Rural communities in B.C. wonder whether ride-hailing will make it to them
Credit to Author: Jennifer Saltman| Date: Wed, 25 Sep 2019 01:56:58 +0000
Rural and suburban B.C. communities, where it can often be a challenge to get around without using a personal vehicle, are looking forward to the day when their residents can hail a ride using an app.
“It is difficult to get a cab and has been for quite a while, so we welcome this. This is a good move, albeit very slow,” Comox Mayor Russ Arnott said during a policy session at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Vancouver on Tuesday.
However, many remain concerned about how the requirement for ride-hailing drivers to have a Class 4 licence will affect the rollout of ride-hailing across the province, and whether they will be left out as a result.
Ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft began applying for licences to operate in B.C. on Sept. 3, and new regulations governing ride-hailing came into effect on Sept. 16. The Passenger Transportation Board, which makes licensing decisions, was considering 11 applications as of Sept. 18, and is expected to take six to eight weeks to rule on the applications.
“There is an expectation that, pending any successful legal challenges, there is ride-hailing in B.C. this year,” said Steven Haywood, executive lead for taxi modernization and ride-hailing with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
Taxi companies have filed a legal challenge of policies the board has made around ride-hailing fleet sizes and fares. Some municipal councils have expressed dissatisfaction with the rules, saying they put taxis at a disadvantage.
In the meantime, however, the application process continues.
Lumby Coun. Lorelei Fiset was disappointed that larger ride-hailing companies are not interested in working in smaller communities outside of the Lower Mainland, in part because they figure the pool of drivers will be too small because of the licensing requirement.
“It’s quite a sweeping generalization about the qualifications and the interest level in rural communities,” she said.
Wayne Carson, director for the Central Okanagan West Electoral Area, said cabs are scarce and public transit non-existent in his area.
“I’m looking for something that will help out a rural community. Class 4 is turning out to be a real stumbling block,” he said.