Getting around Chatham-Kent is about to become a lot easier. 
Council passed the new Vehicle-for-Hire by-law, allowing companies like Uber and Lyft to operate in the Municipality.
Manager of Licensing Services Nancy Havens says a few changes will now come into place.
“The changes to the new bylaw, as opposed to the taxi bylaw, is there will be no plate limit, no zones, no set fares or tariffs, no dispatch company,” Havens explains. “24-hour dispatch is not required, we removed one of the safety inspections, and we opened up to permit vehicles for hire and private transportation companies.”
Havens says the municipality will no longer be controlling fees – individuals and companies will be able to set their own rates.
Meantime a group trying to bring Uber to Chatham-Kent says they are now signing up would-be drivers online, and could potentially begin offering rides within a week or so.