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Comment by caiob | Hacker News Reader

Spotty public transit? Vancouver has one of the best public transportation systems in North America. Honestly, Vancouverites aren't at all bothered by the fact that Uber doesn't exist out there. The author clearly has never been to other cities in Canada such as Toronto and/or Ottawa where commute is a nightmare.

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As a Vancouverite, I'm extremely bothered by it. The taxi situation in Vancouver is beyond pathetic -- it's difficult to get one even in off-peak times and the service is terrible. I've used Uber in other cities and it's fantastic; I've signed every petition there is to try and bring it here.

Transit in Vancouver is pretty good but it won't help you late at night. I've fully given up ever trying to get home after a Christmas party (I get a hotel room now and transit in the morning).

I'm a Vancouver resident and the transit is great. The Skytrain is spotty in its coverage. No East/West travel, which I believe is what they're referring to.

Also after using Uber in Toronto, I am super jealous and want it here.

Jealousy is one thing, but do you really need it?

Why can't we have it?

I'll rebut your anecdotal evidence with some of my own. Multiple Vancouverites I met when I visited complained about the lack of Uber.

You're getting a lot of replies saying "it bugs me", so I guess I'll counter-balance them by stating that, while I was working there, nobody used cabs regularly enough for it to matter, and when we did, it was no issue.

Broad age range, from 18 year-old coop interns to 35 year old parents and 50 year old senior execs.

Parent is just missing the point of Uber. I've spent a fair amount of time in Vancouver, always Downtown. My use case for Uber was going across town at 10 or 11pm after hanging out after work (e.g. Gastown to West End). SkyTrain is no help and a bus is 1) probably not direct; 2) not immediately available.

An Uber would be there in 4 minutes and take me door-to-door.

I usually just walked in these situations. (It's about a 25-minute walk.)

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