Surrey Board of Trade Receives Confirmation from BC Transportation Minister that Ride-hailing Can’t be Prevented by Municipalities

The Surrey Board of Trade formally asked BC’S Transportation Minister for clarification around municipalities authority to blocking ride-hailing to operate within boundary limits. A response was received recently indicating that the legislation introduced last Fall will give the Passenger Transportation Board sole jurisdiction over vehicle supply and operating area for ride-hailing and taxi services, preventing municipalities from passing bylaws that would prohibit ride-hailing from operating within their jurisdiction. Municipalities will still be able to regulate ride-hailing services in other ways, such as bylaws that limit where ridehailing vehicles can stop or whether they can drive in HOV lanes.

“The Surrey Board of Trade has been actively advocating for ride-hailing to be implemented, especially in the absence of transportation options in Surrey and South of the Fraser. This clarification is important to Surrey businesses to ensure a pathway towards the efficient movement of people,” said Anita Huberman, CEO Surrey Board of Trade.

“I was also pleased to read in Minister Trevena’s letter to the Surrey Board of Trade that she will be working in the coming weeks and months to promote greater flexibility around the key areas of regulations, raised in the report released by the Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations. Specifically in the areas of supply, boundaries and pricing, to better prepare for the introduction of ride-hailing.”

Again, the Surrey Board of Trade asked for a re-consideration of a Class 4 license, and instead allowing for a Class 5 license for ride-hailing industry participants. The Minister’s response continued to indicate that Class 4 led to more public safety accountability.

The British Columbia Government has made plans to implement ride-hailing services this Fall. Ridehailing services include services such as Lyft and Uber where drivers use their own vehicle to pick up and drop off passengers through the use of an app or website.

“Let’s finally have some action on ride-hailing in British Columbia. Surrey needs it,” said Huberman.