Ride-sharing app set to launch in Sudbury

A man who developed a ride-sharing app says he'll launch the service called oRide in Sudbury later this year.

The app connects drivers with passengers who need a lift through a mobile app.

Neville Hewage, the man who developed the app, has already rolled out the service in Ottawa, and said he already has 150 drivers who have signed up in that city. Now, he said he is looking for drivers to sign up in Sudbury.

"So we have about 5 to ten drivers who have already submitted their application," he said.

"I expect if I have roughly 50 to 100 drivers registered on our platform, then I can launch the public app."

Taxisoffer'reliability'

A new bylaw recently went into effect in Sudbury, regulating vehicles for hire in the city.

One of the owners of Lockerby Taxi, Sharron Flinn, pushed for the bylaw to be updated.

She said she is concerned about losing business, but added her company offers service a ride-share app doesn't.

"We know each day when we open our doors, although we're open 24/7, we've got our 44 cars on the road, every single day," she said.

"So we give good, reliable service, whereasa go-app, he doesn't have that reliability."

In the past, Uberhad also looked at hiring drivers in Sudbury, but didn't set up the service.

"While we don't have specific launch plans for Sudbury at the moment, I can tell you that Uber aims to continue to expand to communities across Canada," spokesperson Susie Heath said in an e-mail to the CBC.