Uber pushes to comeback to Edmonton
Service has been off the road since March 1, when city's new bylaw came into force.

MetroNews.ca
March 17, 2016
Ryan Tumilty

Uber is hoping to use public pressure to persuade the provincial government to let it back on Edmonton's streets.

The service went offline on March 1 after Edmonton’s new rideshare bylaw came into force.

The bylaw left the issue of insurance and licensing in the province’s hands — and the province ruled rideshare drivers would need Class 4 license and will not approve a proposed insurance policy from Uber until July 1.

Ramit Kar, the company’s general manager in Alberta, said their new campaign — which features videos of drivers and users sharing why they use Uber — is meant to demonstrate the service’s importance.

“What we want to do is really acknowledge the thousands of riders and drivers that have shown their support to date,” he said. “We’re doing everything that we can to bring back ridesharing to the city.”

Kar said they’re hoping the province might find ways to speed up the insurance approval and be open to other options on licensing.

“We want to give them more policy options that might make sense and we’re going to be going through those discussions in coming weeks.”

Since the bylaw came into force, the city has seen several other companies come forward who are willing to follow the existing rules. Kar said he welcomes the competition, but thinks Uber still has a place.

“I still think there is room for us.”