One of the ride-hailing companies approved by the Passenger Transportation Board last week plans to focus on North Shore residents, tourists and commuters.
Owned by Garrindar Singh Parhar, the Apt cabs will operate from an office located in West Vancouver. At full capacity, Parhar intends to operate 50 cars in North Shore as well Vancouver.
Apt, however, hasn’t given a date for its launch.
“Apt sees its target market as the North Shore population, primarily those 15 to 45 years of age who are committed smart phone users,” says the report filed by Passenger Transportation Board.
Parhar says people in North Shore routinely wait 20 to 60 minutes for a taxi, something he knows first hand as he dispatched and drove taxis in North Shore.
He says there are unique challenges facing North Shore when it comes to transportation. Taxi boundaries, he says, prevent taxis operating in the North Shore from picking up passengers in Vancouver and bringing them back to the North Shore.
He also says that some Vancouver taxi drivers refuse trips to the North Shore because of congestion on the two bridges connecting it to Vancouver.
The fares, he says, are also refused because drivers can make more money staying in the busy downtown core.
The Apt cabs, he says, would not be subject to taxi boundary constraints and could provide better service to those coming to the North Shore and those going to Vancouver from the North Shore.
With respect to concerns raised about a possible negative impact on public transit, Apt contends that given the geography and density of the North Shore and Vancouver, it will be able to work in conjunction with public transit to get people to their destinations more efficiently.
Apt is positive on the potential for high growth in North Shore due to an increase in population and tourism and a trend towards fewer personal cars due to a greater focus on the environment, increased densification and reduced parking.
Apt is also betting on the younger demographic more in tune with smartphone apps, ordering everything from food to clothes on the phone.
Apt hopes it would add its cabs to that list.
Comments
NOTE: The North Shore Daily Post welcomes your opinions and comments. We do not allow personal attacks, offensive language or unsubstantiated allegations. We reserve the right to edit comments for length, style, legality and taste and reproduce them in print, electronic or otherwise. For further information, please contact the editor or publisher, or see our Terms and Conditions.