Uber is finally street legal in Ottawa

OttawaSun.com
Oct. 4, 2106
Jon Willing

Uber has received the first “private transportation company” licence from the City of Ottawa.

The international ride-ordering company obtained the licence Tuesday.

The city launched a new vehicle-for-hire bylaw Friday with separate licence categories for conventional taxis and private transportation companies. There are different regulations for each category.

For Uber, it will be paying the city $7,253 annually because it has more than 100 vehicles. The company will also pay to the city 11 cents for every trip.

Uber’s PTC licence includes 1,528 vehicles as of Tuesday, according to bylaw chief Roger Chapman.

Anthony Di Monte, acting GM of emergency and protective services, told council Tuesday that staff will be “closely monitoring compliance with regulations under the by-law.”

PTCs like Uber must also have minimum insurance requirements for the company and drivers. The drivers must show proof of police checks and vehicle safety. PTCs can only accept rides ordered through an application, such as a smartphone app.

Uber works exclusively from an app, connecting customers with the closest available drivers.

Uber arrived in Ottawa in October 2014.