If you ask Wagga woman Elise Pascoe, Uber is God’s gift to commuters.
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The 21-year-old has just wrapped up her first semester at a Melbourne university and returned to “not-so-Uber” Wagga on Friday, where the city’s taxi drivers are hunkering down for a fight on the global ride-sharing app.
Ms Pascoe uses the app at least two times a week when in Melbourne and estimates she saves nearly $80 on a return trip from the surburbs to the CBD.
“I was just saying the other day ‘God, I think it would be a good idea if Wagga had Uber’,” she said.
“I understand the taxi driver’s side of the argument, but it just gives you so much more choice.
“It would be fantastic for getting around Wagga at the end of the night when there are no taxis around.”
On Thursday, Opposition Leader Luke Foley announced he would put a private member’s bill to Parliament to regulate the service, believing that Uber had the potential to be an opportunity for NSW drivers by easing road congestion.
At the core of Uber’s promise to commuters is that they get a “safe, reliable and affordable” ride, with users able to book an Uber-registered driver to take them to their destination.
Wagga taxis were scathing in their condemnation of Uber this week and took aim at the raft of regulations Uber drivers are not exposed to.
But Uber Australia spokeswoman Katie Curran said every Uber driver is subject to “rigorous” criminal checks.
Ms Curran also said Uber removed the anonymity of ordering a taxi.
“As soon as a driver accepts a request, the rider sees their photograph, name, vehicle registration and model, and their star rating,” she said.
“Should they choose to, the rider can also use the Share My ETA feature which allows them to share their trip in real time with a friend or loved one who can watch them arrive safely at their destination.”
Ms Pascoe said these conditions were enough to make her feel safe with an Uber driver.
"At the end of the day, with Uber you know what you are getting,” she said.
“The drivers are so focused on getting a good rating they will even ask you if you want to have a conversation during the trip.”
Uber said the average driver works an average of 20 hours a week and takes home about $2500 per month.
