Bylaw paves way for ride share companies

Chatamthisweek.com
June 19, 2018
Ellwood Shreve

Chatham-Kent council has approved of a vehicle for hire bylaw that paves the way for ride share companies such as Uber and Lyft to come into the municipality.

The bylaw, passed during Monday’s council meeting, also allows individuals to use their own vehicle to provide rides for a fee, provided they meet the requirements of the bylaw and obtain the required licence.

Coun. Derek Robertson called it an “absolute necessity” to enable companies like Uber and Lyft to operate in Chatham-Kent.

“It's a gap that must be filled.”

He said he’s curious to know the likelihood this bylaw will have in attracting private transportation companies to Chatham-Kent. If it’s slim, Robertson indicated he wants to know what more the municipality can do to bring them here.

Nancy Havens, manager of licensing services, said the municipality has spoken with Uber, which indicated it’s interested in hearing the outcome of Monday's vote.

Coun. Doug Sulman favours letting companies such as Uber know the bylaw has passed.

“But I hardly think it's our role to encourage them (to come to Chatham-Kent),” he added.

He said the municipality has a careful line to walk, citing the fact there are existing taxi companies already operating here.

Sulman also raised a potential issue of having a no set fee provision in the new bylaw.

If there is healthy competition, it shouldn't be a problem, he said.

“But, if there isn't sufficient competition, then it's the wild west where you can charge whatever you want,” Sulman said.

Havens acknowledged the municipality will receive complaints.

She added if there’s an issue that arises with no set fees, it will come back to council to look at possible amendments to the bylaw.

Havens said the aim is to give taxi companies to have more of a level playing field.

The report she presented to council noted the bylaw provides for three categories:

• Vehicle for hire - such as taxicabs and limousines.

• Private vehicle for hire.

• Private transportation company - such as Uber and Lyft.

Havens said private vehicles for hire and private transportation companies can't be hailed, cannot cruise for fares, cannot stand waiting for a fare, cannot have a roof light, nor can they be dispatched by two-way radio.

She added these two categories have to use a cell phone or an app to provide service and they are not governed under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

The bylaw is welcome news for communities outside of Chatham.

“I would say I have not seen anything more needed in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent then to open this up to this,” said Coun. Carmen McGregor of Wallaceburg, citing the size of the municipality makes public transportation a challenge.

Coun. Joe Faas, who represents North Kent, said he has used Uber several times and “I find that it is a very efficient, very cost-effective means of transportation.”

He envisions a private transportation company someday replacing the interurban busing service provided by the municipality.

“Our ridership is relatively low and I can see a day that we might subsidize Uber or Lyft . . . where it would be more cost-effective than our interurban busing service,” Faas said.

Coun. Brock McGregor noted there is a “real vacuum of accessible service” in the municipality since a cab company that once provided the service is no longer in business.

“It think it's a really pressing issue,” he said.

Havens said by opening up the new bylaw, the hope is that private people, who have accessible vehicles, will come forward to fill the gap.