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| Will Skeena Cabs see competition arrive in the way of ride hailing services? The BC Government and Passenger Transportation Board are currently working on the process to offer ride hailing across the province. |
The province of British Columbia's tentative steps towards ride hailing services got underway this week with the province outlining its guidelines of sorts, for the launch of such services as Uber, Lyft and such.
An announcement on Monday outlined the process ahead for ride-hailing companies to apply to the Passenger Transportation Board by the beginning of September, with hopes to have the services in place in BC by the end of the year.
The scope of the regulations will enable the PTB to begin accepting applications from companies seeking to provide commercial rid hailing as of September 3rd.
“Our plan has made it possible for ride-hailing companies to apply to enter the market this fall, with vehicles on the road later this year, while ensuring the safety of passengers and promoting accessibility options in the industry. British Columbians have been asking and waiting for these services after more than five years of delay by the former government. We took action to allow for the services people want and we’re delivering on that promise.” -- Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure
Among the more controversial notes when the provincial requirements has been the decision to stay with the requirement of a Class 4 drivers licence for those looking to take part in the ride-hailing industry, a rule which may limit the amount of would be drivers who may be looking to sign on as part of the new industry.
Some of the new regulatory framework elements can be found below, the full list is included as part of this information release from the BC Government.
According to a story in the Vancouver Sun, the Passenger Transportation Board was in Prince Rupert on Tuesday, speaking with local representatives and drivers with local taxi services ... which we imagine would mean that they spoke with Skeena Taxi, which has a fairly significant hold on the local transportation market.
The focus for the PTB is apparently that of preparing to set boundaries and fares for ride-hailing services and existing taxi fleets by the end of August.
What seems somewhat unusual about the ongoing approach towards the arrival of the ride hailing services however is that to this point at the local level, there have been no provisions made for inclusion of passengers into the conversation; a user group that may have some helpful comments to share on the state of existing services and the need, if any, for other options.
The topic of Ride-hailing services has not been something that has apparently been on the minds of Prince Rupert City Council at least in a public setting.
So far in 2019, the prospect of such services setting up in the city has not been part of their public Council discussion themes for the year.
The last conversation on taxis that City Council held in public came in July of 2018, when Council members made quick work of approval for a new Taxi Bylaw amendment, which mostly adjusted the permit process to that of a two year period.
During that period of discussion there was no mention made of any potential arrival of ride hailing services, or examination if it would fill a need in the community.
The theme of ride hailing has proven to be a controversial one for other municipalities, where long waits for taxis and the issue of service to customers has been a flash point for discussion, particularly in the larger communities of the province.
Whether the still incubating BC industry will find the Prince Rupert market one that will offer it an opportunity to be profitable, won't really be known until after the BC Government regulations are in place and ride-hailing actually becomes a service available to the public.
More notes related to ground transportation services in the Northwest can be found here.
Cross posted from the North Coast Review
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