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Ensure ride-sharing accessibility, UBCM tells B.C. government

14% of B.C. taxis allow wheelchair accessibility
Yellow cab

Wheel-chair accessibility should be guaranteed in ride-sharing fleets in B.C., Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) delegates voted Sept. 23.

A resolution before the online annual meeting said provincial law imposes a 30-cent fee for each non-accessible vehicle trip, but otherwise does not oblige passenger directed vehicles to a timeline or otherwise mandate a percentage of all fleet vehicles be accessible.

The resolution said Passenger Transportation Board state 14 per cent of taxis in the province and about 19 per cent in Metro Vancouver are accessible.

The resolution called for the UBCM ask the provincial government to work in consultation with the passenger directed vehicle industry, disability community, and local government representatives in order to design and implement a wheelchair accessibility guarantee.

The resolution was part of a block of votes approved by 91% by more than 300 delegates.

jhainsworth@glaciermedia.ca

@jhainswo