Ridesharing giant Uber is one step closer to hitting Winnipeg’s streets.
The company formally filed paperwork with the City of Winnipeg to apply for a dispatch licence Wednesday morning.
“City approval and enough qualified drivers are the final two milestones remaining for Uber to launch later this year,” said an Uber spokesperson.
Although ridesharing legislation went into effect in Manitoba in 2018, Uber had initially held back on venturing into the Winnipeg market due to Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI)’s vehicle-for-hire coverage, which requires a person to choose from four time slots as opposed to the blanket-type insurance found in other areas.
After months of behind-the-scenes work on the part of both MPI and Uber, the two sides came to an agreement, paving the way for the company to finally set up shop in the city.
“We never stopped having conversations with them, and I think the more conversation we had, it was testimony to the fact that both parties were willing to understand each other,” MPI’s Brian Smiley told 680 CJOB in March.
“I believe that Uber has gone on record to say they feel more comfortable with the model we have in place, they have a better understanding of it, and consequently, they made the decision to do business in the Winnipeg market.”
In addition to the Winnipeg licence application, Uber has also announced a new safety policy that begins on Monday, requiring all users to wear masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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