If you’re hoping to enjoy a few cold ones while out and about in cottage country this Victoria Day long weekend, a new mobile app may make things a lot easier and safer.
The popular ride-share app “Uber” is expanding beyond its car service and is now offering water taxis to boaters in the popular Muskoka region.
The UberBOAT smartphone app allows boaters to request a water taxi in the nearby area and even pay for the ride through their mobile device.
The service, which costs a dollar per minute for a minimum fee of $20, traces a boater’s location by using GPS coordinates and sends a licenced driver to come pick them up.
Uber, which currently provides car services in more than 70 countries, said the water-taxi option looks to make boating a safe and fun experience for Ontario’s cottage-goers.
“We wanted to make sure that water taxis were easy and accessible for cottage-goers in Muskoka. Our app enables you to basically pop it open, see available water taxis in real time and request through the app and pay through the app,” Lucas Samuels, a representative from Uber, told CTV Barrie.
“It’s super easy, super efficient and ensures a safe ride home,” he said.
The company notes that the May Long Weekend will be “a learning experience” for them, serving as the service’s test run. They hope to improve the service in time for the July Long Weekend.
Julie McDermott, a local Muskoka resident, said she thinks the app will be a hit in the area.
“There’s a lot of activity in Muskoka – it’s busy from morning till night,” McDermott told CTV Barrie. “I think that it probably should have been around a few years ago, but (I’m) happy it’s finally here.”
The UberBOAT service will operate five boats on Lake Joseph and Lake Rosseau, from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., Friday to Sunday.
While the service is currently only available on long weekends, the company says it plans to expand the service in the future.
With files from CTV Barrie
