The B.C. government says companies hoping to operate ride-hailing services in the province will be able to submit applications and potentially operate by September.
While ride-hailing services are available in most jurisdictions across North America, 麻豆传媒映画is known to be the largest city in the continent without transportation options such as Lyft Inc. or Uber Technologies Inc.
A ride-hailing customer waits for her car to pick her up/Shutterstock
That will change September 3, when the Passenger Transportation Board (PTB) begins accepting applications from companies wishing to operate within the province.
The quickest any of these companies will be able to hit the roads will be September 16, when all the related regulations will be in full force.
Most jurisdictions allow private companies to determine their own prices and supply of vehicles, however, the cabinet-appointed PTB will be taking on those responsibilities in B.C.
The government will also require that drivers possess Class 4 licences, which are less ubiquitous compared with Class 5 licences and require higher levels of testing.
Surrey Board of Trade CEO Anita Huberman said her organization was pleased the PTB would soon begin accepting applications.
鈥淗owever, the Surrey Board of Trade is disappointed that Class 4 licence requirements are a part of the regulation. This needs to be revisited by government to enable full market participation in the ride-hailing industry,鈥� she said in a statement.
The Surrey Board of Trade is advocating for the scrapping of any geographic boundaries for drivers, permitting marked-based pricing and allowing drivers to posses Class 5 licences.
"Our plan has made it possible for ride-hailing companies to apply to enter the market this fall, with vehicles on the road later this year, while ensuring the safety of passengers and promoting accessibility options in the industry," B.C. Transportation Minister Claire Trevena said in a statement.
