Uber trying again for approval to operate in Kelowna and rest of B.C. Interior
Uber hopes to launch its ride hailing service in Kelowna and Victoria in time for Christmas and if approved, it will also expand the service throughout the rest of B.C.
“For now, we’re focussed on Kelowna and Victoria but understand there is demand for safe, reliable, and affordable transportation services across the province,” an Uber spokesperson wrote in an email to iNFOnews.ca, Sept. 8.
The ride hailing giant has applied to the B.C. Passenger Transportation Board to take over the licence held by ReRyde that covers the province outside the Lower Mainland. Uber is already licenced and is operating in the Lower Mainland.
ReRyde is a Richmond-based company with a licence to operate in Kelowna and Kamloops but struggled to launch.
Its chief operating officer, Jamil Chauhdry, told iNFOnews.ca in February that, while it’s operating successfully in Winnipeg, it spent $25,000 to advertise in Kelowna but found just 20 drivers willing to sign on and only five in Kamloops.
READ MORE: Why you still can't hail a ride despite eight companies approved for Kamloops, Kelowna
Uber started operating in Vancouver in 2020.
“Last time, after Uber applied for an expanded rideshare licence in August 2020, the Passenger Transportation Board denied the licence and said that, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for passenger-directed transportation was still too low in the province to issue any more licences,” Uber said in a news release. “The Passenger Transportation Board also stated its concern about existing rideshare licences not being adequately utilized."
Rather than try to get a licence in an already crowed ride-hailing field in the Interior of B.C. – eight companies are licenced to operate in the area – Uber has applied to take over the ReRyde licence.
“For a licence transfer to be approved, the Passenger Transportation Board has to consider whether Uber is fit and proper to operate and is capable of providing the proposed service,” the Uber news release said. “Fortunately, the Passenger Transportation Board has found Uber to be fit and proper and capable on two separate occasions now.”
While it’s waiting for a decision by the Passenger Transportation Board, Uber is encouraging prospective drivers with Class 1, 2 or 4 licences to sign on at drive.uber.com.
“There are hundreds of people waiting to drive and unlock flexible earning opportunities so they can work when and where they want,” the company said in the emailed statement. “If you’re one of the first drivers to complete a profile and take 20 trips within the first 14 days of Uber’s launch, you could earn a $1,000 reward that would be added to your regular earnings.”
Uber said its drivers in Vancouver are earning around $24 per hour, after expenses.
While rates have yet to be set, the required minimum charge is $3.50.
The application has the support of Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran and other mayors and organizations.
“Other cities have documented seeing a drop in impaired driving charges after ride-hailing companies began operations,” Basran said in a previous news release.
“From an equity perspective, the on-demand transportation sector allows for an income supplement for those struggling with high costs of living, and on their own timeline/schedule with little investment.”
Uber said it operates in more than 140 Canadian municipalities.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Rob Munro or call 250-808-0143 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
