began, an anti-Uber protest has finally ended.

In a tweet sent at around 7 p.m., Mayor John Tory said that Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders had agreed to meet with members of the taxi industry, so long as a demonstration blocking a downtown intersection ended by 7:30 p.m.

Hours earlier, Tory had urged cab drivers engaged in what he called the “dangerous and disruptive” protest to stand down before public safety was further compromised.

Tory made the comment as hundreds of furious taxi drivers blocked traffic in front of city hall and Queen's Park in an effort to draw attention to what they say is an unfair regime that regulates them heavily while allowing Uber to compete in violation of existing bylaws.

“I am requesting those leading this demonstration to stand down and not continue this during the afternoon rush hour,” Tory said at the time.

“The point has been made – I don’t think it was made in a necessary or appropriate manner – but the point has been made and we cannot allow our city to have these kind of dangerous and disruptive activities continuing on. This is something that I think has been a very negative event for our city.”

The protesting cab drivers gathered at four locations around the city early this morning and began their procession to city hall and Queen’s Park at around 7:30 a.m.

Hundreds of cabs then jammed roads and highways around Toronto Pearson International Airport, reducing traffic to walking speed in some areas. A large convoy of cabs also made its way down the Don Valley Parkway and the QEW/Gardiner Expressway, slowing traffic there as well.

Police monitoring the protest said they were stopping some vehicles in the convoy and charging them with unnecessarily slow driving – a charge carrying a $110 fine and two demerit points.

Following the morning procession, many of the cab drivers entered the public chamber at city hall, where a meeting was taking place, however they left a short time later and occupied the intersection at Queen and Bay streets.

At one point, Executive Director of Licensing and Standards Tracey Cook met with the protestors in the intersection, however it is not immediately clear what she told them.

Some of the protesters told CP24 they were prepared to stay in the intersection all night.

“People are frustrated. Their livelihoods are at risk here and that’s why we are here and that’s why we are fighting,” taxi industry spokesperson Sam Moini told CP24 at the scene. “We want peace, we want order but we have to make sure that the law is followed.”

Speaking with reporters on Thursday afternoon, Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders seemed to suggest that officers would not act to break-up the protest and reopen the intersection so long as it is peaceful.

Saunders, however, cautioned that he was prepared to “utilize whatever police resources are necessary.”

“As long as things are lawful we will allow them the opportunity to have a lawful protest,” he said.

The intersection finally cleared shortly before 7:30 p.m., roughly four hours after protesters first started the traffic blockade.

Cab driver held onto moving vehicle

The protest at times veered into an uncontrolled state as tensions rose.

Earlier in the day, a cab driver taking part in the protest was seen banging on the window of a car he claimed was driving for Uber and then grabbing onto its door as it drove away from the protest southbound on Bay Street.

In another incident, a police officer on a bicycle was taken to hospital with minor injuries after being struck by a cab taking part in the protest at Yonge Street and Manor Road.

“I understand that people are desperate, I understand that people have a lot of passion but don’t let that passion cause you to make stupid decisions and don’t let that passion cause you to make unlawful decisions,” Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders told reporters.

“I don’t want to be arresting people because they can’t wait long enough for a law to take effect but I am also not going to support bad behavior.”

City councillors urge drivers to protest lawfully

The city has said that it is working as fast as it can to produce new bylaws that would fully account for new ride brokering services such as Uber. However Mayor John Tory has said that in the meantime the city lacks adequate resources to police Uber drivers.

For its part Uber has said that it is willing to work with the city on the creation of new ride-sharing regulations but doesn't believe it should have to adhere to existing regulations covering the taxi industry.

Meeting the protesters at Nathan Phillips Square Wednesday afternoon, a number of city councilors expressed sympathy for their cause, but urged them not to disrupt the peace.

“It’s going to be important every time taxi drivers and people from the industry gather like this that you demonstrate you will maintain control and respect the public space,” Coun. Janet Davis – a frequent supporter of taxi drivers – told the assembled crowd.

“I understand your frustration that UberX is operating illegally in the City of Toronto and that is not acceptable,” she said. “I know your frustration levels are very, very high and you are calling on us to enforce our bylaw. I want to ensure you that I and others have been doing all that we can to ensure we are defending that bylaw.”

She said a report from city staff outlining a new regulatory framework is expected in the spring and said she expects it will protect “good fulltime work” instead of allowing a wide open market where anyone can jump into the industry and “nobody can actually earn a living and put food on the table.”

But Coun. Giorgio Mammolitti, another supporter of the taxi industry, said that spring is too long to wait for the report.

He said city leaders need to step up to make sure that enforcement is carried out.

“The leadership at city hall needs to talk about how that will happen,” he said.

Still, he urged the protesters to remain peaceful as they sound their message.

“Do not be afraid of speaking your minds, but do not break the law while doing it,” he told the crowd.

Speaking with CP24 Wednesday, Coun. Mike Layton said he appreciates why taxi drivers are so upset.

“This is a concern of ours because they are an important part of our transportation system and unfortunately when you have an unregulated competitor, that’s going to cause problems for their business,” Layton said.

Protest strategy not supported by all

While most cab drivers share the sentiment behind the protest, not all cab companies were on-board with the protest itself.

“We want to make sure the message is clear – this protest could cause their message to be lost in the delivery,” Beck Taxi spokesperson Kristine Hubbard told CP24, adding that the protest is an “inappropriate” way to air grievances.

While Beck does not support the protest, Hubbard said she understands taxi drivers’ frustrations and their sense that “no one is listening to them.”

In a statement issued late Wednesday afternoon, though, the company called on drivers to abandon the protest.

“I am calling on all taxi drivers to stand down from today’s protest and to allow evening commuters to make it home without any added frustrations," it said.

"Our drivers are independent. We understand their frustration, but plead that they end their protest now."