How much is an Uber from Park Royal to Downtown Vancouver? At normal demand, about $17. The trip is 6 km and takes roughly 15 minutes, and the likely range is $14 to $20 depending on when you request the car.
Working out the fare
The rates behind the estimate are average ones: $2.50 base fare, $1.15 for each km, $0.35 for each minute, and a $2 booking fee. The distance adds $6.90 and the time adds $5.25, so the part that depends on the trip is $14.65. Add the booking fee and you get about $16.65, shown here as $17. The regional minimum fare of $4.43 is far below that, so it does not come into play.
Treat the figure as an estimate. It comes from average rates and is not Uber’s own price. The upfront price in the app is what you actually pay.
Busy periods push it up. At 1.2 times normal demand the trip is about $20, at 1.5 times it is about $24, and at a 2 times peak it is about $31. Bigger vehicles cost more at any demand level: Comfort is about $20, XL (up to 6 seats) about $23 and Premier about $35 at normal demand.
How a taxi meter compares
The published tariff from Whalley Taxi and Royal City Taxi is the same, $3.75 to start the meter and $2.18 per km. Over 6 km that puts the meter near $17, so at normal demand the taxi and the rideshare land in about the same place. The meter figure leaves out time spent waiting and any extras.
A taxi is worth a look when the app shows a surge, since the published tariff has no demand multiplier in it. When the app price is at the normal level, the two options are close enough that pickup time may matter more than the fare.
Booking from a shopping centre
Shopping centres are large places, so tell your driver the exact entrance or address where you are standing, and check the pickup pin in the app before you confirm. If you have a lot of bags, ask whether they fit, or choose XL.
Passengers who need a wheelchair accessible vehicle should book ahead by phone instead of hoping one turns up in the app. If you have somewhere to be, leave extra time, because a driver can take a few minutes to reach you when demand is high. Share your trip details with someone if you like, and keep your phone charged so you can follow the driver on the map.