Ep 255

Guest: Ian Tostenson

Headline: Why is BC dragging its feet on RideSharing

If one of the major objectives of the government is to reduce the number of cars on the road, why is that same government so reluctant to introduce ridesharing? The sharing of 30 trips a day in one vehicle could take 20 cars off the road. Multiple that by hundreds of ridesharing vehicles and the number of cars absent on the motorways becomes significant. Significant enough to make a dent in carbon emissions from automobiles. 

According to Ian Tostenson, of RideShare Now, “What’s behind this is unbelievable politics that rests in the heart of Surrey because that’s primarily where the influence of the taxi industry is and both the parties (NDP and Liberal) have been very concerned, especially since the last election where the NDP picked up some seats in Surrey.”

Recently the provincial government did relent to an introduction of ridesharing, with caveats that proponents of the system say will slow down the implementation and severely restrict the number of drivers offering the service.

We invited Ian Tostenson of RideSharing Now to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the myriad and confusing reasons why British Columbia is dragging its feet and standing in the way of ridesharing.

Conversations That Matter is a partner program for the Center for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. The production of this program is made possible thanks to the support of the following and viewers like you.

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