Item - 2022.GL31.9

The General Government and Licensing Committee recommend that:  

1. City Council opt-in to pilot large quadricycles under O.Reg. 411/22: Pilot Project - Large Quadricycles made under the Highway Traffic Act as outlined in the report (May 27, 2022) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, and the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, titled "Large Multi-Passenger Pedalled Vehicles (Quadricycles) Pilot."

2. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 950, Traffic and Parking,

by inserting in Section 950-101B, under the definition of "VEHICLE" the term "large quadricycle," after the term, "cargo power-assisted bicycle,".

3. City Council amend the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing, to create additional requirements for large quadricycles operating as pedicabs as follows:

a. by inserting the following new definition in Section 545-1 in alphabetical order, to read as follows:

"LARGE QUADRICYCLE" - As defined in the Highway Traffic Act and its regulations and/or successors and includes non-assist large quadricycles and electric-assist large quadricycles as defined therein."

b. by adding to the end of Section 545-21A the following sentence, "Where a pedicab is a large quadricycle, every owner shall, in respect of each pedicab that is a large quadricycle for which a licence is held, obtain, maintain and pay for a liability insurance policy to cover the offering and operating of each such pedicab for hire with a limit of not less than $2 million combined bodily injury, death and property damage, exclusive of costs and interest, for any one accident or occurrence."

c. by adding a new Section 545-29.3, "Where a pedicab is a large quadricycle, it may not operate on any roadway for which the General Manager, Transportation Services, has not given prior written approval. The General Manager Transportation Services may amend or revoke any approval granted, upon at least 48 hours' notice.

4. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to issue no more than eight pedicab licences for large quadricycles, with a maximum of 16 passengers per pedicab, and no more than four pedicab licences to be issued for large quadricycles for any single operating company. Each licence shall be for the period of one year.

5. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards in consultation with Transportation Services, Economic Development and Culture and other divisions, as appropriate, to consult with relevant stakeholders, including emergency services and the Toronto Transit Commission, and the public on the impacts of large quadricycles on city streets and any proposed regulatory changes, and to include a summary of these consultation efforts and proposed amendments to the regulation of large quadricycles in a report to the appropriate Committee(s) in the first quarter of 2023.

6. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the necessary bills to give effect to City Council's decision and City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make any necessary clarifications, refinements, minor modifications, technical amendments, or by-law amendments as may be identified by the City Solicitor, Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, or General Manager, Transportation Services, in order to give effect to Parts 1 to 5, inclusive, above.

This report seeks a Council decision regarding the City opting-in to the Large Quadricycle Pilot Project made under the Highway Traffic Act and to update sections of Chapter 545 and Chapter 950 of the Municipal Code to enable that opt-in by licensing large quadricycles under the existing Pedicab By-law.

"Large quadricycles" are bicycles seating 12 or more people with one person having control of steering, braking, etc. Some have electric assist. On April 29, 2022, the General Government and Licensing Committee considered a report from Municipal Licensing and Standards on the topic of allowing large quadricycles to operate as pedicabs under Chapter 545. General Government and Licensing Committee recommended that eight pedicab licenses be issued to large quadricycles for 2022. On May 11, 2022, Council referred that issue to the General Manager, Transportation Services.

The Large Quadricycle Pilot Project made under the Highway Traffic Act, formalizes the definition of a large quadricycle. It gives municipalities the opportunity to allow large quadricycles and to restrict their use in ways unique to each jurisdiction. Municipal Licensing and Standards advises that for commercial licensing purposes, large quadricycles fall within the definition of pedicabs.

If Council chooses to opt-in to the Pilot Project, this report recommends two additions to Chapter 545, specific to pedicabs which are large quadricycles. Municipal Licensing and Standards also requests direction on temporarily limiting the number of pedicab licences issued to large quadricycles.