Uber gets the green light to hit the streets of N.L.
Company is looking for drivers and expects to launch by end of April
Uber is set to hit the streets of Newfoundland and Labrador in the coming weeks but questions linger over exactly where it will be in service.
On Tuesday morning, the provincial government announced it had granted a ride-hailing service licence to the global giant.
"It is our first time in the province so we haven't quite determined our exact service area yet," spokesperson Keerthana Rang told CBC News.
The service area will be settled by the time Uber is ready to launch, she said, adding the area will be determined by the number of drivers who sign up and where they are located.
Rang also said they don't have an exact launch date but it should be by the end of the month.
Uber is currently recruiting drivers, but Rang said they don't have a set number they want booked on the app.
"There's no real magic number, but for us to comfortably launch, we want to make sure that we feel that there are a number of drivers who have signed up but also are on their way to signing up," she said.
The more drivers they have booked on the Uber platform, the better the experience riders will have because of lower wait times, said Rang.
The first few weeks after a launch tend to be challenging, said Rang, with higher wait times compared with other cities where Uber is established.
"There's always growing pains in the first few weeks," she said.
Safety measures in app
Rang said Uber drivers need to have a Class 4 driver's licence, have undergone a criminal record and judicial matters check, have proof of insurance and provide a vehicle inspection certificate to the company.
"The great thing about the criminal record check is that it looks at the national database containing criminal convictions and even any pending criminal charges that have not yet concluded. And so it's pretty rigorous," said Rang.
There are also app features that add an additional layer of safety for users, like being able to share a location with someone and also follow the driving route. As well, the app notices if the car has been idle for too long and will check in. If someone doesn't respond, Uber notifies law enforcement.
Uber prices are also affordable, said Rang. People can use Uber X Share, which allows them to carpool to share costs.
Surge pricing, used when there is more demand for rides than there are drivers, raises the cost.
Jiffy Cabs owner Chris Hollett has been a vocal critic of ride-hailing companies and has criticized the provincial government for easing the way for them to enter the local market.
Rang said Uber operates in many cities and has been able to coexist with taxi companies. She said in Winnipeg it was found that when there are more transportation options, from taxis to ride-hailing apps, people leave their vehicles at home.
"By giving residents more transportation options outside of that private car ownership, we're seeing that the overall market is expanding for everyone," she said.
Uber is one company with drivers who operate under the gig economy, criticized because workers don't have job security or benefits like pension or health insurance.
Rang said people are attracted to gig work, which includes Uber, because it offers "unparalleled flexibility that you can't get anywhere else."
She said people can drive whenever and wherever they want.
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With files from On the Go