ACT Government and Uber have agreed to a deal to get partygoers home from Civic during the upcoming holiday season.
Under this new agreement, Canberrans who hop on to a Nightrider bus in December to go home, will be offered $10 discount on their Uber journey from the last bus-stop onwards to their home.
It will be a 50-50 partnership with Uber and government bearing half the cost of $5 each.
This discounted fare will be available between 11pm and 2:30am on Friday and Saturday nights.
But not everyone is happy about this deal.
ABC News Canberra reports that taxi drivers in Canberra are angry with this deal. Though Canberra Taxi Industry Association and Canberra Elite Taxis refused to discuss this deal, certain individual taxi drivers told ABC that this was not fair.
“This is totally unfair. Why are they doing this with Uber?” asked one taxi driver. Another taxi driver said, “I drive taxi in the night. I might have to find another job.”
The Government however said the taxi industry was consulted and also given the opportunity to innovate, but it was Uber that took up this opportunity and came up with a plan.
“This is totally unfair. Why are they doing this with Uber?” asked one taxi driver. Source: ABC Australia
ACT Transport Minister Meegan Fitzharris told ABC that innovation was what people wanted.
"It certainly is a disruptive technology, but consumers, the community, have demanded it and are taking it up in great numbers," she said.
"What we're doing this year is really new, really exciting, it's an Australian first.
"We're all about looking for new ideas and new partnerships to move people around the city, to get more people using public transport."
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE TO READ:
Man who racially abused and hit taxi driver in face avoids jail
