The provincial government of British Columbia has announced that the province will allow transportation network companies (TNCs) to operate in the region by the end of this year, all while implementing initiatives that would ensure that the taxi industry remains competitive.
The ICBC is pitching in with this plan, and is willing to help taxi companies operating in the area.
According to Transportation Minister Todd Stone, the government consulted with residents, the taxi industry, and TNCs to create a ridesharing plan that suits the province’s needs. He also promised that this plan would be enacted should he be re-elected in May.
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“British Columbians have made it very clear that there is a demand for the services that ride-sharing companies provide,” Stone told the press yesterday. “What we’ve heard is that any changes we introduce in British Columbia will need to address the public’s desire for more choice, but also convenience, accessibility and competition.”
The ministry said that it would try to level the playing field so that taxi companies can reasonably compete with TNCs through a number of initiatives, one of which is investing $1m to help the taxi industry develop its own app that would allow consumers to order and pay for a taxi ride, similar to TNCs and their on-demand app services.
Another proposed initiative will give taxis exclusive rights to street hailing, and one other involves working with municipal governments to reduce red tape and to tackle taxi and vehicles-for-hire shortages, The Canadian Press reported.
Stone underlined that the provincial government will require the same safety standards for both taxis and TNC drivers. He also said that safeguards will be implemented to ensure that consumers will always be offered fair pricing. At the same time, certain regulations will be relaxed for TNC drivers, such as the requirement for a specialized driver’s license. The government will also work to drop municipal boundaries so that both taxi companies and TNCs can operate anywhere.
ICBC is contributing to the initiatives to aid taxis, The Canadian Press reported. The public insurer will invest up to $3.5m in the taxi industry to develop crash avoidance technology in all taxi cabs, and will also make insurance more affordable for taxi drivers.
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