Vehicle decals remain an issue in proposed taxi bylaw; Regional Council will review next month

Safety of the consumer and drivers of any taxi or ride hailing services remain the top priority for Regional Council.

GPS tracking is required in all vehicles and that will be carried over from the old bylaw into the new proposed bylaw.

Regional Chair Ken Seiling tells us the issue that still remains.

“We’ll pass the bylaw in September when it comes forward. We have one last question which is size of signs on the vehicles. We’ll settle that in September and then we’ll move on and have a new regulatory framework.”

The recommendation from staff is to have two decals that are a minimum size of two-hundred square centimeters each in a visible location that must display the name of the taxi-cab broker.

Another motion that was voted on and passed was in-car cameras and GPS tracking.

Regional Council agreed that GPS tracking was sufficient and they will collect data of how well it’s working in a year and re-visit the issue.

Uber Canada did not want cameras in their cars, however, they agree GPS tracking will help keep the consumer and drivers safe.

Chris Schafer from Uber Canada says the company currently operates with a GPS tracking system.

“I can share my trip details with a loved one, family member or business colleague. They would get all the information that I’m privy to. In addition, to be able to watch me travel in real time on their smartphone device.”

Ride hailing services such as Uber will have to pay a fee in lieu of accessible services that Uber currently does not offer.

A per-trip fee will be implemented and Uber will pay eleven-cents per trip instead of a vehicle or drivers licenses.

Schafer says that other municipalities have adopted the “per trip” model and it has worked out well for them.

Regional Council will review the bylaw next month and they hope to approve and finalize it with implementation coming as soon as November 1st.

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