The much-anticipated wait for Uber is over with the ride-sharing service to operate in Warrnambool from Thursday.
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Uber’s Victorian manager Matthew Horn said it was very exciting to bring the service to the Warrnambool area would officially launch from 1pm.
More than 3.8 million Australians use the Uber app regularly to access convenient transport at the touch of a button.
There are five to 10 drivers registered in Warrnambool which he said was a “healthy number” for the area.
Thursday’s regional role out includes Horsham, Shepparton and the Surf Coast.
Mr Horn said Uber’s core value proposition was to provide safe, reliable and affordable transport and it offered cheaper rates than other point to point transport services.
Warrnambool Uber prices would be slightly more expensive than in Melbourne due to the longer distance drivers had to travel to pick up their riders, he said.
Mr Horn expects peak periods to include Friday and Saturday nights and weekends generally.
The service was originally scheduled to launch in the city in December but it was pushed back to adhere to improved regulation requirements. “All the vehicles on the platform need to be inspected for road worthiness but that has to be an inspection that’s accredited by the Victorian government so we needed extra time to get those in place and inspect the vehicles.”
He said the service would be available to Warrnambool passengers initially while the service launched and they were satisfied it could deliver a strong experience. It could include other areas in the future and will be progressively reviewed. “We try to expand it wherever is possible so we can be more and more relevant to the transport needs of the people of Warrnambool.”
He didn’t rule out the introduction of food delivery service Uber Eats, but said Uber X, its core transport product, was the immediate focus. “I think inevitably with these things it’s a matter of time but at the moment it’s just Uber X.”
An Uber Warrnambool Facebook post informing residents of its arrival attracted comments that it was a “game changer” and “makes life easier”. A few said it would reduce their Saturday night wait times, while others said “finally” and “thank God”.
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