After taking in a Winnipeg Jets game at my friend's house earlier this month, I decided the easiest way to get home would be in a taxi.

Although we don't live too far apart, busing home from his place would have involved at least one transfer and would have been out of the way, so I figured shelling out money for a cab would be easier. 

Then I remembered Winnipeg has a number of ride-sharing services that launched recently. Having not traveled outside the province in recent years, I've never tried any of these services before. So, I figured I'd give one of the local options a go. 

I downloaded the app, put my credit card and other information in and hit "Book NOW." 

I set my pick-up and drop-off location in and a driver responded to my request within a few minutes. The app said he was about 10 minutes away from my location. Conveniently, there was a map showing where my driver was. It also showed me when he was moving and gave an approximate time of arrival. 

Before all of that though, it provided me with a set rate of $11.37, which I know for a fact is cheaper than a cab ride from my friend's house, because I've done it in the past. 

The driver arrived about 12 minutes after I requested the ride. Me and another friend got in and he took us back to my place. 

It was quick, easy, and the set fee helped me and my friend avoid fumbling through our wallets for cash or a card to pay the driver. 

After I got home, I gave the driver a positive review. I hope he did the same for me. 

Although this was my first and so far only experience using ride-sharing services, it was a positive one. I don't doubt that there will be hiccups along the way for these companies and I don't doubt that I will once again use Winnipeg's taxi services at some point. 

If someone asked me if I would recommend these services to other Winnipeggers, I would say it's worth trying for sure. Maybe their experience would be the same as mine, or maybe it would be worse. Regardless, it is providing people with another option to get home safely, which is the most important thing.