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UPDATE: Ride-hailing launches in parts of Metro Vancouver

Uber and Lyft vow to expand as more drivers are hired
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Less than a day after being approved to hit the gas on Lower Mainland roadways, Uber and Lyft will be available for rides beginning Friday morning – but only from within Vancouver’s city limits.

Uber and Lyft were approved to operate in Zone 1, which includes Lower Mainland and Whistler, on Thursday, the Transportation Safety Board announced.

Shortly after, Vancouver issued business licences to both mega-ridesharing companies. Both companies kicked off with its first rides around 8 a.m.

Both Uber and Lyft have released details into where each company will be operating, for now.

Lyft’s general manager, Peter Lukomskyj, said at a news conference Friday that customers will be able to hail rides only from within the core of Vancouver, as well as the Pacific National Exhibition and Vancouver International Airport.

Uber is picking up and dropping off riders from across some of Metro Vancouver, including in Richmond, Burnaby Coquitlam and a majority of Surrey.

Both companies have vowed to expand across the region as soon as more drivers received their Class 4 licensing.

READ MORE: Here is how Lyft and Uber will operate in the Lower Mainland

In the meantime, municipalities across Metro Vancouver are working to create a regional business licence for ride-hailing companies. Initial framework on what that licence will entail should be complete by the end of the month, according to TransLink Mayors’ Council chair Jonathan Cote.

Once the licence is approved by the council, each municipality will vote on if it will take part.

ALSO READ: Metro Vancouver mayors agree to fast-track a regional licence for ride-hailing


@ashwadhwani
ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca

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About the Author: Ashley Wadhwani-Smith

I began my journalistic journey at Black Press Media as a community reporter in my hometown of Maple Ridge, B.C.
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