Uber has begun mapping British Columbia streets despite the NDP government’s reversal of ex-Premier Christy Clark’s move to legitimize the ride-sharing industry by the end of 2017.

 

In March of this year Clark announced her government would lift a moratorium on ride-sharing services by the fall, effectively clearing the path for companies like Uber and Lyft to compete with taxi operators and licensed passenger transport firms.

 

Last week, however, the NDP government nixed the prospect of near-term Uber or Lyft services in B.C. and instead plans to reassess the start-up ride-sharing industry relative to existing transportation options. There is no definitive date by which the newly-formed government plans to release the results of its transportation review and approve province-wide ride-sharing.

 

Similar to Google’s Streetview feature, Uber’s mapping technology enables its planners to identify the fastest and most convenient routes between popular destinations within its coverage areas and to determine key zones for pick-ups.

 

A statement released this morning by Uber states that “future enhanced maps will allow British Columbians to get around their communities seamlessly and offer them more precise pick-up and drop-off locations for rides and delivery. This expanded effort into British Columbia follows Uber's mapping efforts across Canada that began late last year.”

 

Uber’s mapping technology is not available to the general public and will be used to provide riders with “accurate ETA’s” (estimated times of arrival) and to help drivers “navigate to the perfect pick-up spot.”

 

25 mapping vehicles will scour B.C.’s lower Mainland region into September. It is not clear when additional urban areas will be slated for a similar undertaking. C