By Pete McIntyre / KISS FM Vernon

Ride sharing not ready for BC roads

Oct 17, 2017 | 3:44 PM

VICTORIA — The BC government is moving towards allowing ride sharing services like Uber and Lyft, but will first make sure the taxi industry is ready.

Transportation Minister Claire Trevena says they have hired industry expert Dan Hara to prepare a report for a made-in-BC system.

“We want to introduce a system for passenger directed vehicles that works for everybody. For the hard working men and women in the taxi industry as well as for potential drivers for passenger directed vehicles,” Trevena told a news conference.

Trevena says they expect to have legislative changes by next fall.

She adds places that failed to move carefully when they brought in ride-sharing have seen safety issues, unpredictable prices and unstable access to services.

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Trevena realizes there are problems for people who use taxis — and those people want change.

Green Party leader Andrew Weaver says he’s disappointed the government won’t keep its promise to bring in ridesharing by the end of this year.

“It has been five years since ridesharing was first introduced into BC. There have since been reports that ridesharing companies are operating without proper oversight, regulation and insurance. Further, all three parties agreed to bring in ridesharing in the last election and have now had significant time to consult stakeholders and assess the various ramifications of regulating this industry in British Columbia,” says Weaver.