A standard rideshare from SFU Surrey to Guildford costs about $13 at normal demand, with a likely range of $11 to $15. The trip is 4 km and takes about 10 minutes.
How the numbers work
Everything here is an estimate from average rates, not Uber’s own price. You will see the real upfront price in the Uber app, and it may differ a little from ours.
Start with the base fare of $2.50. Four km at $1.15 adds $4.60, and 10 minutes at $0.35 adds $3.50. That is $10.60 before the $2 booking fee, which brings the total to about $13. The regional minimum fare of $4.43 is well under this, so it plays no part.
Demand multiplies the trip portion. At 1.2 times the fare is about $15, at 1.5 times about $18 and at the peak 2 times about $23. For a short ride the gap between normal and peak is only about $10, but it is still worth a look at the app before you tap to confirm. A few minutes of patience sometimes brings the price back down.
For more space, Comfort is about $15 and XL (up to 6 seats) is about $17. Premier is about $26. A group of four or five would likely find XL the sensible pick, since the extra cost is small once it is shared.
Taxi and pickup details
Meter estimate
Per the published tariff, Whalley Taxi and Royal City Taxi bill a $3.75 flag fee along with $2.18 per km. For 4 km the meter comes to about $12 with either one. This is a little under the rideshare estimate. It does not include waiting time or extras, so if the driver waits for you the total goes up.
Making the pickup smooth
At a campus the app may offer a pickup spot that is not where you are standing. Check it and walk over before the car arrives. Share the exact address you want to reach, since a general area name can lead to a wrong stop.
If you have luggage or a bulky bag, ask the driver whether it fits. Anyone who needs a wheelchair accessible vehicle should book ahead by phone, for example Yellow Cab Vancouver on 604-681-1111.
Ten minutes is an average. If you need to be somewhere on time, give yourself a few extra minutes in case cars are in short supply. Keep the app open until the driver confirms, and double check the name and plate before you get in.