Policymaking and Planning for On-Demand Ride-Hailing in Toronto and Vancouver: Explanatory Factors and Policy Implications

On-demand ride-hailing has been noted as being among the first in a new wave of technology-enabled transportation services to have a widespread impact in cities around the world. Due to its disruption of established transportation systems and regulatory structures, policymakers and planners have introduced a variety of responses for on-demand ride-hailing. This paper presents findings from expert interviews to understand the underlying processes associated with policymaking and planning for on-demand ride-hailing in Toronto and Vancouver. Results suggest that both structural and experiential factors influence policymaking and planning in this area. Furthermore, results point to a significant trend: the integration of on-demand ride-hailing into existing regulatory structures. Should other emerging transportation technologies follow a similar trajectory to on-demand ride-hailing, this trend suggests that other emerging transportation technologies may also become integrated into existing structures as policymakers respond to future challenges.