Burnaby taxi firm receives ride-hailing licence

A Burnaby-based taxi company received Passenger Transportation Board approval Wednesday to operate a ride-hailing service throughout the Lower Mainland and Whistler.

The new licence will allow Bonny’s Taxi, which has operated since 1977 with service in and from Burnaby and the Vancouver airport, to pick up fares anywhere within Metro Vancouver, eliminating traditional municipal taxi boundaries that have been in place for decades.

“The most lucrative market in Metro Vancouver is the downtown area of Vancouver. The ability to operate in a larger (transportation network service) operating area will provide Bonny’s with the ability to pick up trips in a larger area,” the board said in its ruling.

“If a trip destination is outside Bonny’s taxi operating area, the driver may not need to deadhead back to its taxi operating area for a new fare if an app-based trip is available. This may have some negative implications for Vancouver taxi companies, but these are likely to be minimal and the impact on other (transportation network companies) will be minimal.”

The board report says Bonny’s will continue to maintain its fleet of 187 vehicles, which includes 30 wheelchair-accessible vans.

Also Wednesday, the board approved the provincewide launch of the Ripe Rides ride-hailing service. The company, which has its head office in Yaletown, plans to operate a fleet of 150 vehicles within the first three months of service with a focus on serving Metro, Squamish and Whistler.

Two other applications — from the Langford-based Dad’s Dial a Driver Services and Courtenay-located VI Ride Hailing — were denied Wednesday by the board.