Coquitlam council is re-thinking its stance on stopping the city's taxi companies from picking up fares in Vancouver on weekend nights.
Last month, council voted to write a letter to the Passenger Transportation Board (PTB) to oppose bids from Coquitlam Taxi, Port Coquitlam Taxi and Bel-Air Taxi to have 15% of their fleets stationed in Vancouver between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays as well as during special events and when cruise ships are in town.
Mayor Richard Stewart and some councillors said they receive many complaints from cab riders - especially the disabled - who say they have trouble getting taxis in the Tri-Cities. Stewart also argued Coquitlam taxis shouldn't have to serve the cabbie shortfall in Vancouver.
But at council-in-committee, a few councillors who initially rejected the companies' applications said they had a change of heart after listening to Sohan Mehat and Harry Dhaliwal of Bel-Air Taxi, who spoke at Monday's meeting.
Dhaliwal said Lower Mainland suburban cab drivers are frustrated when they drop off passengers at, for example, Vancouver International Airport and return home with an empty car as they're currently banned from picking up customers outside of their jurisdiction. Dhaliwal said it's bad for the environment to "dead head" as fuel is wasted and he stressed, if his company's bid is approved, service levels in Coquitlam wouldn't drop during peak hours as taxis would not be permitted to leave the city if there's high demand locally.
"If it's not going to affect current levels of service, I would be willing to change the letter [of opposition to the PTB]," Coun. Brent Asmundson said after the delegation spoke.
Coun. Linda Reimer, who supports the applications, said the cab companies "are in a better position to know their business" than council.
A total of 17 suburban taxi firms in Metro Vancouver have applied to have their vehicles in Vancouver during the peak periods - a concept that was offered by the PTB last year and is now being considered by the independent tribunal in Victoria.
Earlier this year, BC Taxi Association president Mohan Kang told Black Press there's a dire need for more cabbies in Vancouver, where only four companies - Yellow Cab, Black Top and Checker Cabs, MacLure's and Vancouver Taxi - hold licences.
Coun. Neal Nicholson said it's time the Metro Vancouver board of directors take control of regulating and licensing the taxi industry, especially since the issue affects economic development. "It's clear this is a really big issue," he said. "It's a Metro Vancouver issue."
"The taxi industry needs an overhaul," Coun. Mae Reid added. "It's about intense competition and protecting turf."
A letter was to be sent this week to PTB about Coquitlam council's decision to reconsider its position.
