Ad for Lyft shows up at Rogers Arena as ride-hailing legislation inches closer to reality
Posted November 27, 2018 10:46 am.
Last Updated November 27, 2018 7:33 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Lyft is joining forces with the Vancouver Canucks despite a continued lack of ride-hailing in B.C.
To kick off the partnership the Lyft logo has been embedded in the ice at Rogers Arena ahead of the game Tuesday night.
“The new partnership is one of the many ways Lyft is demonstrating its investment in Vancouver,” read a statement by Lyft.”
The arena is operated by team owner Francesco Aquilini, who has been a vocal advocate for ride-hailing in British Columbia, and a major critic of the lack thereof.
Aquilini has even directly called out the premier and the NDP government at least three times over the last couple of months.
“With a commitment to connecting our communities, the Vancouver Canucks and Lyft share similar values and can now work together to make an active difference through a better fan experience and local partnerships,” said Trent Carroll, Chief Operating Officer with the Canucks, in a release. “We’re excited to welcome Lyft to Rogers Arena.”
“Ride-hailing companies are free to advertise, just not advertise that they are providing a service,” read an email to NEWS 1130 from the province. “We are encouraged to see an international ride-hailing company like Lyft choose to spend their advertising dollars in B.C. in advance of being able to apply to the Passenger Transportation Board next fall.”
Last week, Victoria introduced its ride-hailing legislation that could bring Uber and Lyft here by sometime next year.
The B.C. Liberals have also introduced a Private Members Bill to bring the service to B.C. by Valentine’s Day of 2019.
The proposal sparked debate within the B.C. Legislature after two Green Party members voted in favour of the private bill, with others, including leader Andrew Weaver, not voting in support of it.
Weaver has been a supporter of bringing ride-hailing to B.C., but called the Liberals’ bill a “major amendment to the government’s ride-hailing legislation.”
The B.C. NDP’s plan would see ride-hailing come to the province at the end of next year at the earliest, with several restrictions many have criticized.
