Uber Has Landed in Guelph (and K-W and London)

Here's something interesting. A few months ago I pondered about the chances of Uber coming to the Royal City as the debate about its imminent arrival heated up just up the road in Kitchener-Waterloo, and wouldn't you know... A good friend tipped me off this morning, followed up quickly by a CBC report, and then an official press release from Uber itself this afternoon. Uber has landed in Guelph, and for the first couple of days it will be free.

It will be interesting to see how Guelph taxi companies will react to the arrival of Uber. I know that the mayor is for it, but reaction in other cities from "official" taxis has ranged from anger, to litigiousness, to damn near rioting. Canadian and Red Top have had a pretty clear monopoly in Guelph for years, but as I mentioned in my ponderings, that's because Guelph is a goldmine on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. For night owls, there's opportunity here if they have wheels and a clean driving record, and I wonder how many people are going to take advantage. And how will those Guelph cabbies react when they learn that Uber has slipped through the cracks?

Here's the press release from Uber:

Southwestern Ontario, your Uber has arrived! Starting at 2pm today, residents of London, Waterloo Region, Hamilton, and Guelph will have access to the safety, convenience and reliability of Uber at prices up to 25% cheaper than a traditional taxi. The best part? Your first 4 rides will be FREE (up to $20 each) until Sunday.

uberX is our low-cost, ridesharing option – connecting you with on-demand transportation. As always, safety is our highest priority. That’s why all driver-partners must undergo Uber’s rigorous screening process. Learn more about Uber’s commitment to safety in Ontario here.

How to get riding:

• New to Uber? Download the app (iOS, Android or Windows Phone)
• Ride free through Sunday July 26th at midnight– valid only in cities listed above.
• Request a ride and #UberOn!

Already use Uber? Open your app, request, and ride away.

PRO TIP: If you don’t see an uberX at first, don’t worry! Availability may be limited while we’re offering free rides. Just refresh your Uber app after a few minutes to request a ride – you’ll be on your way in no time.