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UberPOOL ridesharing service to launch in Toronto


January 12, 2016   by Canadian Underwriter


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Ridesharing company Uber announced on Monday that it is launching uberPOOL in Toronto beginning on Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 2 p.m.

The service is 30% cheaper than UberX, the ridesharing company said

The service allows users to share their ride and split the cost by being matched with someone travelling the same way – making the fare 30% cheaper than UberX, Uber said in a statement.

“Our vision for uberPOOL is simple,” the statement said. “We want to reduce the number of cars on the road, while providing Torontonians with transportation that’s more affordable than ever. When two people share their ride, that’s one less car on the road and a cheaper fare for both riders.”

Uber said that fares are quoted in the app before the uberPOOL request is selected, so users already know how much they’ll pay. The minimum uberPOOL fare is $4 and it includes a $1.50 “Safe Rides Fee.” The service has a maximum of two passengers per request and the second passenger added to the request will add $1 to the fare, Uber said. If there’s no second rider near the person requesting the service, the user gets a solo ride and still pays the fare that was quoted in the app.

UberPOOL was initially launched in Toronto on a two-week trial basis during the Pan Am Games last July

The service will be available between Jane Street and Victoria Park Avenue up to Highway 401, including the Yonge corridor north of the 401 to Finch Avenue between Bathurst Street and Bayview Avenue (see map below).

UberPOOL was initially launched in Toronto on a two-week trial basis during the Pan Am Games from July 13-26, 2015.

The issue of ridesharing insurance has long been an issue in Toronto and other Canadian cities. In December, 2015, taxis clogged Toronto streets to protest Uber, arguing that current bylaws meant that some Uber services were operating illegally. Earlier that month, Niagara West-Glanbrook MPP Tim Hudak called on Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa to develop “affordable, comprehensive insurance” specific to ridesharing services like Uber.

Intact Financial Corp. said last September that it intends to offer “tailored insurance products” for Uber. Last week, on Jan. 6, Aviva Canada announced that it will offer personal coverage for ridesharing drivers. The coverage will be available for Ontario drivers in early February, and will be an addition to an Aviva-insured personal auto policy, Aviva said at the time, adding that it will be “working with regulators across the country to make the solution available in other provinces in the coming months.”


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