The B.C. government has promised an extra 300 taxis in the Lower Mainland, but shortages are still frustrating Vancouver

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Angry Vancouverites flooding social media with calls for Uber after being left hanging by taxis have the ear of ride hailing advocates, who are pushing the province to table legislation by the end of the year.

It’s been nearly two months since the provincial government announced plans to “modernize” the taxi industry by adding 300 more cabs for the Lower Mainland, but Uber Canada’s Michael van Hemmen is still hoping to get legislation to allow and regulate ride hailing services by the end of this year.

“We’ll be looking to start up as soon as we can, but again, the details matter and so we’re going to be engaging with the province and hopefully others will as well to ensure that what’s passed is a business model that allows Uber to operate,” van Hemmen tells NEWS 1130.

He says that British Columbians, especially those living the in suburbs, have very few options when it comes to getting around, and he wants Victoria to deliberate on the issue sooner than later.

“The last we’ve heard from the provincial government is they will be passing legislation this fall. We’re going to be closely watching that,” he tells NEWS 1130.

Van Hemmen adds more than a quarter million British Columbians have taken Uber elsewhere in the world.

The taxi line 10:15pm in Vancouver … @CityofVancouver lyft and uber are blocked at airport because … this is so awesome for visitors and residents…? No, that’s not it. #notanamusementride pic.twitter.com/Cj2yMf0Z9n — Deidre Paknad (@day_dree) September 10, 2018

Coquitlam councillor Teri Towner echoes van Hemmen and says she notices a dearth of taxis during the holiday season and or on busy weekends, such as for the just wrapped Skookum Festival.

“It’s a huge bone of contention. We need more options to get around our region, transportation wise,” Towner says. “I hear it every week, of a frustration or something to do with transportation. People can’t get where they’re going because either a taxi won’t take them or they can’t get a taxi.”

She believes the time is right for a ride hailing service in the Lower Mainland and that it is possible to have it by the holiday season. She says the taxi industry is not in danger from services like Uber.

“Other big cities and regions, their taxi companies are still in business. I think they can both coexist,” Towner says.

In July, Transportation Minister Claire Trevena suggested it could be next year before any ride hailing services are approved, but delegates at this week’s Union of BC Municipalities Convention in Whistler are pushing for that before December’s holiday rush.

Government response

In a response to NEWS 1130, the Ministry of Transportation says it recognizes British Columbians’ frustrations and it expects ride hailing companies “to apply to offer services in B.C. by September 2019.”

Full Statement:

We recognize the frustrations that people have – particularly in Metro Vancouver. People want more options for getting around efficiently. That’s why we are taking the first steps in our action plan to bring ridesharing to B.C.

We need to ensure that passengers are transported in safe vehicles with safe drivers who have completed a background check, and that proper insurance is in place. We are tabling ridesharing legislation this fall. This will include the changes needed to create ICBC insurance products, tailored for ridesharing companies.

Our legislation is focused on:

o Consumer safety and enforcement.

o Streamlining license applications for drivers.

o Boundaries and meeting demand.

o Working with ICBC to enable a modern insurance product.

We’re going to bring in rideshare, but this is just one piece in our overall plan to provide transportation options so people can get around reliably and affordably – this is evident in our removal of tolls and our investments in transit.

To help meet current demand immediately, we are putting 500 more taxis on the streets (300 in Metro Vancouver and 200 to the rest of the province). Our approach will modernize the taxi industry and help meet current demand, while opening the door to other vehicles for hire – so people can move around how they want, when they want, safely.

We expect ridesharing companies to apply to offer services in B.C. by September 2019.