What happened: Provincial regulator approves one more ride-hailing services, while denying five others
Why it matters: Coastal Rides is set to offer services on the Sunshine Coast
One more B.C. company has been given the nod by the provincial regulator to offer ride-hailing services.
The Passenger Transportation Board (PTB) on Friday (February 28) approved the application of Sechelt-based Coastal Rides.
Principal Ryan Jay Staley said in the company’s application that it plans to launch services for the Sunshine Coast beginning this spring, with plans to expand to Powell River by the third year of operations.
“The difference between the Coastal service and other transportation modes in the area include lower prices for longer trips that are shared rides, increased availability compared to taxis due to provision of shared rides, provision of on-demand service and the ability to book, confirm and pay for a ride through the app,” the application stated.
Coastal Rides plans to launch with five or fewer drivers before ramping up to 20-30 drivers over its first three years of operation.
It’s the sixth company the PTB has approved after Green Coast Ventures Inc., a Tofino-based company operating under the name Whistle; American giants Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE:UBER) and Lyft Inc. (Nasdaq:LYFT); and fellow B.C.-based operators Kabu-Ride Inc. and Garrindar Singh Parhar (operating as Apt Rides).
In a series of February 28 decisions, the PTB also declined applications from Robert Braithwaite (operating as Wine Lovers Tours), My Limousine Ride Services Ltd. (operating as My Limo Rides), 10311669 Canada Corp. (operating as Uride), Ryde Today (operating as Tripti Technologies Inc.) and RideOn Canada Inc.
The regulator has received 35 applications for ride-hailing licences since last year, declining 12 applications so far.
Note: This story originally stated Coastal Rides is the fifth company to be approved for ride-hailing services on B.C. roads. In fact, it is the sixth.
