The city of Vancouver in Canada is one of the last major cities in North America that ride-hailing giants Uber and Lyft have yet to penetrate. However, after having finally received the green light from government officials, residents of the city now have access to both ride-hailing services.
Immediately after receiving government approval to operate in the city, both Uber and Lyft had made official announcements on their respective social media accounts to welcome their new customers. Uber stated that Vancouver resident could now request their ride as the company has now officially landed in the city. Meanwhile, Lyft was a little bit more specific and stated in its post that Vancouver residents can now use its services to get to their favorite bars, markets, and the city's popular landmarks by just accessing its mobile app.
While the rest of the world has enjoyed access to safer and more convenient transport through services provided by ride-hailing companies, people in Vancouver, British Columbia were simply left out. Companies such as Uber and Lyft weren't able to operate in the city due to disagreements with local regulators.
In 2012, Uber was able to briefly operate in Vancouver. However, the ride-sharing company was later shut down after having only operated for just a few months. Local transport regulators disagreed with the company's policies and stated that it had to adhere to the city's already established regulation meant for limo services. This means that Uber would have been forced to charge a minimum of $75 per trip.
In the years that followed, Uber had attempted to negotiate with the city's Passenger Transportation Board (PTB) to reverse its decision and allow the company to operate under different rules. The PTB finally reversed its decision and allowed Uber to operate. This presented a unique opportunity for Lyft, which operated on the same business model. With the license, both Lyft and Uber are allowed to operate throughout Lower Mainland Vancouver and Whistler.
It has yet to be seen if the PTB's approval will last as ride-hailing services have run into problems in other cities around the world. Last year, Uber was fined $640 million in New Jersey for its alleged underpayment of employee taxes. In Seattle, Uber was forced to pay minimum wage to its drivers, resulting in the company raising its ride taxes.
For now, the hype around the entry of both Uber and Lyft into the city is an all-time high. Residents have expressed their joy in finally being able to use the services, giving them an additional transport option.
