Capilano University to Lonsdale Quay is 8 km, and the drive takes about 15 minutes. A standard rideshare for that distance costs about $19 at normal demand, with a likely range of $17 to $22.
How the Capilano fare is calculated
Our numbers use average rideshare rates and are not Uber’s own prices. The base fare is $2.50, distance is $1.15 per km, time is $0.35 per minute, and the booking fee is $2. Eight kilometres comes to $9.20 and fifteen minutes to $5.25. Together with the base fare that is $16.95, and the booking fee lifts it to about $19.
The app will give you the exact upfront price for the time you ask for the car. If it differs from ours by a dollar or two, that is normal, because we are working from averages.
Time is a smaller part of this fare than distance. The 15 minutes add $5.25, while the 8 km add $9.20, so a slow drive changes the total less than a longer route would. The booking fee of $2 is the same whatever the demand.
When the app is busy the same trip costs more. A multiplier of 1.2 gives about $22, 1.5 gives about $27, and the peak multiplier of 2 gives about $36. For a group, XL (up to 6 seats) is about $27 at normal demand, Comfort is about $23, and Premier is about $40.
Taxi meter and pickup advice
Whalley Taxi and Royal City Taxi use the same published tariff of $3.75 flag fee plus $2.18 per km. For 8 km the meter estimate is about $21. That leaves out any time spent waiting and any extras the driver may add.
At a university, a pin dropped automatically can sit away from where you actually want the car. Check it on the map, nudge it if you need to, and send the driver the exact address or building. If you finish classes at a set time, request the car slightly early, because drivers are not always close by.
A quay can be a place where many people are coming and going together. If you are meeting someone there, agree on a spot before you arrive and share your trip in the app so they can see when you are close. Anyone who needs an accessible vehicle should book by phone ahead of the day, and say how many people and bags will be travelling when you call.
The prices above are for one standard car at normal demand.