Groups band together to bring ridesharing to B.C.

A team of eight B.C.-based organizations joined forces this week and launched a coalition called, Ridesharing Now for BC.

The group aims to hold the BC Government accountable to its proposed fall 2018 rollout of ride-hailing services, as well as, prevent the BC Government from pandering to the BC Taxi Association.

"The government said ridesharing by the fall, so we will hold them to that date," said coalition spokesperson, Ian Tostenson, president and CEO of the BC Restaurant & Food Services Association.

Tostenson believes the Ride-hailing model should consist of an open-market framework for companies to operate across B.C. and it should happen sooner rather than later.

"It's time for everybody to modernize. If we don't get on with this we are going to forget the whole rideshare thing and we will be dealing with technology. It was time four years ago - we are so far behind."

Today we launch our coalition to urge B.C. government to finally bring ridesharing services like Lyft and Uber to our province with 9 organizations and hopefully you. Head to https://t.co/vxj8cxKzom to join us and send a letter to your MLA about the need for ridesharing. pic.twitter.com/3aMlASbxF5

— Ridesharing Now for BC (@ridesharingnow) February 7, 2018

Tom Wilson, communications manager for the City of Kelowna, said the city is poised and ready for the province's approval.

“We’re waiting for the province to establish its position on Uber. Generally, the city is in favour of giving people more options to get rides when they need them, but the city wants a fair, safe system under guidelines established province-wide.”

In an attempt to give the B.C. taxi companies a hand up, the BC Government announced in March 2017 plans to invest $1 million to develop a shared dispatch app for taxi services.

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Todd Stone said the shared dispatch capability would "allow the taxi sector provincewide to better compete with new entrants to the market."

"We are committed to start implementing regional dispatches a soon as possible in preparing for one single dispatch," said a spokesperson for the BC Taxi Association.

But Tostenson, said "it makes no sense" to lump the services together under one umbrella, adding, the competitive marketplace is necessary for companies like Uber, Lyft and other companies to remain competitive with their services.

"People have to accept the fact that it's a competitive marketplace, let the taxi cabs compete in a fair platform and let's go for it."

Tostenson is tired of waiting but understands there's a lot to consider before Horgan gives the thumbs up.

"They've got so many issues to deal with. We would love them to do it in the spring but I just don't think realistically they're going to be able to get at it."

The biggest implication, he said is providing more services to the smaller, scattered cities in places like the Okanagan Valley.

"I think of the Okanagan - I grew up there and I think of all the small wineries and small towns around Kelowna and there's no taxi service to speak of - Rideshare would be a real boom for people visiting wineries, going out and visiting restaurants."

Need a ride home from #CrosscutFest? We have an @Uber_SEA pickup spot here on the @SeattleU campus. pic.twitter.com/3Tjke6XT4x

— Crosscut (@Crosscut) February 4, 2018

"Imagine tourists that come from the states - they are already ready to go for this. We've just got to grow up as a Province and get on with it. "

Another issue left to tackle is ensuring the safety of both the drivers and passengers.

A fairly new company, Lyft, received media attention today for a woman who allegedly attacked a fellow passenger.

Woman charged in high-heel attack on fellow Lyft passenger in South Beach: Miami Beach police have arrested a woman who they say beat a fellow passenger inside a shared Lyft vehicle that left the victim with a puncture wound in his forehead … Click to… https://t.co/CAhb4xvtSs pic.twitter.com/0L6xVgwh6o

— Welcome To Miami (@MiamiBestOf) February 8, 2018

Already in the public eye, Lyft decided to announce the hiring of Tesla's former head of global sales, John McNeill today. McNeill takes the role as Lyft's new COO.

"Incredibly excited to welcome John McNeill as Lyft's COO," tweeted Lyft's CEO and co-founder, Logan Green.

But Tolstenson gives Premier Horgan credit, stating, "He is really trying to get to a deep understanding of the implications of rideshare."

The coalition is asking the public to visit the website ridesharenow.com and register in order to send a letter to their MLA about the implications of ride-hailing in B.C.

For more on the Province's proposals, visit TranBC.

The coalition is comprised of the following eight organizations:

• Vancouver Economic Commision

• Urban Development Institute (Pacific Region)

• Greater Vancouver Board of Trade

• Finger Food

• CNIB British Columbia

• Business Council of British Columbia

• BC Restaurant & Foodservices Association

• BC Chamber of commerce