Uber announces expansion to regional cities by December, but not Dubbo

The ridesharing service announced on Monday it would expand its services to 15 new locations in regional Australia, in time for the busy summer period. 

The list included Bathurst, Orange Wagga Wagga, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie and Tamworth.

Dubbo wasn’t on the list. 

A spokesperson for UberX said there were no current plans to launch UberX in Dubbo. 

“We will continue to monitor demand for UberX in Dubbo in the future and we will be sure to keep you updated,” a spokesperson said when contacted about the future of Uber in Dubbo. 

When announcing the new locations the company said the app-based service was regularly used by 3.8 million Australians, and the expansion into regional centres was expected to bring another one million users to the scheme.

“Based on our experience in other regional cities, we expect that riders will be most active on weekends, around major events and during tourism peaks,” a statement said.

“We have selected cities based on where demand for trips is high, and where ridesharing can complement existing transport options.

“In 2018 alone we have seen more than 280,000 people in these cities open the app, looking for a ride.

“The message is clear - people want more options for affordable transport and we’re excited to be able to respond to that demand, with a convenient way to get around, particularly on weekends and during the holidays.”

“We know access to transport is an important factor in social mobility and where there are limited alternatives to driving a private car, people who can’t drive  because of disability, age, or the cost of owning a vehicle  , can miss out on the benefits of travel,” Uber said in a statement.

“Ridesharing can go a long way to solving these issues for regional cities.  

“These launches are not only good for travellers, but also for locals who want to sign up to earn extra money here and there.

“By using the Uber app, drivers have complete flexibility to drive as and when it suits them and we hope the opportunity to make some extra money will be a welcome option for many.”