Residents across B.C. may be able to access ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft by fall 2019, but local cab companies on the Peninsula arenB次元官网网址檛 exactly celebrating.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not looking forward to them showing up,B次元官网网址� says Don Smith, operations manager at Peninsula Taxi. B次元官网网址淥ur concern is unless the legislation doesnB次元官网网址檛 give everyone the same playing field, itB次元官网网址檚 not going to be very good.B次元官网网址�
Transportation Minister Claire Trevena tabled a bill Monday to introduce ride-hailing services calling it B次元官网网址渕ilestone legislation.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淏ritish Columbians absolutely want more options and flexibility in how they get around, but with checks in place to make sure their ride is a safe one,B次元官网网址� Trevena said.
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But, Smith has concerns. His company is required to operate with a minimum of $5 million liability insurance and all drivers must possess a class four licence, complete detailed driver and medical exams as well as submit to criminal record checks.
As well, the Passenger Transportation Board B次元官网网址� an independent tribunal B次元官网网址� regulates the taxi industry in B.C. deciding how many cabs a given company can have on the road.
Smith says he is currently awaiting the result of an application Peninsula Taxi has filed to increase the number of vehicles they operate by 15 per cent.
Currently, the company operates 117 taxis providing service throughout Greater Victoria.
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In a release, the province said part of the legislation would include B次元官网网址渟trengtheningB次元官网网址� the boardB次元官网网址檚 authority B次元官网网址渢o determine fares, vehicle supply and operating areas.B次元官网网址�
It also states drivers will be required to undergo criminal checks and possess a class four licence, despite ride-hailing companies asking for class five requirements B次元官网网址� the licence given a typical B.C. driver.
B次元官网网址淭he bottom line is that this comes down to customer service,B次元官网网址� says Cecil Davies, general manager of Sidney Taxi.
The six-vehicle fleet will take you B次元官网网址渁nywhere you want to go in B.C.B次元官网网址� but mainly serves a small but strong client base in the region.
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He predicts his company will B次元官网网址渢ake a bit of a hitB次元官网网址� when people experiment with ride-hailing services, but thinks the bulk of the business will take place in the Lower Mainland where larger cab companies monopolize the roads.
B次元官网网址淚t will be more damaging to the companies that have ignored customer service for many years,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e built up a lot of dislike from the general public. TheyB次元官网网址檙e going to be the main target.B次元官网网址�
Still, Davies thinks the competition will be good for business, as long as ride-hailing companies B次元官网网址渏ump through the same hoops we do.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 like the concept,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 a great idea but it needs to be regulated. If theyB次元官网网址檙e going to come in like they do in other cities and undercut, that would be very damaging to us.B次元官网网址�
@kristyn_anthony
kristyn.anthony@blackpress.ca
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