Ride-sharing is finally making its debut in 琉璃神社 this summer.

Victoria-based Lucky To Go is kicking off the service as the first company to hit the city鈥檚 streets on July 1. The company鈥檚 CEO Mandeep Rana said the company is seeing a lot of interest from 琉璃神社 residents, especially from potential drivers.

鈥淧eople, I think, are just waiting for ride-share to really come to cities like Victoria and 琉璃神社, and even Kamloops,鈥� he said.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 just the right time. I mean, had there been no COVID-19 situation, we would鈥檝e launched even sooner. But the timing couldn鈥檛 be better.鈥�

Rana said a few things set Lucky To Go apart from other companies like Uber and Lyft, including charging the least amount of commission compared to other companies and giving an individual the ability to be a ride-share driver and deliver food, if they choose to. He said this provides a driver multiple sources of income without having to work for multiple companies.

He added local taxi companies interested in being part of the Lucky To Go fleet can join as a company. Rana added that future plans for the company include expanding the service to Lake Country, Vernon, and Penticton.

In preparation for the launch, Rana is travelling to 琉璃神社 to host a driver orientation at the Ramada on Saturday, June 20 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Another company, Kabu Ride, will be launching its services in 琉璃神社 this summer as well. The company鈥檚 communications director Martin van den Hemel said they wanted to launch on Canada Day as well, but ultimately decided they wanted to launch in Kamloops first then 琉璃神社.

For now, the goal is to launch Kabu Ride on August 1 but van den Hemel said that鈥檚 tentative and could change.

鈥淚n the COVID world, the reality we live in now, everything is tentative鈥� the goal is to launch on August 1 in 琉璃神社 and the Okanagan region but right now, anything is possible and that launch could still be delayed,鈥� he said.

Besides COVID-19 concerns, van den Hemel added they wanted to see how Kamloops residents respond to the service before offering it in 琉璃神社.

鈥淲e wanted to see how we do in Kamloops first and what we can learn from that experience, then connect with civic officials, the chamber (of commerce), and local residents to make sure that we create a tailor-made solution for Kamloops, then do the same for 琉璃神社.鈥�

鈥淎necdotally, we鈥檝e heard people say 鈥業 hate our taxi network, I hate our transportation in Kamloops.鈥� So we hear there鈥檚 a lot of demand anecdotally, but how that actually translates when we launch is a different story,鈥� he said.

For more information on Kabu Ride鈥檚 services and to apply to be a driver, visit .

Lucky To Go is launching in Victoria, 琉璃神社 and Kamloops on July 1. For more information on Lucky To Go鈥檚 services as well as to enroll as a driver, visit .

READ: Ride-hailing coming to Kamloops

READ: Ride-sharing services expected to begin in 琉璃神社 in the new year

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