Belize City Hails the Arrival of e-Ride Taxi Service

Belize City just got a major upgrade in how people get around. Say hello to eRide, the country’s first-ever digital taxi service – and it’s already turning heads. After the buzz around the Belize City Council’s electric bus rollout, residents have been eagerly waiting for the next big thing in clean transportation. Now, it’s here. With just a few taps on the eRide app, commuters can book safe, reliable, and eco-friendly rides across the city. Whether you’re heading to work, running errands, or exploring the city, eRide promises a smoother, greener way to travel. The service is designed to cut down on emissions and make clean transport more accessible for everyone – locals and tourists alike. News Five’s Britney Gordon was there this morning as the service officially launched.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Belize City just took another bold step into the future of transportation. Nearly a year after launching its electric bus pilot program, the city is now rolling out digital ride-hailing services and residents are already taking notice. The new e-taxis are officially on the move, offering a modern, app-based way to get around town. With just a few taps, commuters can now book rides that are not only convenient but also eco-friendly.

 

Bernard Wagner, Belize City Mayor

“We have a broad vision of really driving modern transportation system within the scope of our city. And so this is, again, ties in as we continue to build out that ecosystem. As you know, last year, we had launched the e-buses, and as part of that project independently of course with the Belize City council, this project really put in place a sort of additional component needed to really put, to really have us realize our ambition of a cleaner less pollution, less noise pollution  Less emissions in the air.”

 

Getting around Belize City just got a whole lot easier and smarter. With the MiDriva app, booking a ride is now as simple as tapping your phone. Much like popular apps such as Uber or Lyft, this lets users order a ride, pay digitally, and even chat with their driver, all in one place.

 

Bernard Wagner

“You use this system to really communicate with the driver. You would book your ride, you would pay, it has a cash payment option, but it also allows you to pay cash if you want. You track your driver as he or she progress towards you and you get in the vehicle and enjoy the clean ride.”

 

Wondering what a ride will cost you? It all depends on how far you’re going, but here’s a quick guide: on average, every 1.3 kilometers will run you about eight dollars. Currently, there are four e-taxis being operated in the city. Abigail Westby is proud to be the first female driver for the new digital taxi service and she’s loving the ride so far.

 

Abigail Westby, E-Ride Taxi Driver

“I have had several instances prior where I’ve had trouble renting a taxi that’s reliable, that works efficiently. And this is a great opportunity that I’ve been waiting for a long time. And also I have thank my mother. She is a taxi as well for over eleven years. So it’s her idea that made me even venture into the taxi industry and now it has given me the opportunity to do this with the council.”

 

Belize City’s push for cleaner, smarter transportation hasn’t come without its bumps in the road. The e-Ride Taxi Service was made possible through a loan agreement secured in early 2024. But according to Mayor Bernard Wagner, that debt is already paid off. Despite the financial win, the road to progress hasn’t been smooth. Just like with the e-bus pilot project, the council is once again facing pushbacks from traditional taxi operators. Cabdrivers are voicing concerns that the new digital service could cut into their earnings, echoing the same frustrations previously raised by bus operators.

 

Bernard Wagner

“ We want to ensure that we do not compete. I know that there’s always this level of competition, but we don’t want to undersell our taximen at no time. They have been around for many years. They have provided this sort of service for years. But, again, it’s really challenging when you are dealing with change. But we are not here to really create barriers. It’s more to create opportunities. And we, while we are ignited for this project or the catalyst for this project, it’s not something that we see long term. We want this to be driven by the private sector. By the sort taxmen.” 

Taxi drivers can operate the vehicle through a lease agreement, where drivers pay the council for the use of the vehicles. The council hopes that as the service grows, more vehicles and drivers can be introduced in the city. Britney Gordon for News Five,

 

The app is currently available for download on IOS and will be available to Android users by next week.