ReRyde plans ride-hailing within 60 days in Greater Victoria and Island
Ride-hailing company ReRyde Technologies Inc. is planning to start service in 30 to 60 days in Greater Victoria, on Vancouver Island and in the Okanagan after its second bid for approval to operate was successful.
In the capital region, it joins previously approved ridehailing services Kabu Rides and Lucky to Go.
The plan is to have 30 drivers initially available in Greater Victoria, Jamil Chaudhry, ReRyde’s chief operations officer, said from Winnipeg.
ReRyde is aiming to roll out service on the same timeline elsewhere on Vancouver Island, including Nanaimo. The company has been approved to run services in the Okanagan-Kootenay-Cariboo regions.
It also won approval to operate in the Prince George area. Chaudhry said that rollout is not planned immediately.
In January, ReRyde’s application to operate in B.C. was rejected by B.C.’s Passenger Transportation Board, which said it did not demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of passenger transportation in B.C.
The Richmond-base company reapplied with additional details in its business plan and on Wednesday was approved to operate by the board.
ReRyde has two years of experience operating in Winnipeg, where it has 800 drivers, Chaudhry said. ReRyde is also in the process of setting up operations in Ontario.
The company is recruiting drivers, requiring them to have Class 4 licences, which apply to commercial drivers for vehicles such as taxis and ride hailing services.
Starting a service during the pandemic is something the company is prepared to deal with, Chaudhry said. Drivers are required to follow health and safety protocols and he is hoping other citizens do so as well to avoid a new infections.
Drivers will be wearing masks, using hand sanitizer and the vehicles will be regularly cleaned, he said.
The virus has gutted Greater Victoria’s tourism sector, a factor affecting transportation companies that would typically have many more customers.
He’s hoping that with schools opening again and the start of a new season, demand will be there in the fall.
Customers will be able to order a ride via the company’s app. They will receive a trip passcode number unique to a particular booking to ensure they are getting into a company vehicle.
To help customers feel comfortable, real time ride tracking can be accessed through the app by friends and family from the pickup to the end of the trip.
Chaudhry said the company will offer competitive rates and service, and good compensation for drivers. Under ReRyde, drivers will receive 80 per cent of revenues.