Prominent ride-hailing companies say people in Vancouver should expect higher prices with the FIFA World Cup 2026 set to kick off on Saturday.
Uber and Lyft both told CBC News in statements that higher wait times and dynamically-adjusted pricing are likely given high demand on matchdays.
A local cab company is also asking commuters for patience given the road closures in the city, with its full fleet expected to be out on the roads to offer options to consumers.
B.C.’s jobs minister is encouraging people to use expanded public transit options during the tournament, with a number of closed-off streets and areas on matchdays.
But Ravi Kahlon, speaking at an unrelated news conference on Wednesday, didn’t directly respond to a question on whether the province would cap ride-hailing fees.
“We will have to monitor that. I know that there’s a lot of both ride-hail and taxis out in the road right now,” he said.
Kahlon instead pushed for commuters to use public transit, with Metro Vancouver’s transit authority TransLink saying it would add 600 additional bus trips during the tournament and extend hours on other services.
When asked if he was concerned that local residents needing transportation would face affordability concerns, given the expected higher prices for ride-hailing, Kahlon instead pointed to the province’s touted economic benefits of the World Cup.
“There may be some disruptions for local residents. But I think people understand that there are trade-offs for having the world come,” Kahlon argued.
A section of the seawall around Science World in Vancouver has been closed for months ahead of the World Cup, with more closures expected on matchdays. (Ethan Cairns/CBC)
Local taxi company preparing
Jasbir Nijjar, the president of Metro Vancouver’s Black Top and Checker Cabs and a spokesperson for the United Taxi Federation of B.C., said that cab companies around B.C. had ramped up hiring in anticipation of the World Cup.
He said that the range of road closures expected on matchdays had been communicated to drivers, and he asked customers for patience when they book rides.
“Please expect the traffic challenges, and there can be some added wait times due to that, because everything is moving slowly,” he said.
“And then please also show the understanding that we may not be able to take you to the exact destination … it may not be a door-to-door service due to those road closures and traffic restrictions,” he added.
(City of Vancouver)
Some prominent streets in downtown Vancouver, such as Pacific Boulevard and Granville Street, will see closures for the duration of the tournament — with further areas closed around B.C. Place stadium on matchdays.
Nijjar said that commuters trying to avoid higher prices from ride-hailing apps can consider traditional cabs — with Black Top recently introducing their own app offering fixed rates for consumers.
It comes as both Uber and Lyft say that consumers can expect dynamically-adjusted prices — also called “surge pricing” — during periods of high demand during the World Cup.
Spokespeople for both apps encouraged commuters to book ahead when possible to avoid higher prices.
“We encourage riders to plan ahead and consider a mix of transportation options, such as taking transit to the closest stop to your final destination and then riding with Uber the rest of the way,” a spokesperson for Uber said in a statement.
The spokesperson said that dynamic pricing was simply how the app adjusted to higher demand, likening it to paying more for utilities during peak hours of the day.