In a time of increased demand, Ride Well’s numbers have soared and they are seeking an additional driver and more hours on the road.
The service, similar to Uber and designed for smaller communities who have limited access to ride-sharing programs, has seen record numbers now that the pandemic is fading.
Christina Mann, Manager of Economic Development in the County of Wellington, says the pilot project only started in 2019 in the County of Wellington, when they saw a high of 260 rides a month.
That figure has sky-rocketed to up to 786, with 734 completed in May. Mann believes while the pandemic calming is one reason for increased demand, there are several at play.
Per a report, there were three operating days in May where the service had approximately 40% failed searches due to high demand.
Now, Mann says adding extra staff during higher-volume times is a priority.
She explains the company does foresee increased revenue, currently sitting at 25 percent of revenue in relation to the cost of running the service.
The issue will be discussed at council today.
