This translation has been automatically generated and has not been verified for accuracy.A B.C. Supreme Court judge has rejected a request for injunction against Uber and Lyft pending legal review. The judge says the Vancouver Taxi Association failed to provide evidence that it would be irreparably harmed by ride-hailing services, but association spokeswoman Carolyn Bauer says that’s not the case.
“The public interest favours the status quo,” she said, adding consultations and discussions over ride-hailing services have gone on for seven years in B.C. Half a million people have registered for an app with Uber, which has 800 drivers.A judicial review, which could be months away, would not be in the taxi industry’s favour, she suggested.
A taxi driver prepares to get back in the car after picking up passengers in downtown Vancouver on Jan. 23.Carolyn Bauer, a spokeswoman for the taxi association, said drivers have to shell out much more money to operate cabs and that’s financially affecting their families.“Our taxis are being parked right now,” she said.
“We’re fighting a tough battle to show where the losses are but I can promise you I will be showing where the losses are,” Bauer said, adding some taxi drivers have chosen to work for ride-hailing services because that’s a cheaper option. Overall, the industry may have to adapt to allow passengers and drivers to rate each other, the same as ride-hailing services, he said.