Uber prepares for BC-wide roll out in early 2025

Uber says it is planning to expand its services across BC next year but it will all depend on people signing up to be drivers.

The ride hailing service operated primarily in the Lower Mainland for years before receiving approval from the Passenger Transportation Board in May 2023 to begin operating in Kelowna and Victoria.

The plan is to expand the app to the rest of the province by early 2025.

“British Columbians and visitors alike are constantly opening the app to try and find a ride just like they can in most cities across the country,” said Michael van Hemmen with Uber Canada.

“It’s time that residents across the province have the same access to rideshare as they do in Vancouver, Victoria, and Kelowna to help get them where they need to go, when they need to.”

Uber will be able to operate in every ride-hail operating region in BC and is currently active in Abbotsford, Agassiz/Kent, Burnaby, Chilliwack, Delta, Kelowna, Langley, Maple Ridge, Mission, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey, Tri-Cities, Vancouver, Victoria, West Vancouver and White Rock.

However, drivers are essential to the province-wide roll out.

“While the app will be available across the entire province, rides will only be available where drivers actively sign up and go online to do trips,” said van Hemmen.

“We’re looking for drivers from Nanaimo to Fort St. John and everywhere in between.”

That’s why Uber is offering a $500 incentive to eligible drivers to sign up. They will also be required to complete 10 trips within the first four weeks of the launch in the new year.