Taxi group flags safety of ride-hailing companies
Provincial association wants Liberals to review its plan to let Uber, Lyft operate
The safety of drivers and the public should not be compromised if ridehailing companies are allowed to operate in B.C., says the president of the B.C. Taxi Association.
Last week, the B.C. Liberals announced that if they are re-elected on May 9, ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft will be available to British Columbians by December. The NDP vowed the Liberal plan will never come to fruition if they are elected. Details of the NDP plan for the taxi industry were not revealed.
On Monday, about 80 members of the BCTA, which represents the majority of the taxi industry in the province, met in Surrey to discuss their position and future actions.
BCTA president Mohan Kang said the meeting lasted three to four hours and drew members from across B.C., including Fort St. John and Vancouver Island.
“We had a very healthy discussion,” Kang said. “Honestly, they were very concerned about the changes.”
The primary concern members have, Kang said, is safety and they believe there should be more regulation for ride-hailing services, not an overall relaxation of the rules. For instance, drivers should be required to have a Class 4 licence and a chauffeur’s permit to operate because that’s the current standard for taxis.
Kang said drivers also wondered how the province will enforce the National Safety Code cap on the number of hours professional drivers can spend on the road.
“We strongly believe the ridesharing provider must meet the safety standards,” Kang said. “It should be a concern for the con- sumer, as well as the government. Public safety should be at the top of everybody’s interest.”
Kang said his members like the idea of receiving provincial funds to develop an app to compete with ride-hailing companies and install crash-avoidance technology in their vehicles.
“The association believes it’s a step toward the right direction for the government,” he said.
Kang said he hopes to work with the Vancouver Taxi Association, which released an open letter last week detailing its stance on ridehailing services. In interviews, spokeswoman Carolyn Bauer called the government announcement “unfair” and said her association plans to seek legal advice.
Kang wants the Liberals to take a second look at the proposed changes, something the government has said it is willing to do if taxi drivers make a compelling argument.
“It is our intention to work with the government,” Kang said.