‘Suburban taxis aren’t solution to Vancouver’s cab waits’

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Over one hundred Vancouver taxi drivers who descended upon city hall Thursday night got the decision they were looking for.

After a four-and-a-half hour session, listening to cab drivers and cab takers, Vancouver city councillors have decided to hold off on allowing 38 suburban taxis to provide service in Vancouver on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Many cab drivers described to councillors how the weekends are their bread and butter, and resented outsiders taking away their business.

Carolyn Bauer is with the Vancouver Taxi Association.

“There are peaks and valleys in the business. There are many times cab drivers aren’t making money. They can sit for hours on end. Friday and Saturday nights are when they can make the money,” she says.

The out-of-city cabs were meant to address heavy demand and long wait times on weekends, especially when downtown bars are let out.

Bauer says frustrated customers should use the new Ecab app.

“It is an amazing app. It brings the closest cab to you. It allows you to prepay or pay with cash. It allows you to rate the driver and service. That allows us to find out where we are falling short.”

The city is still irritated by the fact its application for 78 wheelchair-accessible cab licences was largely rejected by the Passenger Transportation Board last year. The board only granted 20 licences. The city renewed its support of an appeal of that decision.

As for Uber entering the Vancouver market, councillors say any guidelines and regulations would have to come from the provincial government first.

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