No Uber for another year, Vancouver city council decides

Vancouveriteshopingtousethe ride-sharing application Uber, orfind moretaxis on the city's streets, will have to wait another year.

City council voted in favour of extendingamoratorium on issuing new taxi licences for another year.

This means that there will be no new taxis on Vancouver streets until at least October 2017, and thatUbercabswill be unable to break into B.C.'s taxi market.

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Vision Vancouver councillor GeoffMeggs, who put forward the motion, said that he agrees Vancouver needs to increase its fleet of taxis, but that it "doesn't make sense" to issue newlicences until the province completes a review of B.C.'s taxi industry to determine howit can coexist with ride-sharing applications like Uber.

"We all agree more service is warranted. But no one is I think keen to put out new taxi licences if they're not going to be economically viable in the face of ride-sharing or any other changes the provinces could impose."

Seeking a 'made in B.C.' solution

Peter Fassbender,the minister responsible forTransLink,began a review of the province'staxi industry in January. He said he hopedto find a "made in B.C." solution to help taxis and ride-sharing serviceswork side by side.

Meggs said that once the findings of thatreport arereleased, there should be no delay in liftingthe moratorium and issuing new licences.

There is currently no date set for the release of the report, though Meggs said it could be after the provincial election.

Uber Canada spokespersonSusie Heathissued a statement following the council's decision:

"We believe that Vancouverites are clearly underserved and that people deserve access to more reliable transportation options in the city, including more taxis.The City of Vancouver and the provincial government should take action to expand the number of options available, before the busy holiday season."

Heath said that Uber is currently operating in over 40 cities across Canada, and that British Columbians are "clamouringfor it here as well."