PG Taxi
Ride Share

PG Taxi challenges

Sep 17, 2019 | 3:25 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – A local cab company it considering the option of offering its own ride-sharing service. Prince George Taxi has learned it is perfectly legal to have both under the same roof.

At least one ride-share companies have applied to the BC Passenger Transportation Board to set up shop in Prince George and PG Taxi has added itself as an intervener to oppose the applications.

“We think our response times are pretty good,” says Sam Kuuluvainen, Manager of Prince George Taxi. “There’s actually a larger problem in the Vancouver area, where they simply don’t have enough cars. So on a Friday or Saturday night, there’s actually a one hour wait during peak times. It’s very difficult to get a cab.”

But, more to the point, Kuuluvainen has just learned from the Ministry of Transportation that a cab company can also hold a ride-sharing licence simultaneously, which is something he is considering.

“It’s just a question of being able to compete because our prices are set. We can’t offer any discounts. We have to charge what it is, so the only option to compete would be to apply for our own ride-sharing licence and then through the app, being able to charge rates comparable to the ride-sharing. And if we’re able to do that, then we’d be able to compete very well.”

Uride submitted its application on September 3rd and the Passenger Transportation Board has set a deadline of September 23rd to make further submissions.

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