944 replies to this topic

[spanky123]

That's terrible for everyone, NDP included. Plenty of left-leaning urbanites in the province who want ridesharing. Taxi drivers desperately trying to preserve the value of their medallions, on the other hand? Not a big voter block I'd reckon. Is Horgan somehow scared that the taxi lobby would turn on the NDP, even though no other party really supports their rent-seeking?

Due to the cultural history of bloc voting, a few people actually control large portions of the vote in some ridings. Last number I heard was 5 which is enough to swing a close election.

The other thing the left is finally figuring out is that the gig economy has created millions of self-employed, non-union workers over the past couple of years.

[rjag]

That's terrible for everyone, NDP included. Plenty of left-leaning urbanites in the province who want ridesharing. Taxi drivers desperately trying to preserve the value of their medallions, on the other hand? Not a big voter block I'd reckon. Is Horgan somehow scared that the taxi lobby would turn on the NDP, even though no other party really supports their rent-seeking?

 

Have a look at the election results fro Surrey and how many seats are in play there. Thats the hook the taxi lobby has over both parties.

 

https://en.wikipedia...on,_2017#Surrey

[Mike K.]

Legislation opens the door to ride-hailing next year, puts safety first

https://news.gov.bc....TRAN0194-002220

 

Legislation introduced Nov. 19, 2018, by the provincial government will allow ride-hailing companies to enter the B.C. market next year, while putting priority on safety for passengers.

 

“This is milestone legislation that gets ride-hailing right for B.C.,” said Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “British Columbians absolutely want more options and flexibility in how they get around, but with checks in place to make sure their ride is a safe one.”

 

If passed, the Passenger Transportation Amendment Act will enable:

• ICBC to develop a modern insurance product for ride-hailing for fall of 2019.
• A new, data-driven approach to improve taxi service and ride-hailing opportunities, particularly at high-demand locations and peak times, by strengthening the Passenger Transportation Board’s authority to determine fares, vehicle supply and operating areas.
• The development of measures to make sure people are not left stranded when traveling from one municipality to another.
• The inclusion of a per-trip fee to fund more accessibility options for people with disabilities.
• Increased enforcement of the rules with stiffer penalties for taxi and ride-hailing companies for working outside the law.

A new, legislative committee will review these changes as regulations are put in place to make sure government is on the right track with modern, safe taxi and ride-hailing service.

 

In drafting the Passenger Transportation Amendment Act, government’s priority was to make sure British Columbians are safer on the roads, and will be requiring all ride-hailing and taxi drivers to maintain a Class 4 passenger licence and undergo mandatory criminal checks.

 

With these legislative changes, government expects applications from ride-hailing companies wanting to enter the market will be submitted to the Passenger Transportation Board (PTB) by fall 2019.

 

Earlier this year, the Province adopted a suite of recommendations to modernize the taxi industry, including giving the industry the flexibility to discount fares when trips are booked through an app, and boost the number of cabs throughout B.C. to give people more rides.

 

Technical brief: https://news.gov.bc....EV_Nov_2018.pdf

[rjag]

Classic NDP approach 🙄

If Horgan was really woke he’d know ride sharing is lit 🔥

Edited by rjag, 19 November 2018 - 04:21 PM.

[Mike K.]

• A new, data-driven approach to improve taxi service and ride-hailing opportunities, particularly at high-demand locations and peak times, by strengthening the Passenger Transportation Board’s authority to determine fares, vehicle supply and operating areas.
• The inclusion of a per-trip fee to fund more accessibility options for people with disabilities.

I wonder if the first point means surge pricing, which ride hailing companies charge when travel demand rises beyond a certain threshold, will be limited and (second point) if every fare will include a fee that will be diverted by the government towards transport options for persons with disabilities?

[spanky123]

 

• A new, data-driven approach to improve taxi service and ride-hailing opportunities, particularly at high-demand locations and peak times, by strengthening the Passenger Transportation Board’s authority to determine fares, vehicle supply and operating areas.
• The inclusion of a per-trip fee to fund more accessibility options for people with disabilities.

I wonder if the first point means surge pricing, which ride hailing companies charge when travel demand rises beyond a certain threshold, will be limited and (second point) if every fare will include a fee that will be diverted by the government towards transport options for persons with disabilities?

 

 

The rules will be set such that it will not be economical for Lyft or Uber to operate. If the intent was anything to the contrary then we would have had ride sharing her 3 years ago. We are simply going through the motions of making it look like the Government is welcoming, while ensuring that the service never happens. 

[shoeflack]

The inclusion of the Class 4 license requirement will certainly keep driver interest somewhat lower than in other jurisdictions I would imagine. Curious as to how many other provinces/states require such driver requirements.

[tjv]

I really have to wonder how many people in BC this is pissing off?  To me it shows the NDP doesn't want to lead, are afraid to make a real decision and are petrified about angering the cab vote (hint 1000 or so people in Surrey are controlling the way government operates).  It truly is pathetic how badly this issue is being handled.

