Ride-hailing supporters push forward in response to taxi company challenge
Credit to Author: Stephanie Ip| Date: Thu, 05 Sep 2019 17:13:54 +0000
Supporters of ride hailing in B.C. are pushing forward with a petition in response to a court challenge from local taxi companies.
“We are disappointed that the Vancouver Taxi Association is attempting to block reliable transportation options for British Columbians who have been demanding ride sharing for years,” read a statement by advocacy group Ride Sharing Now For B.C.
“We hope the Passenger Transportation Board is able to move forward with reviewing ride sharing applications as soon as possible to bring new transportation options to B.C.”
The statement comes a day after a group of taxi companies asked the Supreme Court of B.c. to quash rules set by the Passenger Transportation Board to allow the introduction of ride-hailing services in B.C.
In the challenge, the companies believe the board does not have the statutory power to create operating policies for ride hailing companies before applications are received, and suggest the board does not have the power to create two sets of rules, one for ride hailing companies and another for taxis.
“This interference in an independent, data-driven process, which is already complete, by a small number of taxi owners threatens the autonomy of our public institutions and discounts the work of experts like Translink, Dan Harra, and the Competition Bureau, who all have testified against caps for ride sharing companies,” the statement concludes.
Those in support of the ride sharing and ride hailing are being encouraged to sign a petition online at ridesharingnow.com/act.
More to come.