Hailing down a Bonny’s taxi this holiday season could take 10 minutes or less.
That’s because the Burnaby-based company has applied to the Passenger and Transportation Board for an additional 22 vehicles to add to its fleet of 141 cabs.
The hope is to get them on the road before Christmas, according to Emon Bari, general manager at Bonny’s Taxi.
“Normally, our goal is to pick up people within 10 minutes. We are not able to keep up with this,” he said.
Bari cited a number of factors that have impacted service, including a 4.3 per cent increase in Burnaby’s population growth from 2011 to 2016, and continued increases of 2.1 per cent until 2021.
Development around SkyTrain and the city’s four town centres – Metrotown, Brentwood, Lougheed and Edmonds – has also reduced the need to own a car, according to Bari. The taxi industry has seen the demand for cabs go up as a result, he said, adding Bonny’s Taxi is expecting around 15 per cent more business.
Bonny’s also has a contract with Vancouver International Airport. Of the 141 cabs, 72 are licensed to provide service to YVR, and each cab must do a minimum of 45 pickups each month. With demand on the rise that has put a strain on services in Burnaby, said Bari.
Of the 22 extra cabs, 17 will be sedans and five will be wheelchair accessible, stated a letter submitted to the city’s financial management committee.
Wheelchair cabs are in high demand, too, noted Bari, and wait times can be long.
“It’s half an hour to 40, 45 minutes,” he told the NOW. “We have a limited number of wheelchair taxis, and they’re dual use. Some of them (clients) are waiting almost an hour. That’s not acceptable from our business point of view.”
The last time Bonny’s Taxi applied for extra cabs was in 2015. The company was granted their request of 17 licences.
Bari is hopeful the transportation board will come through again.
“We are crossing our fingers,” he said.
