Vancouver Passenger Transportation Board Jurisdiction

The Provincial Government has jurisdiction on a number of matters related to the taxi industry, most significantly the Passenger Transportation Board (formerly the Motor Carrier Commission) which regulates inter-city buses and passenger-directed vehicles in British Columbia and the Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement Division which regulates the safety and service standards of the taxi industry, including the wheelchair accessible taxi component.

In October 1998, the former Motor Carrier Commission instituted a moratorium on all Vancouver taxi license applications in the Lower Mainland. In December 1999, the Commission revised the moratorium permitting applications for taxis designed to accommodate persons using mobility aids. On May 20, 2002, the moratorium was lifted entirely and new application policies for taxicab licenses were implemented.

On June 25, 2004, the former Motor Carrier Commission approved applications from the four licensed Vancouver taxi companies seeking permission to operate an additional twenty-nine (29) wheelchair accessible vehicles. At this time, the Motor Carrier Commission heard from many organizations and individuals directly affected by mobility impaired persons and the elderly who require wheelchair accessible vehicles.

Witnesses for the B.C. Coalition of People with Disabilities and B.C. Paraplegic Foundation testified that their services are used by large numbers of people, many of them elderly, with various degrees of mobility and for whom transportation is an important component to a healthy lifestyle. They stated that there is a shortage of wheelchair accessible vehicles in Vancouver and the waits for such vehicles (40 minutes to an hour) usually exceed the wait for a sedan type taxi (10 to 15 minutes). The wait times are also longer during certain peak times of the day, such as early morning and late afternoon.

The Commission also heard from individuals speaking on behalf of each taxi company. A representative of Vancouver Taxi Ltd., which holds the City’s 30 dual taxicab licenses, testified that the company’s main revenue comes from the dual taxicab vehicles. On average, each vehicle brings in between $400-$450 per day. Wait times for dual taxicabs depend on traffic, call load and area of call although 45 minutes was quoted as the average wait time. The majority of complaints are for lengthy wait times. It takes between 2-3 minutes to load and unload a mobility impaired passenger and the meter does not go on until the customer is secured in the vehicle. There are not many night calls for these specialized vehicles.

Requirements

-Taxicab driver certification.

-Driver's licence.

-Municipal taxi driver permit.

Experience: Experience an asset Languages: Speak English, Read English.

Taxicab and Limousine Drivers' Skills: Assist passengers, Provide pick up and delivery services.