Uber has officially expanded its ridesharing service to all of British Columbia, offering residents and tourists another way to get around the province.
The app is now available provincewide, but actual ride availability will depend on whether local drivers have signed up and are online. Uber says it’s working to recruit more drivers in each region to meet demand.
The expansion comes after the company received approval in May 2023 from B.C.’s Passenger Transportation Board to take over a provincewide operating licence. Uber launched in Victoria and Kelowna the following month, and is now widening its reach.
“As we head into a busy summer season, we are excited to bring rideshare to more British Columbians,” said Michael van Hemmen, General Manager of Uber Canada, 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.”
To attract more drivers, Uber is offering a $500 bonus to eligible new drivers who complete their profile and complete 10 trips within the first four weeks. Interested applicants can sign up now on its website.
Community groups are backing the move. MADD Canada’s CEO Steve Sullivan said the expansion could help reduce impaired driving by giving people safer ways to get home. Hope Air, which helps patients in remote areas access healthcare, said Uber makes it easier for those patients to get from airports to hospitals. And the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association said it benefits both customers and late-shift workers in hospitality.
Uber was kept out of B.C. for approximately 8 years, from 2012 to its launch in January 2020, due to strong taxi industry opposition and slow regulatory progress. It was pretty obvious the taxi lobby was very strong in the province.
In contrast, Uber began operating in Ontario in 2012 and faced regulatory challenges but was legalized in Toronto by 2016, a period of about 4 years during which it continued to operate. The key difference lies in BC’s province-wide ban versus Ontario’s more permissive municipal approach, allowing Uber to establish a presence earlier in Ontario.
Uber currently operates in over 140 Canadian municipalities and 10,000 cities globally.
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