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December 13 starts restricted towing zones pilot, only authorized towing companies to be used

Rita Smith

On December 13th, Ontario will launch its pilot project to introduce “restricted towing zones” on sections of provincial highways in an effort to clear incidents such as collisions or vehicle breakdowns more safely and quickly.

“The ongoing violence in the towing industry is unacceptable, which is why our government is taking action to make the towing industry safer through strengthened oversight and standards,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “Ontario’s towing industry is a vital service on our roads and highways every day, and these actions will help to improve safety for all drivers.”

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Mayor acknowledges “review should have occurred, but it didn’t” after Burlington Taxi closure

Mike Beggs

After the meeting, Mayor Marianne Meed Ward said in a press release, “Early in 2019, staff formed a small team to look into the bylaw review and removed the motion from the regular reporting list, with a plan to report back to council on progress. That report back didn’t happen. While we have heard that the key reasons for Burlington Taxi’s closure – high insurance rates and insufficient number of drivers – are unrelated to the bylaw review requested in 2018, we acknowledge that review should have occurred. It didn’t, and for that, we take responsibility.”

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49% of rideshare users came from TTC, 5% from private cars, Dr. James Cooper tells Committee

Rita Smith

“There’s something called the Bang and Olufsen effect, which is the actual amount of expenditure to achieve the last 5 per cent of benefit. For every person to be served within a certain time, every single vehicle out there needs to be a PTC or for a taxi. So, to highlight the effect of serving everybody in a very precise timescale avoids and ignores the conflict between other traffic and the provision of PTCs. It’s not always possible to achieve particular service levels.

“That was a finding that we see over and over again, the numbers of vehicles create required for service levels of a particular type will in and of themselves create significant harm by their presence, not just with emissions, but things like avoidable accidents.”

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Pause in licensing new drivers until training is launched passed by Licensing Committee

Rita Smith

Toronto Council’s decision to pause issuing new license to rideshare drivers until its mandated training program is implemented was supported at the November 30 Licensing Committee meeting.

Item GL27.19 was debated by General Government and Licensing Committee and was adopted with amendments. It will be considered by City Council on December 15, 2021.

While speakers Jake Brockman from Uber Canada and Andrew Murie of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) offered deputations warning that pausing licensing of new rideshare drivers would increase wait times for passengers during the holiday season, Councillor Wong-Tam pointed out that at six minutes, their standard for service is equal to or faster than the service standard for ambulances.

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Toronto City Hall Photo: Toronto.ca
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November 30 report to Licensing Committee does not contain accurate comment from stakeholders, David Reti writes Councillors

Guest Contributor

from VFH drivers around the world, all form the basis of the regulatory system THAT ALREADY EXISTED before PTCs were “legalized.” This includes improving public, passenger and driver safety and fairness, which were largely removed to “accommodate” PTCs entering the market.  

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Toronto Council made the right decision: to put safety first, drivers need training

Rita Smith

There’s an elephant in the room every time Toronto discusses the vehicle for hire file, and it’s this: rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft need access to a constant, endless pool of amateur drivers because the average rideshare driver lasts less than six months in the job. Rideshare doesn’t just need drivers; it needs a big, deep pool of Redundant Drivers earning a pittance in order for its business model to function.

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Key recommendations from vehicle for hire staff report

Rita Smith

Key recommendations in the report posted include:

  • Driver training focused on accessibility, the act of pick-up and drop-off, anti-racism and increased sensitivity;
  • Monitoring impacts of ride-sharing on congestion, as currently “there is insufficient evidence to suggest that additional measures are required to mitigate congestion, such as a cap on the number of Private Transportation Companies vehicles;”
  • Establishment of a vehicle-for-hire working group to discuss opportunities to support the electrification of the vehicle-for-hire industry;
  • A continued reduction in Vehicle-for-Hire licensing renewal fees by 50 per cent; and
  • Maintaining the 75 per cent reduction on the Vehicle-for-Hire Accessibility Fund Program regulatory charges.

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