Uber and Your Driver want to come to the Okanagan and beyond

While some ride hailing services have already started in cities like Kelowna and Kamloops, the big player in the field, Uber, has now applied to operate throughout the province.

“Uber looks forward to continuing to work closely with the Province to expand the set of transportation options available to British Columbians, including those outside of Greater Vancouver, starting in Kelowna and Victoria,” the application states.

The company is asking the B.C. Passenger Transportation Board to expand its current licence from the Vancouver/Whistler region so it can cover the four other regions of the province.

That includes what the board refers to as Region 4: Okanagan-Kootenay-Boundary-Cariboo that contains the nine regional districts in the Southern Interior.

Minimum fares for the region are listed as $3.50 per ride, 10 cents higher than Vancouver Island and 15 cents higher than the Lower Mainland.

Magnetic 13 Ventures Inc. has also applied to operate in the Okanagan under the trade name Your Driver.

“The rationale for making this application was based on filling a niche market in the Okanagan Valley,” its application states. “We are a locally owned business, strongly supported by the business community and the general public.

“We drive clients in their own vehicle to most destinations in the Okanagan or we supply the vehicles. With cannabis now legal along with alcohol, it is more important than ever to ensure that persons have safe and easy access to convenient, affordable transportation.”

Its application covers the entirety of the Okanagan-Kootenay-Boundary-Cariboo and also asks for a minimum fare of $3.50.

Both applications were posted on the Passenger Transportation Board's website yesterday, Sept. 9. Comments on the applications can be made until Sept. 21, but costs $50. Comments will then be forwarded to the applicants who can respond before a decision is made.

Kabu and Lucky To Go are already operating in Kamloops, Kelowna and some other Okanagan cities.

READ MORE: Kelowna’s second ride hailing company launches Saturday; more Interior cities soon

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