Uber approved to operate ride hailing service in Kelowna

After months of waiting, Uber’s purchase of the ReRyde licence for Kelowna has been approved by the BC Passenger Transportation Board.

That approval was listed in the board’s weekly update today, May 10.

The licence transfer includes most of B.C. outside the Lower Mainland, including the Okanagan, Kootenay, Boundary and Cariboo regions.

ReRyde was granted rights to these area in 2020 and according to the board this is the first time it has dealt with an application to transfer a licence.

The approval says that Uber intends to only operate in Victoria and Kelowna during the next three years.

Earlier this week Uber launched its Uber Rents app in Kelowna.

READ MORE: Uber is now available in Kelowna… sort of

Last fall Uber launched a driver incentive program to recruit drivers in Kelowna in anticipation of getting the licence transfer.

READ MORE: Uber offering driver incentives in hopes of quick launch in Kelowna

At the time, the company was offering $1,000 incentives to drivers who complete their profiles and take 20 trips within the first two weeks of its launch, which they had hoped would have happened by Christmas.

Uber, in an Twitter comment, said it intends to launch soon but did not provide a date.

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