At long last, ride-hailing has arrived in the B.C. capital.
Uber officially launched its ride-on-demand platform in Victoria, Kelowna and Chilliwack on Tuesday.
The company applied in 2021 for a licence to operate in Victoria, but was rejected by the Passenger Transportation Board, which noted local operators were struggling due to the pandemic and said there wasn’t sufficient demand.
“Just in time for a busy summer season, we are excited to bring ride share to more British Columbians,” Uber Canada general manager Michael van Hemmen said in a statement.
“Residents and visitors alike now have a safe, affordable and reliable option to help get them where they need to go, when they need to. And for those with a safe driving record, a flexible opportunity to earn money on their own time.”
Van Hemmen thanked the city governments and province for allowing the service to expand in the key B.C. cities.
Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto was the first passenger to hail an Uber in the city during an official launch on Tuesday. “Uber will add important choices to Victoria’s urban transportation system in terms of convenience, safety and reliability,” Alto said.
Uber launched in Vancouver in early 2020. The move into three more B.C. cities brings the world’s biggest ride-hailing service to over 140 municipalities in Canada and more than 10,000 globally. Uber’s biggest competitor, Lyft, has yet to launch in Victoria.
Prospective drivers can sign up at drive.uber.com. Any new driver who books 20 trips within two weeks of the launch date can get a $1,000 bonus added to their earnings.
