Suppose you are trying to reduce your dependence on your car in the interest of reducing carbon emissions. The bus is an environmentally sound option, but it doesn’t always go where you want to go, says Ryan Staley, founder of Coastal Rides.
In urban centres, residents without a vehicle can turn to Uber or Lyft ride-hailing services in which local drivers are licensed to pick up passengers and provide a ride similar to that of a taxi. The Coast didn't have ride-hailing until February 2020 when Coastal Rides received their licence to operate. But Ryan notes that shortly after the licensing “the world closed down.” One of the great advantages of the service is that a car or van can be shared among passengers, such as when more than one person is heading for the same ferry. Coastal Rides couldn’t do ride shares during COVID, though they could still offer private rides using masks and good ventilation.
“Two years later we’re where we should have been right away,” Ryan says, although he is still positive and actively recruiting drivers. “It would be great if we had 20 or 30 drivers on call,” he notes. “No one would need to own that second car.” He points out that it’s also convenient for touring boaters moored at the dock who want to see the town or for Saturday night dates at the local pub when the taxi companies are too busy.
To book a ride, load up the app from coastalrides.ca and get all the information by reading their frequently asked questions section. When you schedule a ride, it will note your location and tell you which drivers are in the neighbourhood. Unlike another ride-hailing service that uses an algorithm to determine your cost, Coastal Rides tells you your fare up front and you pay using the app. An average shared ride from Sechelt to Gibsons will be approximately $45 or a private ride for $63. Most of the income goes to the drivers.
There are no restrictions on destinations on the lower Sunshine Coast. Do you need to get to Earls Cove terminal or up a gravel road in Roberts Creek? No problem. “I’ve lived here five years,” Ryan says, “and the drive still takes me to every nook and cranny, places that I hadn’t seen before.”
