Yes, Australia has Uber. In fact, the rideshare app is so popular that you can find an Uber in nearly all major Australian cities.
If you plan to travel to Australia soon, this article is for you; you’ll find out everything you need to know about Uber and the Australian transport system.
So, keep scrolling down!
Uber In Australia
At first, ridesharing was not a welcome topic in the Australian transport industry. Local taxi drivers felt threatened by it, and they weren’t happy when Uber entered the market in 2012.
However, within months, Uber became the most popular transport method among young Australians and travellers, and it has also created a healthy competition in the market.
Uber is also more popular than other ridesharing apps while young Australians and foreign tourists are more likely to get an Uber than a regular taxi.
Where Can I Get An Uber In Australia?
Uber now operates in 37 Australian cities. Uber is the most popular rideshare app in the country right now, and all the major cities facilitate Uber rides.
Brisbane, Adelaide, Bendigo, Ballarat, Bunbury, Cairns, Darwin, Geelong, Gold Coast, Hobart, Mackay, Sydney, and Melbourne are some of the cities served by Uber.
Transport In Australia
Australia has numerous forms of transport. With hundreds of airports, the country has invested heavily in air travel, but road transport remains one of the key elements in the Australian transport system.
Trains, buses, bicycles, and taxis are all available options.
Methods of Transport
Cycling
If you are a tourist, you really should consider cycling around Australia. This is a great way to sightsee and meet other tourists. Also, cycling is the cheapest mode of transport here.
Buses and Coaches
Buses and coaches are among the most common methods of transport, and they are cheap too. Most Australians use buses and coaches to get around.
You can buy an electronic card for bus travel in most cities, but there are some places where you can buy tickets from bus drivers.
Trains
Australia has a large railway system. The extensive railway network includes around 20,000 miles (33,000 km) of tracks, connecting major cities and suburbs.
Trains are one of the easiest and most common methods of transport in the country.
Tilt Train in Brisbane, Indian Pacific in Sydney, The Ghan in Adelaide, Spirit of the Outlook in Brisbane, and NSW TrainLink are a few train services in Australia.
Taxis
This is another convenient mode of transport. However, taking a taxi is much more expensive than using public transport. You can find taxis in every city, and now there are a number of rideshare apps like Uber.
Most taxi companies have their own mobile application to make things easier for travellers.
Also, keep in mind that you need to pay the exact amount displayed on the metre; taxi fare isn’t negotiable in Australia.
Airlines
Australia is highly reliant upon air travel to cover vast distances between cities. If you wanted to get to Sydney from Melbourne, you can travel by air within 2 hours; the same journey would nearly take up a day if you were to travel by road.
The country has four major airlines: Qantas, Jetstar, Tigerair, and Virgin Australia.
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Reusable Smart Card System For Public Transport
The reusable smart card system is an excellent alternative to paper tickets. This eliminates the complications involving cash transactions.
Major cities like Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra, Perth, Darwin, and Hobart have implemented the smart card system through various platforms.
Depending on which city you are in, you can buy smart cards at train stations and airports. Certain supermarkets and pharmacies also sell smart cards, and some cities have installed vending machines that issue smart cards.
Alternatives To Uber In Australia
Although Uber is the most popular rideshare app in Australia, there are other ridesharing apps claiming a slice of the Australian market. At the moment, there are five major rideshare apps in the country.
Ola
Ola is one of the main contenders in the Australian market. The app offers a 50% discount for all new customers for the first two weeks – they constantly come up with creative ways of attracting customers.
You can find Ola in major Australian cities like Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, and Perth.
Didi
A popular rideshare app based in China – Didi has been trying to create ripples in the Australian market since 2018. The company operates in almost every major Australian city.
13Cabs
One of the main competitors of Uber, 13cabs entered the market to mitigate the disruption caused by Uber. Offering a series of vehicles, including wheelchair-accessible taxis, the company attracts customers with their unique services.
In addition to the app, 13cabs also offers a telephone service where you can speak to someone in the company when booking a taxi.
Shebah
With an all-female group of drivers, Shebah offers safety and security to female passengers. One of the unique selling points is that the company offers a toddler seat with every vehicle at an additional cost.
Shebah is available in all major cities and offers many in-app discounts and promotions.
Cost Of Uber In Australia?
The cost of your trip is calculated based on the distance, the type of vehicle you’ve ordered, and the time of the day. There are several components to the Uber fare: base fare, pickup fee, minimum fare, cost per mile, cost per minute, fixed booking fee, per-minute wait time fee, and tip (optional).
To give you a better idea:
The usual base fare is around AUD 2.50 with AUD 0.40 charged per minute. Also, the cancellation fee is AUD 10 (note that the fare is subject to change)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Uber Have Baby Seats?
Not always, but some UberX vehicles come with a baby seat upon request – to order an Uber with a baby seat, choose UberX on the app and click on the ‘car seat’ option.
You will be charged an additional cost of AUD 10 (the cost is subject to change)
Does Australia Have Lyft?
No. Lyft is yet to enter the Australian market, but it’s nothing for you to worry about as there are a great many alternatives.