A new ride-hailing company is offering the first glimpse of hope for Okanagan residents who want a taste of what the rest of North American commuters already have.
TappCar, which is already running in Edmonton, Grand Prairie and Winnipeg, announced Tuesday it will file an application with the B.C. Passenger Transportation Board to offer services across the province.
On Thursday, a company called uRide also submitted its application.
If approved, the companies would be the first ride-hailing services to operate outside of the Lower Mainland. Earlier this month, Uber and Lyft both said they plan to operate only within the Lower Mainland area, citing concerns over being able to hire enough drivers.
Kelowna city Coun. Ryan Donn, who previously criticized the B.C. government91裸聊视频檚 requirement for drivers to have a Class 4 license, told the 91裸聊视频 he91裸聊视频檚 thrilled a company is finally looking to the Okanagan.
READ MORE: Kelowna councillor blasts province for ride-hailing delay
91裸聊视频淭o get ride hailing as an option in Kelowna would be phenomenal because that91裸聊视频檚 really been the push,91裸聊视频� Donn said in a phone interview Wednesday.
He said he91裸聊视频檒l look for the city to help encourage residents to get proper licensing and become drivers.
In Alberta, where TappCar is based, ride-hailing drivers must also have their Class 4 licence. Company spokesperson Pascal Ryffel told Black Press Media the company is prepared to meet the same requirements here in B.C.
Donn said while TappCar will help ease the demand among the locals, including students at UBC Okanagan, one of the challenges will be informing tourists and newcomers about a service not as well-known as Uber or Lyft.
He pointed to the Okanagan Gateway Transportation Study underway in the city, which may include how ride hailing will roll out at the Kelowna International Airport.
91裸聊视频淓veryone that arrives at the airport already knows Uber91裸聊视频攖hey have the Uber app already downloaded, they have their credit card already loaded. It91裸聊视频檚 something familiar to them,91裸聊视频� Donn said.
91裸聊视频淭he tourist market is where this may not be as strong91裸聊视频� I think this is really going to be a local solution, perhaps.91裸聊视频�
Similar to larger B.C. cities like Vancouver and Victoria, safety is a top concern among locals who find themselves struggling to find a ride at night and on weekends.
91裸聊视频淲e have the same issue as Vancouver has, at peak times there is no safe ride home option available in the community,91裸聊视频� he said.
Donn has been a vocal supporter of increasing transportation in the region and receives experiences from locals as they struggle to get a ride regularly. That includes two days ago, he said, when a resident told him they waited two hours at 2 a.m.
91裸聊视频淎t some point, they don91裸聊视频檛 have an option at 2 a.m., and they91裸聊视频檙e having to make a choice and some of them aren91裸聊视频檛 making the best choices. That91裸聊视频檚 why we have one of the highest drinking and driving rates in B.C., and that91裸聊视频檚 unfortunate. People are forced to make bad choices because they need to get home.91裸聊视频�
Ryffel said TappCar hopes to hit the road later this year, pending approval by the transportation passenger board.
91裸聊视频� With files from Katya Slepian, Black Press Media
ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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