A new vehicles for hire company will offer both a standard taxi service - Fast Taxi - and a ride-share service - Fast Ridez. (submitted photo/Mohammed Jashim Uddin) 

By Angela Brown

New business coming

Third taxi cab company, Fast Ride, given green light by council

Aug 20, 2020 | 10:50 AM

A third taxi cab company will soon be on the roads in the Battlefords area.

City council approved administration’s recommendation to authorize Fast Ride Taxicab Service’s application for four taxi licences, with an associated four-car ride-share service, and the establishment of the new business.

“This is all consistent with the Vehicles for Hire bylaw that council passed at the end of 2019,” North Battleford Mayor Ryan Bater said.

According to city administration, the applicant provided the drivers’ names and vehicle registrations for the vehicles. In accordance with the Vehicles for Hire bylaw, drivers will need to submit annual criminal record checks to ensure the safety of riders prior to opening.

The company will operate from its office, located on 100 Street in North Battleford.

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The standard taxi service will operate under the name Fast Taxi, accessible by phone. The ride-share service will run under the name Fast Ridez, accessible by downloading the app.

The company’s owner, Mohammed Jashim Uddin, said he hopes to offer customers more choice, whether they prefer the regular taxi service or the ride-share option.

“I wanted to introduce both services, so more customers can enjoy our service,” he said.

The company will use four cars for the ride-share service and another four cars for the standard taxi service. Different cars and different drivers will be used for each service.

Fast Ride Taxicab Service operates as a sole proprietorship, while Fast Ridez is a partnership firm.

With the introduction of the new business, this will mean there will be a total of three taxi cab companies operating in North Battleford.

A second taxi company, NB City Cab, started in May after receiving approval under the new bylaw. Up to then, Crown Cab was the only taxi company operating in North Battleford.

“It will be interesting to see how the market reacts to even more choice,” Bater said. “We now have three companies providing vehicles for hire service in the city. Hopefully there is enough business for everybody.”

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow