Ride-hailing giant Uber says it plans to expand its service area to cover all of British Columbia next year, and it’s looking for drivers to help it do so.
The company’s slow rollout in B.C. began in early 2020, when provincial regulations for the ride-hailing industry first took effect.
For years, Uber operated only in the Lower Mainland, and its applications to the Passenger Transportation Board for a licence to operate in other regions were denied.
In May 2023, however, the PTB approved Uber’s application for a licence transfer from another company, Vancouver-based ReRyde, which had already been approved to operate outside the Lower Mainland, but was not actively providing ride-hailing services.
Uber launched in Kelowna, Victoria and Chilliwack later that year.
The PTB divides the province into five zones for ride-hailing licenses. Region 1 is the Lower Mainland and the Sea to Sky corridor, Region 2 is the Capital Regional District, Region 3 is the rest of Vancouver Island, …