Mayor Brian Bowman steps out of Winnipeg’s first Uber ride as he arrives at City Hall for a press conference on Tuesday, July 7, 2020. (DANIEL CRUMP / CHRISD.CA)
Your Uber has arrived, Winnipeg.
After years of waiting, the popular ride-sharing service flipped the switch on its app to Winnipeg riders at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
“Winnipeggers now have an affordable option to help get where they need to go, when they need to,” said Michael van Hemmen, head of city operations in Canada for Uber.
“And for those with a safe driving record, a flexible opportunity to earn money on their own time. We’d like to thank Mayor Bowman, Council, and the Province for their support in bringing ridesharing to Winnipeg.”
Michael van Hemmen, head of city operations in Canada for Uber, speaks during a press conference at City Hall to announce that Uber is officially operating in Winnipeg on Tuesday, July 7, 2020. (DANIEL CRUMP / CHRISD.CA)
Media gather as Mayor Brian Bowman speaks at Uber’s launch at City Hall on Tuesday. (DANIEL CRUMP / CHRISD.CA)
Uber obtained its regulatory licence from the City of Winnipeg in June and agreed to terms with Manitoba Public Insurance after a drawn-out negotiation process.
Uber was looking to sign up qualified drivers and offered them a $500 incentive to the first 100 drivers who completed 20 trips following the launch.
The U.S.-based company currently operates in more than 700 cities globally.
“As of today, Winnipeggers will now have Uber as an internationally recognized brand to choose from, and when tourism and travel return to normal, visitors will have even more choice for ride-sharing when they arrive,” said Mayor Brian Bowman.
Bowman was also the service’s first Winnipeg passenger, arriving in a black Toyota Sienna minivan to City Hall before beginning a news conference surrounding the launch.
Winnipeg is currently home to a handful of other ride-sharing services, particularly TappCar, which has been operating in the city since March of 2018.
Uber is here! The first #Winnipeg rides begin at 11 a.m. today. The ride-sharing company will operate in the coverage area mapped out below. pic.twitter.com/1voxiwre62
— ChrisD.ca (@ChrisDca) July 7, 2020
