B.C. on right road with tougher ride-hailing rules, expert says

VICTORIA The B.C. government’s firm position on tougher driver’s licence requirements for ride-hailing is a move in the right direction given the experiences from other jurisdictions, a transportation specialist says.

“I would applaud the B.C. government for standing up because most other governments have basically stood down,” said Garland Chow, an emeritus associate professor at the University of B.C.’S Sauder School of Business.

The B.C. Transportation Ministry updated safety, insurance and penalty rules and regulations this month, and set Sept. 3 as the date ride-hail companies can apply to enter the market. Rules covering fares drivers can charge, vehicle boundary zones and the numbers of ride-hail vehicles allowed on the roads are due to come this summer, the ministry said.

Chow said other jurisdictions have had push back from the large ride-hailing companies over licence restrictions and safety concerns, but B.C. has the opportunity to get it right before the service takes to the streets.

The provincial government is holding firm that ride-hailing drivers have a Class 4 licence, like those held by taxi, limousine, ambulance and other commercial vehicle drivers, as opposed to the Class 5 licence, held by most B.C. drivers.

Chow, who testified last January before the all-party legislative standing committee that produced proposed ride-hailing regulations, said he agrees with the licence requirement, for now. He noted the regulations allow for a review of the requirement after two years.

But both Uber and Lyft have said the requirement could be a deal breaker for them in the province. Lyft Canada spokesman Aaron Zifkin said in a statement the company remains concerned.

“Requiring commercial Class 4 licences for drivers will not improve safety, but will increase wait times and benefit the taxi industry,” said Zifkin.

Uber Canada said in a statement last week that there is no evidence that such a licence provides more safety than a standard licence.

Transportation Minister Claire Trevena said in a statement the requirement adds an extra level of safety for passengers.

Class 4 drivers must be at least 19 years old, have at least two years of non-learner driver experience and have fewer than four penalty point incidents in the last two years.

“We are not the only jurisdiction that requires taxi drivers or drivers of commercial ride-hailing vehicles to hold a commercial class of driver’s licence: Alberta has this same requirement, New York City has an equivalent, and ride-hailing companies are complying,” said Trevena.