The following is a statement from Giles Gherson, President & CEO, Toronto Region Board of Trade on the City of Toronto’s 2024 Review of the Vehicle-for-Hire By-Law and Industry:
“We believe that by restricting the number of vehicles for hire (VFH)—taxis and ride share—the City has not fully considered the complex realities of our region’s congestion crisis. The value of these services merits more strategic consideration.
Amid the current congestion crisis, VFH services have become a vital part of Toronto’s transportation ecosystem supplementing our underdeveloped and under-resourced transit network. Notably, these services provide reliable “last mile” connections to transit hubs for commuters. According to Uber Canada, 56% of Toronto riders have used ride share to connect to public transit at least once over the past year. This demonstrates the critical role of ride share services in bridging gaps and supporting multimodal transportation options where transit is underserved.
Additionally, VFH services offer a viable alternative to personal vehicle ownership. This is supporting a trend among city residents to forgo car ownership. The result: fewer cars added to our roads amid surging population growth. This in turn means new developments are being built with fewer parking spaces, reducing construction costs and improving housing affordability.
The City’s inclusion of exemptions for zero-emission and wheelchair-accessible vehicles is a step in the right direction to integrate sustainability and equity into its policies. But as with any major change, success depends on close monitoring and collaboration. The framework must deliver on its promise to support mobility while avoiding unintended consequences.
The Board’s upcoming Congestion Task Force Action Plan will take a comprehensive view of our congestion crisis and balance immediate and long-term policies that would provide relief today and encourage innovation, flexibility, and new partnerships.”
- A City of Toronto report released in 2021 found ride-hailing trips increased by 180% between 2016 and 2019, consistent with experience observed in other large North American Cities.
- The City’s new report notes, among households without vehicles, 35% of individuals who use private transportation services reported they have less need to own a car as a result.
- A report by Parsons, conducted for the Toronto Region Board of Trade, identifies several systemic factors driving downtown congestion. Growing travel demand, coupled with historically lagging investments in transit and transportation infrastructure.
The Toronto Region Board of Trade is one of the largest and most influential business chambers in North America and is a catalyst for the region’s economic agenda. We pursue policy change to drive the growth and competitiveness of the Toronto region and facilitate market opportunities with programs, partnerships and connections to help our members succeed – domestically and internationally.
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