Uber’s long-awaited arrival in Victoria, Chilliwack and Kelowna is over.
The ride-hailing service launched in all three cities Tuesday at noon with drivers who have been geared up to pick up passengers for the last week.
“Uber’s ride-hailing service aligns with our Transportation Master Plan vision to reduce private car dependency, the need for parking and increase accessible and safe transportation options,” Kelowna mayor Tom Dyas said.
“Ride-hailing is one way the city supports emerging technologies, increasing mobility options and reducing our reliance on private single occupancy vehicles.”
While some may have hoped that Uber would cover the entirety of the Central Okanagan its boundaries are limited. According to an Uber map, drivers are only able to pick up passengers within the southern boundary of West Kelowna to the northern boundary of Kelowna. Lake Country and Peachland are not included.
In Victoria, the boundaries are also restricted to the city. Mayor Marianne Alto said Uber will add important choices to Victoria’s urban transportation system in terms of “convenience, safety, and reliability.”
Uber had been trying to get into Victoria and Kelowna for years, but last year they gained traction.
Uber submitted a request to the Passenger Transportation Board (PTB) in late August 2022 to take over the licence of ReRyde, a ride-hailing service that was granted a licence to operate in areas outside of the Lower Mainland in August 2020.
At the time, company officials said that the expectation was that the service would be up and running by Christmas, offering holiday revellers a safe option to travel.
To meet the expected demand for rides, interested drivers can visit driver.uber.com to learn more about driving with Uber.
New drivers in Victoria and Kelowna who complete their profile and take 20 trips within the first 14 days of Uber’s launch will get an extra $1,000 promotion that will be added to their regular earnings.