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Enderby Wants In On Ride-sharing

Nov 8, 2017 | 9:45 AM

Enderby Council wants the provincial government to make sure it doesn’t forget about rural communities while it studies ride-sharing.

The UBCM endorsed a resolution from Enderby at its convention to have the government include small communities on its stakeholder panel.

Mayor Greg McCune says it can be a vital service.

“For example, in Enderby we do not have a taxi. People can get to doctor’s appointments if they can get a bus that does take people to those but it’s challenging for the days and times.”

He says it would benefit seniors and others who don’t want to bother their families for a ride.

He worries the government will just look at larger centres like Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna.

“I think it would just assure and provide that opportunity for endless amounts of people accessing that source.”

Council has sent letters to M-L-A Greg Kyllo and Green Party leader Andrew Weaver reminding them of the opportunities for ride-sharing in small markets.

Mayor McCune says it’s important for small communities to have a voice.

“Again, if the province is looking at this, all we’re asking is put someone in from the rural ares on that so at least they can sit through it and maybe make some recommendations at the end of the day. So, if the service does end up in British Columbia like Clinton or Enderby or Revelstoke, you could have that.”

He says if some sort of ride sharing like Uber or some other service was available it would give people more freedom.

The government hired industry expert Dan Hara, whose Ottawa-based firm specializes in advising government agencies on regulatory and transportation policy, to help prepare a made-in-BC solution to ride-sharing.

He’s to finish his work in 2018.

The government hopes to have legislation ready for next fall.