Brant eRide rankles cab firm owner
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PARIS The owner of a taxi cab company in Paris is upset with the new Brant eRide service that began in mid-October.
“It could put me out of business,” said Shawn Pratt, of Grand River Cab. “I’m a resident of Paris, I’m a taxpayer and I’ve spent years building up my business and now comes along.
“They’re using my tax dollars to subsidize this service and at the same time cutting into my business.”
Launched on Oct. 15, Brant eRide enables users to book a ride online with an app or on the phone. It gives people who don’t own a vehicle or are unable to drive the ability to travel throughout the county and into Brantford.
The service has been billed by county officials as flexible, accessible and affordable. It is being provided to the county by BTS Network, which has its head office in Vaughan, Ont.
BTS provides the technology, staff and vehicles for the service, which replaces and expands the county’s subsidized transit program, which provided a pre-booked, shared-ride accessible transportation service for people with physical disabilities and intellectual challenges.
A consultant’s report presented to county officials in July found that the subsidized program provided a valuable service but was not sustainable. A survey conducted by the consultant found that 73 per cent of respondents either strongly or somewhat agreed that getting around Brant County is difficult and 83 per cent agreed that a public transit system is needed.
In addition, 91 per cent of the respondents cited a need for public transit between Brant County and Brantford while 45 per cent felt there was a need to connect with Norfolk County.
ERide operates Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. It doesn’t operate on holidays.
As well, it offers two types of fares. A community rideshare will pick up and drop off riders at requested locations for $3 a trip. A commuter rideshare will provide mutual meeting and dropoff locations – called virtual hubs – for $1.
The operating costs for the program is covered by the county and offset with federal gas tax funding the county receives from the federal government.
“How can I, a private operator, compete,” Pratt said. “If they can get a $3 ride from them why would they pay $8 to get a ride from me?
“It has taken me a long time to build up this business and now I have to deal with this.”
Pratt, who has run for Brant County mayor a couple of times, has had a previous run-in with the municipality.
In 2017, Pratt was upset with the impact the Brantford-Brant boundary adjustment has on his business. Under the deal, the city received about 2,721 hectares (6,724 acres) of land from county in three parcels.
Prior to the boundary deal, which took effect Jan. 1, 2017, Pratt had a licence to serve all of Brant County, including the areas transferred to the city. When the boundary adjustment deal took effect, Pratt could no longer serve the areas that were transferred to the city.
To operate in Brantford, Pratt would have to get a licence from the city. He applied but was told none was available.
Pratt argued he lost business as a result of the boundary deal and requested compensation from the municipality. His request was denied.
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