At a ribbon cutting held at Town Hall on Wednesday, Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock officially welcomed YDrive to town.
YDrive is similar to Uber, you download an application on your phone, input where you are going and it will give you the cost of the fare and enable you to track your driver.
“We’re just celebrating a brand new business for the Town of Huntsville,” said the Mayor. “As we know we haven’t had Uber in our municipality let alone any other Muskoka municipality and certainly this isn’t a statement about our existing taxi businesses. I’ve used our taxi businesses for years and years and they’re fantastic but I think that there are times when they are overwhelmed with the various needs and so, competition is a good thing.”
Alcock said YDrive not only fills a need but also a wish. “There are a number of people in our community who have used Uber elsewhere, not only in the province but in the country… it’s interesting it’s here in Huntsville.”
She said a town of Huntsville’s size doesn’t generally meet the minimum population requirement for Uber “so I think, why not?”
The welcome from community members has been mostly positive with the exception of targeted vandalism, explained YDrive Recruitment Manager David Joyce.
He said the windshields of two vehicles had been smashed within the span of two days. “Vandalism is scary no matter how big or small it is, especially when it’s on your own property and our drivers lose income… unfortunately it seems to me like there are some people that maybe don’t like advancing their town into the 21st Century.”
Joyce said YDrive is providing a safe community service with all of their drivers undergoing a background check and the vehicles undergoing safety checks every year.
He said the incidents have been reported to the OPP, “and we are looking forward to hearing from them.”
You can download the app HERE.
Photo from left, YDRIVE Owner Erica Young, YDRIVE Driver Tedd Bionda, YDRIVE Recruiting Manger David Joyce, Driver Bob Davidson, Mayor Nancy Alcock and Driver Terry Fisher.
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Dangerous to assume anything , but it certainly is concerning when competition begets destruction of others property . It is a testament to the value of another company !
I hope they catch the Felons !