VANCOUVER 鈥� Rural and suburban sa国际传媒 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.
鈥淚t 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,鈥� Comox Mayor Russ Arnott said during a policy session at the Union of sa国际传媒 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 sa国际传媒 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.
鈥淭here is an expectation that, pending any successful legal challenges, there is ride-hailing in sa国际传媒 this year,鈥� 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.
鈥淚t鈥檚 quite a sweeping generalization about the qualifications and the interest level in rural communities,鈥� she said.
Wayne Carson, director for the Central Okanagan West Electoral Area, said cabs are scarce and public transit non-existent in his area.
鈥淚鈥檓 looking for something that will help out a rural community. Class 4 is turning out to be a real stumbling block,鈥� he said.
