Innisfil launched a project in May to gauge the effectiveness of using Uber as an alternative to the lack of public transit in the town. The town is very pleased with the results.
Under the partnership, residents can order an Uber to go anywhere in town and pay only $3 to $5. The town then pays the remainder of the fare, which has translated into an average subsidy of $5.43 per trip so far.
“Overall, staff is very pleased with the results from the first two months of the ridesharing transit service,” a report that will be tabled at tonight’s Innisfil council meeting reads. “The total costs after two months have been $26,462.41 for the town’s ridesharing transit service, while there would have been a $270,000 start-up net cost for one bus and $610,000 for two buses running along routes servicing only a small portion of the town. This strongly indicates that the cost of a fixed-route bus system to service all of Innisfil would have been far greater and a less convenient option than through the current ridesharing transit service.”
For its part, Uber said in a statement that it is pleased with the results of the partnership and hopes to have “continued dialogue with other jurisdictions and transit authorities across Canada to explore similar partnerships.
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Innisfil’s use of Uber in lieu of public transit deemed a success by staff