The ride of your life: Ride hailing finally arrives in Vancouver
Credit to Author: Lora Grindlay| Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2020 17:03:14 +0000
Both Uber and Lyft are beginning operations this morning, just one day after B.C.’s Passenger Transportation Board gave them the green light to ride-hailing services in Metro Vancouver.
Lyft held a press conference this morning to launch their service – which is now live and operating – and Uber says their first official ride will take place at 11 a.m., at a press conference at East Vancouver’s Parallel 49 brewery. The app will be live at 11 a.m.
Lyft has launched with 388 standard vehicles and 23 zero emission vehicles.
So far only Vancouver has issued business licences which means passengers can only be picked up in Vancouver, but can be dropped off in other municipalities
This comes after they obtained their business licences from the City of Vancouver and insurance policies from the Insurance Corporation of B.C. Thursday.
As of 8 a.m., the Lyft app, which is available from the App Store was live. The announcement was made downtown Vancouver early Friday by Lyft general manager Peter Lukomskyj, and the inaugural ride was taken by Krista Thompson, CEO of Covenant House, to drop off donations at Covenant House.
Krista Thompson, CEO of Covenant House, and Peter Lukomskyj, general manager of Lyft B.C. at an announcement Friday morning in Vancouver.
Lyft announced it will donate $5 per ride for the first 10,000 Lyft rides taken in the region to Covenant House Vancouver.
Lukomskyj said it has been a long time coming but the wait for Lyft is finally over.
“Now that Lyft has launched, we’re excited to offer riders a new way to explore their city, and drivers a flexible way to earn income,” he said at the launch.
Starting today, Lyft will serve the Vancouver International Airport, Pacific National Exhibition and the City of Vancouver core bordered by Dunbar St., 41st Ave. and Victoria Dr.
As more drivers join the community, Lyft plans to expand its operating area.
Lyft previously announced Covenant House Vancouver as its Round Up & Donate partner, letting riders opt-in to round up their payment to the nearest dollar and donate the difference.
Uber has released their pricing structure. Booking will cost you $2, you will pay a base fare of $2.50. Every kilometre will cost 70 cents and every minute of travel will be 33 cents.
Speaking at the long anticipated Uber launch will be Uber’s Michael van Hemmen, western Canadian head, Tracy Crawford from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and Teri Towner, a city of Coquitlam councillor.