NANAIMO — Several have tried, however one company appears finally ready to provide rideshare services on central Vancouver Island.
Uride has announced plans to begin operating in the Nanaimo area by the end of November, with dozens of drivers already signed on and more completing final checks and requirements.
Ravi Dhami, Uride’s western Canada operations manager, told NanaimoNewsNOW they’re putting the final touches on the Nanaimo service after rolling it out through the Interior earlier this year.
“The driver’s requirements to join our platform, you have to have a commercial vehicle inspection done on our vehicle, you have to pass a vulnerable sector check with the RCMP and you have to have a class four license.”
Service will be limited to Nanaimo city limits to start, however Dhami said as more drivers come on board and demand for the service grows, they hope to offer a more broad coverage area.
While a pricing model is still being determined for Nanaimo, Dhami said they “will be the cheapest option in town”.
Travel costs are measured similarly to taxis, with final costs based on kilometres travelled and time spent on board.
Trips will be booked and paid for through the Uride app, meaning no cash or card transactions between passengers and drivers.
“Once we launch our services, for the first month we’ll be at an 85-15 per cent split, then once we’re up and running down the road, it will be a 75-25 split, so the driver takes 75 per cent of the fare.”
The company is also offering weekly minimums for their more active drivers in a bid to create stable employment, along with a bonus structure for part-time drivers based on the number of trips offered.
Uride began operating in Kelowna in May, before expanding to Kamloops in June and Prince George last month.
All have followed a similar model of starting with a smaller number of drivers in a confined city-limit area before expanding.
Uride was approved to operate on Vancouver Island by the Passenger Transportation Board in January 2021.
Uber has applied for similar permission on several occasions but has not been successful. They have another application before the Board with the goal of beginning service in Victoria.
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On Twitter: @alexrawnsley