[rjag]

The inclusion of the Class 4 license requirement will certainly keep driver interest somewhat lower than in other jurisdictions I would imagine. Curious as to how many other provinces/states require such driver requirements.

 

Class 4 (restricted)is a BS license and doesnt offer anything over a class 5. 

 

However I agree that it means an added level of effort has to be made to obtain it 

 

Instead why not make it a requirement that any Taxi/Limo/Ride Sharing driver cannot have more than 4 points on their license at any one time and cannot be licensed unless they have a 3 year clean abstract.....and they cant renew their Class 4 license if they have received points in 3 years out of the previous 5.  

[LeoVictoria]

The inclusion of the Class 4 license requirement will certainly keep driver interest somewhat lower than in other jurisdictions I would imagine. Curious as to how many other provinces/states require such driver requirements.

I was looking at the requirements for class 4 today. Makes zero sense. Sure mandate a criminal record check but most of class 4 is about driving things like 15 passenger vans. Ridiculous to require that for someone just wanting to drive their own car around.

I really can’t see a lot of casual drivers bothering to go through all the hassle of getting a class 4 to make a couple bucks on Uber

[Victoria Watcher]

today - and after uber licencing - my daycare helper can have a criminal record for child molestation and also have 40 points on his license.  nothing to stop him driving 5 kids in his car.

[jonny]

This is a friggin' joke. I don't understand the leverage cabbies have.

[RFS]

This is a friggin' joke. I don't understand the leverage cabbies have.

https://en.m.wikiped...ritish_Columbia

[DustMagnet]

What I don't understand is why the taxi industry isn't using this gift (that they've had for years) to eat Uber and the like's lunch in terms of a technology platform.  You should be able to hail a cab (from any local company), see it on the map, consider the ratings of the driver, pay for the trip using your account, etc.  Even if taxis are more expensive I think if you gave the public the convenience side of things I think people would fret less about not have the ride-hailing services.

[N E Body]

I really can’t see a lot of casual drivers bothering to go through all the hassle of getting a class 4 to make a couple bucks on Uber

 

I'm going to do it just to help ensure that Uber/Lyft have enough drivers. Hopefully it will also piss off the NDP.

Edited by N E Body, 19 November 2018 - 10:45 PM.

[Greg]

What I don't understand is why the taxi industry isn't using this gift (that they've had for years) to eat Uber and the like's lunch in terms of a technology platform.  You should be able to hail a cab (from any local company), see it on the map, consider the ratings of the driver, pay for the trip using your account, etc.  Even if taxis are more expensive I think if you gave the public the convenience side of things I think people would fret less about not have the ride-hailing services.

 

Exactly. This is why the whole situation sucks. Yeah, I'm sure some folks use Uber only because it is less expensive than a taxi, but I want it because it is *better* than a taxi. And it is better only because taxis have chosen not to innovate and improve. And they've done that because of protectionist nonsense like what is going on in BC.

[jonny]

What I don't understand is why the taxi industry isn't using this gift (that they've had for years) to eat Uber and the like's lunch in terms of a technology platform. 

 

Monopolies and oligopolies are inherently lazy. See: ICBC, Air Canada, Canadian Telecom, etc. 

Edited by jonny, 20 November 2018 - 09:45 AM.

[jonny]

Exactly. This is why the whole situation sucks. Yeah, I'm sure some folks use Uber only because it is less expensive than a taxi, but I want it because it is *better* than a taxi. And it is better only because taxis have chosen not to innovate and improve. And they've done that because of protectionist nonsense like what is going on in BC.

 

Some taxis are fine. Some Ubers (drivers & vehicles) are not great. On the whole, I have enjoyed Ubers much more than I have enjoyed taxis in terms of customer service, cleanliness, safety, friendliness, the ease of payment and of course the app. I love that you can order a really nice car if you want and know precisely when it is going to arrive. 

 

Essentially the BC NDP does not like the Uber/Lyft business model and would love to regulate it into oblivion. I believe their hope here is to limit ridesharing's viability, profitability and appeal. The NDP does not love free enterprise and innovation - they merely accept it as an unfortunate reality of modern life. If it can't be controlled by the government, they don't love it. The more the NDP changes, the more they stay the same. 

[Mike K.]

Lest we forget, the spec tax disappeared from the jurisdictions where Andrew Weaver and Carole James have vacation homes, so maybe there's some hope here if one of their nieces or nephews decides to become an Uber driver? Just saying.

[spanky123]

Exactly. This is why the whole situation sucks. Yeah, I'm sure some folks use Uber only because it is less expensive than a taxi, but I want it because it is *better* than a taxi. And it is better only because taxis have chosen not to innovate and improve. And they've done that because of protectionist nonsense like what is going on in BC.

 

In fairness when licenses are restricted and regulated it is hard to get to the point where spending money on your own app is viable. I am sure that if Yellow Cab was allowed to operate as many cabs as they wanted anywhere they wanted then they would have had an app long before Uber.