After success in Vancouver, Kelowna and Victoria over the past five years, Uber is expanding across BC, and that could include Prince George.
The ride-sharing service connects people needing rides and drivers to connect via smartphone apps. Payment is handled through the app, with no cash changing hands.
“We're looking into launching in the next few months," said Keerthana Rang, a spokesperson for Uber. "What we really need to make sure is that the app is going to be available across the entire province, but rides will only be available where drivers have signed up and are online to do trips. So our priority right now is making sure that we have drivers from Nanaimo to Fort St. John and everywhere in between, including Prince George.”
One of the essential components of Uber launching in PG is local support as the company needs enough drivers to support the launch. Without the right number of local drivers, the expansion into PG may be delayed, Rang said. To this effect, Uber is offering incentives to anyone looking for work with the company.
“We are offering a $500 incentive for drivers who complete their profile,” Rang said. "Then, take 10 trips within the first four weeks of when we launch. This is just a way to incentivize people to sign up to drive.”
Prince George locals eligible to drive with Uber need to have a Class 1, Class 2 or Class 4 licence, pass a criminal background check and own a vehicle that is nine years old or newer that can pass a provincial inspection every year.
Rang said she has seen data showing that locals and visitors in Prince George have often been opening the app looking for rides, indicating an interest in using the service here.
Uride, another ride-sharing company, operates in Prince George along with two locally owned cab companies, Prince George Taxi and Emerald Taxi.
Rang said other ride-sharing apps and businesses in Prince George will benefit from Uber’s expansion.
“What we've seen is that when we do have multiple players, it expands the market for everybody because all people are really looking for is choice. The worst thing is when there's just one company or one option and you go somewhere and then that option is not available or it's not reliable because demand's gone high or they only operate for a certain number of hours. Options are key for people. So what we've seen is the market goes up for everybody, and this has been proven in many reports across the country.”
Uber has partnered with several organizations during its BC expansion, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Hope Air and the British Columbia Restaurant and Food Services Association.
“We partnered with MADD and Hope Air in BC and this would translate to Prince George and across the province as we expand," said Rang. "On the MADD side, despite it being easier than ever to get a ride home, unfortunately, hundreds of Canadians are still killed and thousands were injured in crashes involving alcohol and drugs. We've been working with MADD across the province to bring this number down to zero, and there's been research that shows that anytime a rideshare is launched in a city, impaired driving does go down."
