Lyft blames new regulations for B.C. launch delays

Ride-hailing company Lyft says municipal governments are delaying the company's B.C. roll out, to the pointthat it can't say when it will launch or where.

"There have been a few surprises," said Vancouver general manager Peter Lukomskyj. "Some of the things we hoped to bring to B.C. and Vancouver might just get here a little slower than anticipated."

Lukomskyjsays the "spontaneous" nature of Lyftthat allows a customer to get instant service is being undercut by theregulations and fees.

"The City of Vancouver imposed a $100 per vehicle fee on us and we've never really dealt with fees like this," he said."We've heard from some municipalities that they're looking at a similar fee and potentially multiple times more ...so it may make operating in some regions just uneconomical or impossible."

According to Lukomskyj,Lyftis also having trouble recruitingdrivers, despite offering training and hundreds of dollars inincentives.

In July, the provincebrought in legislation requiringride-hailing drivers to have a Class 4 commercial licence and criminal and driving records check, just like taxi drivers.

Earlier this month, Vancouver became the first municipality in the Lower Mainland to passregulations around ride-hailing,approving up to 60 cents in fees, including a30 cent congestion fee, forevery pickup and drop off in the "Metro Core" area borderd by Burrard Street, Clark Drive and 16th Avenue between7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

An additional 30 cent accessibility fee has been created by the province for all rides in B.C.,regardless of the time.

Lukomskyjsays Lyft shouldn't be treated like taxi or limo companies who operate fleets of vehiclesbecause its driversare independent contractors driving their own cars.

"Many vehicles we bring into the system are getting taxed this way and ultimately it really drives the price per rider up," he said.

He said the company hopes to be operating by Christmas.