Loading zones for taxis, ride-hailing vehicles eyed

Ride-hailing vehicles and taxis may have to share new loading zones.

The Winnipeg Parking Authority initially proposed a bylaw to establish new loading zones that would be reserved solely for ride-booking vehicles, such as Uber and Lyft, with a key goal to create safe spaces for drivers and riders to meet up.

On Thursday, council’s public works committee instead voted to let taxis use the spaces, too, pending city council approval.

The decision was made after members of the Winnipeg Community Taxi Association urged the committee to provide more “universal” access to the three proposed zones near Canada Life Centre arena and Burton Cummings Theatre.

“Winnipeg’s transportation (options) need to feel safe and accessible for everyone,” said Abhishek Tara, a member of the association who is the general manager of Unicity Taxi.

If approved, the zones would convert 10 existing parking spaces on Portage Avenue, Donald Street and Notre Dame Avenue from 5:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily for the loading zones, which would revert to regular parking outside of those hours. Limousines would not be able to use them.

Tara said personal vehicles and taxis should also be allowed to drop off and pickup passengers in the zones. He noted the zones are proposed as a safety initiative that would prevent those who book rides on an app from dashing across busy streets to find their driver.

Without shared loading zones, ride-booking services would gain an unfair advantage over taxis, he said.

“We believe (ours) is a win-win proposal… It has one goal. Safety for all,” he said.

The city’s initial proposal would have allowed ride-booking vehicles to stop for up to 15 minutes in the zones, with all other parking prohibited. Tara suggested shrinking the stopping time to three minutes.

He also asked the city to add a fourth loading zone that only serves taxis in front of the Radisson Hotel at 288 Portage Ave. He argues that would be fair because taxis can be hailed on the street and may need to stop with less notice than drivers who only provide prebooked rides.

The public works committee supported shrinking the stopping time to 10 minutes and did not include personal vehicles.

Ensuring the loading zones can be shared by the two industries improves upon the original proposal, said Coun. Janice Lukes.

“(Taxis) have been (providing rides) for the City of Winnipeg through thick and thin, they’ve been there to do it. So, I’m always open to hear from the taxi associations what their perspective is … They’re on the ground, they know what works and what doesn’t work,” said Lukes.

The committee also ordered a review of existing taxi stands to help ensure they are located in the best places possible.

A fourth taxi-only location was not added.

The vote came after multiple delegates at Thursday’s meeting expressed support for adding more loading zones.

“In the absence of dedicated ride-share zones, drivers are stopping wherever they can, sometimes in traffic lanes, accessible zones, taxi zones as well, and in poorly lit areas… We regularly observe people who are cutting across busy streets… to meet their rides,” said Dawn Haus, vice-president of culture and guest experience for True North Sports and Entertainment.

True North owns Canada Life Centre and Burton Cummings Theatre, which host many large events.

One delegate at the meeting suggested the change could also help prevent violence.

“(This) has the potential to become a preventative measure for gender-based violence … Women live in a different world where they have to constantly think about their safety,” said Hayley Cressall, co-chair of the Sexual Assault Resource Team.

Some women have even reported being sexually assaulted after unintentionally entering the vehicle of someone who pretended to be a ride-booking driver, said Cressall.

She said designating well-lit and well-populated zones where women can get dropped off or picked up right outside their destination could prevent them from wandering down streets alone at night to find their rides.

Council is expected to cast the final vote on the loading zones on Nov. 27.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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