Last week, Regina became the second city in the province to allow Uber and Lyft to operate legally. With ridesharing gaining momentum in Saskatchewan, will we see it anytime soon in Weyburn? 

City Manager Matthew Warren said they are open to the idea down at City Hall, but it's not entirely up to them. Those ridesharing companies would have to approach them first. 

"If the City did receive a request from a company like Uber or Lyft at this time they would only be required to purchase a business license, which is the same process we would follow for any cab company," Warren noted. "I know that if we did have a ridesharing company who wanted to set up in Weyburn, Council does have the ability to set up regulations and bylaws for ridesharing."

Uber and Lyft offer an alternative ride service where users essentially order a driver off of an app. The paid drivers also use the app to find would-be passengers. Both drivers and passengers have a rating out of five stars, which can encourage or deter a driver to pick you up. 

Bylaws passed in Saskatoon recently included a minimum trip fare as well as criminal background checks for drivers in the city. 

Some are praising the operation as helpful for those who can't or choose not to drive. It makes it easy on them to find a ride to the store or work. However, it also adds another option for a safe ride home after a night of drinking. 

"Other municipalities like Yorkton are looking at different policies and for us, as one of the other smaller cities, we're seeing what happens in those places and we'll do the wait and see," Warren said. "Maybe it's a future business opportunity in Weyburn."  

As of now, the Uber app can be downloaded but is not usable in Weyburn.