Passenger Transportation Board pauses Uber application for expansion

VICTORIA — B.C.’s Passenger Transportation Board (PTB) has shelved Uber’s bid to offer service throughout the province while it investigates the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the industry.

Uber is already authorized to operate in the Lower Mainland. In August of 2020, the ubiquitous ride-sharing company applied to the PTB for permission to expand service to the rest of B.C.

A list of submitters opposed the application, including the B.C. Taxi Association and Kamloops-based Kami Cabs, saying there is little demand for Uber’s services thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a decision released Tuesday (Apr. 20), the PTB says it will put Uber’s application on pause while it conducts an investigation into the impact of the pandemic on the passenger transportation industry.

The PTB expects its investigation to take three-to-six months.

Uber had argued the investigation would no longer be relevant by the time it wrapped up, as the COVID-19 pandemic should be winding down by that point. The PTB disagreed, saying the pandemic’s impact on the economy will still be relevant at that time.