IN the eight weeks since Uber began in Bathurst and Orange, hundreds of people have taken a trip on the ride-sharing service.
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Bathurst and Orange were among the six regional cities in NSW to welcome the app on December 13, along with Coffs Harbour, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga and Port Macquarie.
While an Uber spokeswoman said the service’s introduction in the region had been a success, she would not confirm how many passengers had taken a trip, how many Uber drivers has registered in each city or how many times the app had been downloaded by local users.
“Both cities are embracing Uber,” she said.
“Since launching in December, hundreds of trips have been taken in these communities using the app.
“Regional NSW residents have been calling out for ride-sharing for a while now and we’ve been humbled by the positive response from locals following Uber’s launch in both Orange and Bathurst.”
The spokeswoman also declined to confirm how trip and registered driver numbers in Bathurst and Orange compared with similar sized locations in Australia.
She said, however, that ride-sharing enabled those without a car or without easy access to public transport a reliable and affordable transport option.
“We believe ride-sharing complements the existing transport network in both Bathurst and Orange, and helps alleviate pressure on services during weekends and major events,” she said.
“Uber also provides a safe means to get from A to B – you can wait safely inside for the car to arrive and monitor it in the app.”
The spokeswoman encouraged anyone interested in becoming an Uber driver to log onto the website to find out more.
“As we are still quite new in the region, our focus is on increasing the number of cars by encouraging more driver sign-ups and also encouraging riders to take their first trip with the Uber app,” she said.
“If you're saving for a holiday or wanting to pay off some of those Christmas expenses, for example, signing up to drive with Uber can be a great way to earn on the side.”
When asked if Uber would be rolled out in any other Central West location, the spokeswoman declined to comment.