Vancouver issues first inter-municipal ride-hailing business licence

May 5 2020, 4:26 pm

The City of Vancouver has issued the first inter-municipal business licence (IMBL) for ride-hailing to Kabu-Ride Inc (Kabu).

The licence allows Kabu to pick up and drop off passengers across the Lower Mainland using one business licence.

“Having one ride-hailing business licence for the entire Lower Mainland will save companies hundreds of dollars in permitting fees,” said Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart in a release.

He noted that it will also help “give residents across the region more transportation options, which is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Participating municipalities include Abbotsford, Anmore, Bowen Island, Burnaby, Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Delta, Harrison Hot Springs, City of Langley, Township of Langley, Lions Bay, Maple Ridge, District of North Vancouver, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Squamish, Surrey, Vancouver, West Vancouver, and White Rock.

The City’s municipal ride-hailing regulations will remain in place for Lyft and Uber, until they apply for their IMBL. Both companies received ride-hailing business licences from the City of Vancouver on January 23, 2020.

Kabu was the only other business that had received a municipal ride-hailing business licence to operate in the City of Vancouver, on February 19.

Effective now, ride-hailing companies wishing to operate in Vancouver and other participating municipalities by purchasing only one business licence for all participating municipalities may apply for an IMBL, provided they have obtained a Provincial TNS licence.

Receipt of an inter-municipal business licence is the final step for a company to legally operate ride-hailing vehicles in participating municipalities across the Lower Mainland.

Companies must also hold a Provincial Transportation Network Service (TNS) licence from the Passenger Transportation Board, which Kabu received on February 7.

Eric ZimmerEric Zimmer

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