CALGARY, Oct. 15, 2015 /CNW/ - Uber Canada is excited to launch the highly popular ridesharing product, uberX, in our Co-founder Garrett Camp's hometown of Calgary today with rides available starting at 2:00 PM. As part of this entry to market, first rides on uberX will be offered free-of-charge for new riders in Calgary.
"It's great to see Uber come to my hometown of Calgary," said Garrett Camp, Co-Founder & Chairman of Uber. "Calgary needs more transit options and Uber provides a new alternative that benefits everyone."
Calgary joins the ever-growing list of over 340 cities where Uber is available. More information on Uber in Calgary can be found here: t.uber.com/uberXCalgary.
"Today's launch comes after a year of planning during which tens of thousands of Calgarians have downloaded the Uber app and close to 500 local residents have signed up to earn on our platform as driver-partners," stated Ramit Kar, General Manager of Uber Alberta. "By launching our service now, we can help boost the local economy at a time when it's suffering. Moreover, regulators will now also be able to see how this new transportation option works and help inform their process as they seek to develop smart solutions for regulatory oversight."
Today's launch will be made official with Calgary entrepreneur and philanthropist Brett Wilson taking the first ride: t.uber.com/yycriderzero.
By connecting local riders and drivers through the use of a smartphone application, Uber offers a new way for people to access their cities around the world. At prices up to 30 percent less than a taxi fare, uberX is Uber's low-cost ridesharing option, offering reliable on-demand transportation choices at the touch of a button. uberX partners are provincially licensed drivers who use their own personal vehicles to give their neighbours a ride.
All Canadian rideshare drivers who partner with Uber must pass background checks that include both a National Criminal Record Check of Federal RCMP databases and searches of local police databases. Uber also screens drivers' motor vehicle records for any infractions by type and date. In the event of an accident during an uberX trip, ridesharing partners are covered by commercial auto insurance in addition to any insurance coverage maintained by the driver-partner.
About Uber Canada
Co-founded by Canadian entrepreneur Garrett Camp in 2009, Uber has changed the way people connect to get around town. Present in over 30 communities in Canada, Uber offers more than 20,000 Canadian driver-partners a new way to earn a living in their spare time by offering a more affordable transportation alternative to hundreds of thousands of riders across the country. For more, visit: uber.com.
SOURCE Uber Canada
Image with caption: "Co-Founders Garrett Camp and Travis Kalanick first thought of creating Uber in Paris, France in 2008 (CNW Group/Uber Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151015_C9994_PHOTO_EN_44313.jpg
Media Contact
Xavier Van Chau
Uber Communications Lead, Canada
T: 514-442-5544
E: [email protected]
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