Sunshine Coast-based ride-hailing company Coastal Rides is now serving the Alberni Valley.
Coastal Rides also operates in Tofino, Comox, Campbell River and the Sunshine Coast.
Rides can be booked on demand or scheduled, fares are set in advance, and bookings and payments are made through Coastal Rides’ online system via its app.
Coastal Rides founder Ryan Staley, who has an academic background in transportation planning, said he started the company because of gaps in the transportation system he experienced while living in Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast.
“If you’re trying to make a [transit] connection, you rely on other people to drive you,” he said.
The company is still looking for drivers, who must have a Class 1, 2 or 4 driver’s licence, a vehicle that is less than 10 years old, a clean driving record and a criminal record check.
Ian Lee, who used to manage a fleet of taxis in Edmonton before moving to Port Alberni in 2013, joined Coastal Rides as a full-time driver in October.
He said he believes in chatting with customers. “You can’t be a wet rag and just drive. You’ve got to make them feel comfortable in the car.”
Nora O’Malley is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter with Ha-Shilth-Sa. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
