The Ministry of Transportation says ride sharing companies will be able to apply to operate on B.C. roads as of September.

The Ministry says companies like Uber and Lyft can apply to the Passenger Transportation Board as of Sept. 3, although key details like what drivers can charge, how many licenses will be available and zones where drivers can pick up and drop off have not been worked out yet.

Meanwhile, ICBC will have a new insurance product ready for ride sharing companies by Sept. 16.

Speaking on a conference call to reporters, NDP North Vancouver – Lonsdale MLA Bowinn Ma says in theory, Sept. 16 is the earlier ride-sharing companies would be able to hit the roads. She says the province expects the first ride-sharing vehicles to be on the road by the end of 2019.

The Transport Ministry also re-iterates a class 4 drivers license will be required for ride-sharing drivers, which has received criticism from stakeholders.

Ride-sharing companies will also be charged 30 cents per ride if their vehicle is not equipped for disabled passengers. The province says that money will be used for accessible transportation programs, and affirmed that the 30-cent fee won’t depend on whether a passenger is disabled, but rather if the vehicle itself would be equipped to take those passengers.

Furthermore, ride-sharing companies will pay a $5,000 annual license fee, something officials say is “quite low” compared to other jurisdictions.

 

More details are expected later this summer.