Saint John council will hear an update on the status of ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft sometime in the new year. The update follows the announcement that Halifax had cleared the way for the ride-sharing services to operate in that city earlier this fall.
This isn’t the first time council has discussed the popular ride-hailing technology. In 2018, councillor Greg Norton tabled an approved motion to begin the process of courting the tech companies.
Following the news Halifax will welcome the Silicon Valley-friendly companies, Norton believes now is a good opportunity to fill what he calls ‘the last mile’ of the city’s transportation options.
“We have transit, traditional taxis, active transportation such as bike lanes and walking, and we have private transportation, but ride-sharing is another component that a liveable city, a growing and dynamic city, needs to have in place,” the councillor said.
Apps like Uber have been criticized for circumventing traditional employee standards, by having drivers sign on as independent contractors, allowing the newer apps to undercut prices on traditional driving services like taxis.
Norton contends it isn’t council’s job to gate-keep industry, and the market is better built to determine which businesses can survive and thrive.
“The economy and the market is best positioned to make those determinations, not legislators or politicians,” he said. “By opening it up, we provide another opportunity for citizens to have a selective choice for what their preferences are.”
The councillor feels that is also true when it comes to protecting the taxi industry, which has been hit hard by the economic slowdown during the pandemic.
“If taxi cabs are going to be competitive, they’re going to exist. To go ahead and not allow ride-sharing into our community just for the exclusive benefit of taxi cabs, does not give us a competitive advantage.”
Norton believes that adding ride-hailing services wouldn’t come at the further expense of ‘cannibalizing’ public transit. It would instead make the city more inviting to others, while better serving the community.
“Offering a modern suite of transportation options helps promote denser, more prosperous cities and enhances interconnection within a community that benefits both public and private enterprise,” he said.
While council awaits the report on ride-hailing apps expected early next year, there are still provincial regulations that stand between municipalities implementing those services.
Norton says there need to be new rules around licencing and insurance regulations for drivers, in order for Saint John to feasibly offer ride-hailing services.
Ultimately, the councillor’s case for allowing Uber and Lyft to operate in Saint John comes down to a belief that further transportation options improves the city’s economic and social prospects.
“Improved economic development and community growth requires that we not limit transportation to only traditional transit and taxi modes. By weaving ride-sharing and active transportation into our tapestry, we make our city more competitive and attractive as those opportunities allow us to be.”
