Uber is expanding into Chilliwack.
“Just in time for a busy summer season, we’re excited to be expanding rideshare to Chilliwack starting tomorrow,” said Keerthana Rang, Uber spokesperson for Canada.
After June 6, Chilliwack residents and visitors will have the ability to book a “safe, affordable, and reliable” trip through the Uber app.
Character’s Pub owner Marcel Maillet said he and other Chilliwack bar and restaurant owners have been lobbying businesses and government for precisely this change for months through the Fraser East Hospitality Group.
“This is fantastic news for the Chilliwack!” Maillet said. “It took a long time to get Uber’s focus on Chilliwack and we are looking forward to our staff, customers and everyone having a choice in transportation amid the transit strike, and the apparent shortage of cabs.”
Tyler Beveridge, manager of Major League 2 pub, was pleased by Uber’s decision.
“Today marks a big win for both the restaurant and bar sector, as well as for the overall well-being of the residents of Chilliwack,” Beveridge said.
Asked why Uber decided to finally expand into Chilliwack, Rang said: “We have seen and heard interest from residents, drivers, businesses, and visitors alike about the need for safe, affordable, and reliable transportation options in Chilliwack.”
Uber’s passenger transportation board licence for Region 1 already permitted Uber to operate in the Lower Mainland region, as well as the fact they are “always looking to serve more areas where more transportation options are needed,” Rang said.
Simultaneous Uber launches were slated for the B.C. cities of Kelowna and Victoria on Tuesday, June 6, as well as Chilliwack in the Fraser Valley.
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Those three cities will be joining more than 140 municipalities in Canada and more than 10,000 cities globally, where Uber users rely on the app to show them transportation options.
Drivers are in high demand and patience might be required initially.
“We are asking patience from residents and visitors as we launch,” Rang underlined.
In order to meet the expected demand from customers, interested drivers with a safe driving record can visit the website to apply to be a driver at drivers.uber.com
Uber, and Lyft were approved to operate in Zone 1, spanning the entire Lower Mainland and Whistler, in January 2020, but they didn’t venture east of Langley until later.
A few months after that City of Chilliwack approved “intermunicipal” licensing for ride-hail companies to operate across jurisdictional boundaries.
There were only seven pick-ups but 2,261 drop-offs in Chilliwack by ride-hailing operators in 2021.
RELATED: Chilliwack started working on ride-hail licensing in 2020
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