Uride increases fares as gas prices rise
New Brunswick’s only ride-hailing app has increased fares in response to rising gas prices.
In an effort to help drivers cover higher fuel costs, the company has added a $1 fuel surcharge to fares. This means passengers will now pay an additional dollar per ride.
According to Cody Ruberto, Uride’s CEO, the surcharge goes directly to drivers in an effort to subsidize higher gas prices.
“Without drivers you don’t have a company, and people won’t be getting picked up,” he said.
“We got to make sure the drivers are happy, taken care off, and that’s it’s worth their time and effort to be on the road to get everyone home safe.”
Uride is an Ontario-based company with operations in British Columbia, Alberta, P.E.I., Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
The ride-hailing company came to New Brunswick in 2021, first expanding to Fredericton. It now also operates in Saint John and Moncton.
Like Uber and Lyft, Uride is a ride-hailing company, but with a focus on smaller communities.
Ruberto said the company calculated the surcharge by determining how much drivers are spending on fuel each day as gas prices increase. He said the surcharge was implemented in early April, when gas prices began rising sharply.
Ruberto said the surcharge has allowed drivers to continue picking up passengers in a timely manner without reducing the number of trips they serve.
He added that if gas prices continue to increase, the surcharge could also rise, but affordability for customers will remain a priority.
“We’ll keep doing everything we can to make sure customers are saving money but at the same time making sure drivers are compensated through these volatile gas prices.”
