Quote:
Originally Posted by Bunk
So I did a bit of digging:
Short answer is - yest it is an offence to provide vehicle for hire services in the City of Calgary without a valid subsisting licence to do so. If the vehicles is indeed a "Handi Bus" by definition of a bus then Livery Transport Services would not have any jurisdiction in terms of licensing.
The City has a service agreement in place with Cochrane, Strathmore and Okotoks that has been working within the restriction imposed - unlike the City of Airdrie who does have a bylaw and provisions preventing any other vehicle for hire coming into their city to provide services. Calgary's bylaw prohibits these service providers because of service standards (ie - is the driver qualified? is police clearance in place? does the vehicle meet the mechanical requirements of the bylaw? is the vehicle properly insured? etc).
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I think you need to read the actual livery transport by law because it says something different.
http://www.calgary.ca/CA/city-clerks...yTransport.pdf
Calgary Handibus association vehicles are specifically exempted but Access Calgary's other special needs contractor (Southland) is not mentioned. A taxi inspector told me that it didn't matter that we had a provincial operation authority, he'd still write the ticket. Alberta Transportation says The Calgary bylaw attempts to over-rule their provincial operating authority. There are exemptions for vehicles of 15 passengers or greater but a para transit or handibuse seat 4 to 12 people (depending on size).
I do appreciate your effort to get an answer. I got a phone call this afternoon from Calgary transit asking me if I knew anything about this bylaw. (What I told Calgary Transit is not what you have written- it may not be what they told you.)
Here's a different question.
Access Calgary now has a policy that they will not provide service unless the resident's house was within 1km of a transit route.
Groups homes for disabled Calgarians were recently built in the communities of evenston and New Brighton. Unfortunately no-one informed the group home builders (alberta Health services) that transportation would not be available once the residents. Access Calgary directed them to contact the rural handibus provider that previously provided service to the area before annexation (the same provider who would be subject to the livery transport bylaw).
Similarly, other homeowners in the annex areas have also been told that Access Calgary will now longer transport them
Trouble is, during annexation, there was a discussion that there would be no loss of services to the annexed area. With this CT policy change Calgarians in recently annexed area are losing access to transportation ( it was available - although sparce- prior to annexation) despite a promise of "no Loss of services" at the town hall and public meetings with local residents.
Why does the City of Calgary feel it is the responsibility to of a rural group to provide such service to residents in the newly annexed areas? (service that would conflict with previously discussed livery transport bylaw).