Volunteers offering limited free rides in Metro Vancouver with app

Feb 2 2018, 1:29 am

While ride-hailing services are not yet available in BC, other groups are taking a proactive approach to giving people a chance to try out other transportation options.

One of these groups is behind the ride-sharing app, ReRyde.

ReRyde told Daily Hive in a statement that it’s not operating in Vancouver until the “government passes legislation,” but in the meantime, volunteer ReRyde drivers are giving people a ride home, free of charge.

“At this moment we have five drivers that are volunteering to help the community get home safe on Fridays and Saturdays between the hours of 11 pm and 3 am,” said ReRyde.

Despite other media reports suggesting that operations like ReRyde are currently illegal, the company said that is not the case.

“It is our understanding there is nothing wrong with giving free rides to our community,” the company explained. “We have not operated in Vancouver illegally and we have never told any reporters that we will.”

Government announces crackdown

The Ministry of Transportation said earlier this week that “all those seeking to provide commercial passenger transportation services… anywhere in BC, must respect the current regulatory and legal system in British Columbia.”

It is important, the ministry added, that “drivers providing commercial transportation services through these social media apps understand they are assuming all of the risk related to providing the service.”

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