According to a Ridesharing program called PickupPal, the Ontario Highway Transportation Board (OHTB) says that it's illegal to Rideshare in Ontario.
Ridesharing is a form of carpooling, with shared use of a vehicle by the driver and one or more passengers- usually for the purpose of commuting. Regularity and formality varies, though after being fined over $11,000, PickupPal went online to post the official decision of the OHTB. They also summarized some puzzling criteria set out by the government.
Apparently, carpooling and Ridesharing is only legal if those involved travel only to work, don't cross municipal lines, travel with the same driver each day and pay no more frequently than once a week.
Technically, those paying someone for a regular ride to school, a ride out of town, or those who pay their rides on a daily basis are breaking the law.
PickupPal was charged for facilitating a ride from Toronto to Montreal for $60, having broken the part of the law stating that municipal boundaries cannot be crossed.
Apparently, Ontario is the only jurisdiction in 104 PickupPal member Countries where these sort of legal restrictions exist.
As a post script, Ottawa has now tabled an amendment to the definition of what constitutes a Public Vehicle, with the intent of bringing their transportation laws up to date with the rest of the world. The legislation has not yet been amended at this point.
photo:Jupiter Images
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Ridesharing is a form of carpooling, with shared use of a vehicle by the driver and one or more passengers- usually for the purpose of commuting. Regularity and formality varies, though after being fined over $11,000, PickupPal went online to post the official decision of the OHTB. They also summarized some puzzling criteria set out by the government.
Apparently, carpooling and Ridesharing is only legal if those involved travel only to work, don't cross municipal lines, travel with the same driver each day and pay no more frequently than once a week.
Technically, those paying someone for a regular ride to school, a ride out of town, or those who pay their rides on a daily basis are breaking the law.
PickupPal was charged for facilitating a ride from Toronto to Montreal for $60, having broken the part of the law stating that municipal boundaries cannot be crossed.
Apparently, Ontario is the only jurisdiction in 104 PickupPal member Countries where these sort of legal restrictions exist.
As a post script, Ottawa has now tabled an amendment to the definition of what constitutes a Public Vehicle, with the intent of bringing their transportation laws up to date with the rest of the world. The legislation has not yet been amended at this point.
photo:Jupiter Images