Penticton mayor doesn’t expect to see Uber in the city

PENTICTON – Edmonton recently became the first Canadian city to legalize ride hailing company Uber, but don’t expect to see Penticton follow suit anytime soon.

Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakibeit says the city has not yet been approached regarding establishment of the service in the Peach City, adding he believes smaller markets like Penticton wouldn’t have enough demand to warrant the service.

“Our local taxi companies do a good job and Penticton is a very walkable community,” Jakubeit says. He thinks the service will be more prevalent in larger centres, adding he expects other cities to follow Edmonton’s lead.

Uber was given the go ahead to begin operations in Edmonton beginning March 1, provided the company’s drivers are able to get legal commercial insurance approved by the province.

Under Edmonton’s bylaw, rides offered by Uber start at a minimum price of $3.25 per trip, and Uber cars are not allowed to be hailed on the street. The decision is expected to transform the taxi industry in Edmonton.

Uber describes its business as “evolving the way the world moves” on its website. The service connects riders to drivers through the Uber app.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

— with files from The Canadian Press

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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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