After denying its initial application earlier this year, the Passenger Transporation Board (PTB) has finally approved B.C.-born company ReRyde’s request to offer ride-hailing services in Victoria, Nanaimo, Kamloops, Kelowna, and Prince George (via CBC News).
“I had to read the email twice just to make sure. [We are] so excited, you cannot believe it. We are a Vancouver-based company, so B.C. is our home turf,” said ReRyde’s director of operations Jamil Chaudhry.
ReRyde, which will be the first ride-hailing option for residents in the Interior and northern B.C., hopes to start offering services in the Metro-Vancouver market by 2021.
“We don’t know exactly how September is going to be for everyone. September is going to be a very crucial month for ride-hailing companies to figure everything out … if it comes down to safety issues then we’ll definitely have to wait a little longer,” Chaudhry said.
He said there are several layers of paperwork for drivers to go through, including background and insurance checks along with safety tutorials.
Chaudhry said drivers interested to join ReRyde will be able to apply for service in the following four regions:
