If you’ve got an issue with the number of accessible taxies in New Westminster, take it up with the province.
City council recently supported amendments to the commercial vehicle bylaw that would allow Royal City Taxi Ltd. to add eight new taxis to its fleet. Royal City Taxi applied to operate 15 new vehicles – 11 accessible taxis and four conventional taxis – but only received approval from the Passenger Transportation Branch to operate eight new vehicles, said Kim Deighton, the city’s manager of licensing and integrated services
“They were given approval for six conventional and two wheelchair accessible, making a total of eight,” she said.
That didn’t sit well with Coun. Patrick Johnstone.
“I have a problem with them asking for a large number of accessible taxis and only be being given two,” he said. “That doesn’t make any sense to me. I can’t find any rationale why they would approve fewer accessible taxis than a company actually want to provide to the city. I think it speaks to a larger failure of the Passenger Transportation Branch to actually fairly assess what our needs are as far as taxi services. I am in favour of this application. I don’t think we are approving enough taxis to provide the needs for the city.”
While the new taxies are “a good step in the right direction,” Johnstone said the city is being held back by adequate taxi service in the provincial board that approves these licences.
Coun. Jaimie McEvoy said it’s strange that a taxi company is willing to spend more money to provide accessible vehicles, but is being told it can’t provide that level of service.
“It’s such a bureaucracy,” he said. “It’s just bizarre. It’s an important service.”
A staff report states that in order to operate a taxi, an operator must first obtain a licence from the provinces’ Passenger Transportation Board.
“When considering an application for a taxi licence, the PTB considers factors such as the applicant’s background, the need for additional taxi service, and economic impacts on existing taxis. PTB licences specify the type of vehicle to be used (i.e. wheelchair accessible or sedan) and the area to be served,” said a staff report.
