Wagga residents will have another transport option when Uber launches in the city on Thursday, December 13.
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Drivers will begin accepting rides through the Uber app from 3pm on the day.
The launch comes after Uber announced in October 2018 that Wagga was one of 15 new cities across regional Australia to receive its services.
Resident John Carmichael said that while another transport option was “always good for the public", he held reservations about potential effects from its disruption.
“Certainly in peak times, you’d like more options so there’s probably room for Uber,” Mr Carmichael said.
“But will it create a price war and if so, does that mean some of the taxis will not be viable anymore?
“If Uber is introduced and they are not substantial for the long term and went away, will we left without taxis anymore?”
However, he said that major events in Wagga – such as next year’s Gold Cup and NRL weekend – would be served well by Uber in addition to the traditional taxis.
Uber will offer its UberX service in Wagga, which it describes as “affordable, everyday rides”.
Following the announcement in October, Wagga’s taxi drivers listed a number of concerns about ridesharing services, including passenger safety and making to the sector uneven between licensed taxi drivers and Uber drivers.
However, Uber’s head of cities Natalie Malligan said the ridesharing in Wagga would provide “another safe and affordable option for locals to get around”.
“We know people have been calling out for ridesharing for a while now, and are excited to respond to this demand,” Ms Malligan said.
"With a safe and affordable way to get from A to B, we believe Uber will provide Wagga locals with an easier way to get around and will complement local transport networks.
“By providing a safe and reliable ride at the push of a button – no matter the time or place – ridesharing is helping make our towns better connected, easier and safer places to get around.”
A Daily Advertiser poll in October showed that 85 per cent of voters said yes to using Uber when it arrives while the rest said no.
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