If you look Chinese and speak Mandarin you can summon a ride in Vancouver by using an app, as long as it's Chinese. The drivers normally call to confirm the order, says Daniel Merkin, who lives in the Canadian city. "Sometimes they'll hang up on me when they realise I don't speak Mandarin," he says. But he keeps trying, because popular ride-hailing services, such as Uber and Lyft, are not available. Vancouver is the only big North American city where they do not operate. The Chinese service is not legal, but it is tolerated.
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