Richmond Cabs, operating as Richmond Taxi, is one of nine Metro 麻豆传媒映画companies trying to quash Uber and Lyft鈥檚 licence to operate in B.C.
Two legal challenges, filed Monday at BC Supreme Court, state the taxi companies are seeking an injunction to stop Uber and Lyft from operating, while a petition asking the court to rescind the companies鈥� licences is reviewed.聽聽
Other Metro 麻豆传媒映画companies behind the suit are Yellow Cab, Black Top Cabs, Maclure鈥檚 Cabs, 麻豆传媒映画Taxi, North Shore Taxi, Bonny鈥檚 Taxi, Burnaby Select Metrotown Taxi and Queen City Taxi.
Richmond鈥檚 Garden City Cabs and Kimber Cabs Ltd. are listed as 鈥渁dditional petitioners,鈥� along with several other Metro 麻豆传媒映画companies.
The Passenger Transportation Board (PTB), according to the petitioners, is allowing Uber and Lyft to operate on more favourable terms than the taxi companies, and didn鈥檛 consider the 鈥渆xtremely harmful financial impact鈥� to taxis, with no current limits to fleet size or operating area.聽聽 聽
鈥淭he cornerstone of the regulation of the taxi industry has always been the limit on the number of taxi licences that are granted for a particular geographic area,鈥� reads the petition, adding that the limits have been set to prevent the 鈥渄estructive competition鈥� that would result from unlimited entry into the market.
This, according to the petition, would result in none of the taxi companies being able to make a living.
鈥淭he business model of the international (ride-hailing companies), specifically Uber and Lyft, is to dominate the passenger transportation market by not having to comply with the rules and regulations that apply to taxis,鈥� reads the petition.
The Richmond News has reached out to both Richmond Taxi and the lawyer representing the nine companies, but did not receive a response from either by the time of publication.
However, when asked by the News on their response to the petition, Michael van Hemmen, Uber's head of Western Canada, said it's the jurisdiction of the PTB to review and assess ride-hailing applications.
"Our licence application went through an extensive five-month review period, and we're confident the court will uphold the PTB's decision."
Uber and Lyft aren鈥檛 currently subject to fleet size restrictions.
鈥淚t takes years for (ride-hailing services) to ramp up. This will especially be the case with Class 4 drivers licence requirement,鈥� said Catherine Reid, PTB chair, when the board set out conditions for ride-hailing operations.
鈥淭he Passenger Transportation Board will be monitoring (ride-hailing service) performance data, and as data becomes available fleet size may be reassessed.鈥�
The minimum rate for Uber and Lyft is based on taxi flag rates, according to the PTB. In Metro Vancouver, this ranges from $3.50 to $3.75 as a base rate.
However, the petition claims that the taxi companies鈥� economic situation is 鈥渋mmediately and significantly鈥� impacted by Uber and Lyft.
鈥淭here have already been several reports of reduced taxi business, especially at YVR airport and at hotel taxi stands, with taxis waiting longer than usual for customers, while customers wait longer to pay lower prices for Uber and Lyft,鈥� reads the petition.
Ridesharing is different than a taxi, as defined by provincial law, said van Hemmel.聽
"The Passenger Transportation Board and provincial government were responsible for creating regulations for ridesharing companies. It is also important to acknowledge that some taxi regulations, such as municipal boundaries, have been put in place and asked for by the industry itself."
Uber and Lyft were approved by the PTB Jan. 23, and both had business licences from the City of Richmond by Monday.
The injunction application will be heard Feb. 4.
