Metro Vancouver cab company approved to operate ride-hailing service
A taxi company in Metro Vancouver has now received approval to operate a ride-hailing service, after a decision by BC’s Passenger Transportation Board (PTB) on Wednesday.
The PTB said the decision comes after Bonny’s Taxi applied for a special authorization in the form of a Transportation Network Services authorization in January to provide ride-hailing services in Region 1, which encompasses the Lower Mainland and the Sea to Sky Corridor including Whistler.
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In its decision, the PTB said Bonny’s Taxi stated it will “use its existing fleet and app to meet demand, maintain a high level of customer service, provide safe and pleasant transportation, and a high level of driver professionalism and pride in the workplace.”
The PTB notes that Bonny’s has a current fleet size capability of 187 vehicles, which it states will “meet current TNS demand and allow for growth.” Bonny’s also “has a pool of 650 licensed Class 4 drivers with criminal record checks and at least a level II or Taxi Host Pro certificate.”
As well, “Bonny’s existing staff will manage the TNS using Bonny’s office resources, app and phone system,” the PTB decision states.
The PTB also calls the application by Bonny’ unique, in that “it does not seek to increase its fleet size whereas TNCs typically have an unlimited fleet size.”
Rather, “Bonny’s will use its existing and unused fleet capacity to provide TNS. The approval of Bonny’s application for a TNS cannot be used to increase the size of Bonny’s taxi fleet; as such, it will not affect the taxi industry’s overall fleet size in the operating area.”
And while approval of its application “could potentially affect the TNS industry, given the fleet size of the TNS industry relative to Bonny’s, it would be minimal,” the PTB states.
Finally, Bonny’s “has stated that it will offer passengers lower rates when operating as a TNS,” the PTB decision says. “The Board accepts that dynamic pricing is central to the TNS business model.”
Dynamic pricing, it adds, “is the mechanism by which the supply of vehicles is adjusted to respond to passenger demand. Bonny’s has stated that it intends to offer lower costs to customers. The Board finds this will encourage healthy competition in the passenger transportation industry and promote sound economic conditions in BC.”
Bonny’s Taxi was incorporated in November of 1977.
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