What’s in a name?

Ontario’s “Northlander Rideshare Engagement” a mystifying mouthful

In the province on Ontario, the Ministry of Transportation has sent invitations to select stakeholder groups to let them know a consultation is about to take place: the “Northlander Rideshare Pilot Engagement.”

At least part of the challenge for Ontario has got to be that the term “rideshare” does not appear anywhere in the Public Vehicles Act or the Highway Traffic Act. Ontario is holding a consultation on a concept that it has not recognized in its own laws; the only term which appears in those Acts is “taxi.” Until those Acts are amended, services like Uber are simply “bandit taxi companies” as stated very plainly by Justice Marc Smith in his 2024 decision.

I’ve heard from several mystified readers this week who are asking if this is the “review” Ontario announced on November 6th. As a refresher, the Fall Economic Statement in the section titled “Building Transit,” noted:

“Ontario is working to engage with rideshare operators, the taxi sector, and municipalities to explore the standardization of rideshare guidelines across the province. Rules for rideshare programs, such as application fees and driver screening requirements, are currently managed by individual municipalities, resulting in differing standards across the province. By consulting on potential approaches for a provincial rideshare framework, the government continues to support an integrated and efficient transportation network that will improve access for everyone, including rural and remote communities such as those along the Northlander route.”

Wait…now ”rideshare,” which is not mentioned in the Public Vehicles Act or the Highway Traffic Act, is “transit”? I’m so confused.

“A rose by any other name, would smell as sweet,” William Shakespeare famously noted.

Maybe. Probably, actually. Language can be so straightforward, when you’re talking about roses.

But Taxis? Ubers? Rideshare? Vehicles for Hire? Ridehail? Private Transportation Companies, Transportation Network Companies, Public Vehicles, Transit?

Suddenly language seems not to be so straightforward any more.

As the editor of Taxi News, I have to admit I am guilty of using many of these terms interchangeably over the years. When municipalities like Toronto started using terms like “Private Transportation Companies” in their by-laws Taxi News sometimes used them too, although Taxi companies are equally private transportation companies, so that term offers no distinction, actually.

“Rideshare” is the ultimate nonsensical term. No one is sharing anything when it comes to Uber, Lyft, or any of the smaller entities. Everyone is providing transportation for compensation; everyone is a commercial business selling rides. No one is sharing anything. That terms is just pure fantasy and spin; we could even call it a lie.

“Ridehailing” is also a complete misnomer, as Uber and Lyft are not allowed to pick up street hails but Taxis, which do not use the term “ridehail,” ARE allowed to pick up street hails. So that term is nothing but confusion.

As a writer, and an editor, and a speaker, and a professional who lives to deliver clear communications, I think the best way to slice and dice this is to have one term that refers to the entire industry which provide transportation for compensation, and that is “ground transportation.”

You’re in a vehicle, with a driver charging you money to go somewhere. Ground transportation. The vehicle in which you are sitting is a Vehicle for Hire, which can conveniently be shortened to VFH. Uber and Lyft are private companies, like Beck or Blue Line.

These are the term Taxi News will be using going forward: “ground transportation” and “Vehicles for Hire” (VFH). A Taxi is a municipally licensed and regulated VFH.

I hope the Northlander Rideshare Pilot Engagement does not invent any more terms we need to add to the pile, but I’ll jump off that bridge when I get to it.

*****

Below is the chart Taxi News will use to determine names assigned to services. It may be subject to change as the world changes, but this is what we’re using now:

Term	Is it defined in Ontario’s Public Vehicle Act?	Suggested most sensible common term
Taxi	Yes “taxicab” means a motor vehicle as defined in the Highway Traffic Act, having a seating capacity of not more than six persons, exclusive of the driver, hired for one specific trip for the transportation exclusively of one person or group of persons, one fare or charge only being collected or made for the trip; (“taxi”)   “Uber was a bandit taxicab company…” [115) Justice Marc Smith decision	Taxi or VFH
Private transportation company	No	Vehicle for Hire (VFH)
Rideshare	No	Vehicle for Hire (VFH)
Ridehail	No	Vehicle for Hire (VFH)
Uber	No	Uber or VFH
Lyft	No	Lyft or VFH
Transportation Network Company	No	Vehicle for Hire (VFH)