Transportation board approves Uber, Lyft ride hail services in Lower Mainland

“I know people are frustrated,” Trevena said at a news conference at the legislature. “I know people wanted it immediately. I was as frustrated as everyone in the time it seemed to be taking. But I think in the end people in B.C. can feel very comfortable in the service they’ll be getting.”

Lyft’s B.C. general manager Peter Lukomskyj said in a statement the company is working with local jurisdictions to obtain business licences. “Once those are approved, we plan to announce our initial operating area, give our inaugural ride and launch our service,” he said. Lukomskyj said the company is accepting applications for drivers and has agreements with driving schools to help prospective operators obtain their Class 4 commercial driver’s licence, a requirement in B.C. for transportation network service drivers. Michael van Hemmen, Uber’s spokesman in Western Canada, said in a statement the licence approval is a major step, but the company still needs to receive several administrative approvals before it hits the road.

“We hope to launch very soon, once we have obtained a business licence from the City of Vancouver and purchased insurance from the Insurance Corporation of B.C.,” he said.

Van Hemmen said drivers with Class 4 licences are encouraged to sign up for

Uber.

Uber’s website states the company is operating in 19 locations in Canada and more than 700 cities globally. The San Francisco-based Lyft currently operates in nine locations in Ontario and about 560 cities and communities in the United States.

Trevena said it took the government two years to bring ride-hailing services to B.C. She said the process involved amending transportation service laws to accommodate ride-hailing and the existing taxi service and to ensure safety for passengers and drivers.

“I think people are aware we’ve been diligent in developing the framework and amending the legislation, getting the regulations in place, putting passenger safety first,” Trevena said.

She said it’s now up to the companies to get the necessary approvals before providing service to passengers.

“As quickly as they can go through these steps, they’ll be operating,” Trevena said.

The transportation board said it declined to approve ride-hailing applications for Kater Technologies Inc., and Reryde Technologies Inc.

The board said it has received 29 ride-hailing licence applications and has issued six decisions so far.