The launch of Uber in the Hunter last week has seen hundreds of passengers jump aboard, while others remain skeptical about its benefits.
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The company opened its doors in Newcastle on Thursday and hopes to gradually expand its service across the Lower Hunter.
New customers wanting to travel in Newcastle and the Central Coast will receive the first $20 of their ride for free.
The technological benefits of the service had Christophe Lebreau on board.
He said accidentally leaving your wallet in a taxi was a huge issue, but if you did it in an Uber it was easy to get in touch with the driver.
“If there is an issue you have the driver’s photo, name and licence plate number in the app,” he said.
He said the service also came in handy when a friend needed a ride and didn’t have any cash because he could order it for them and have the fare deducted from his Paypal account.
Adam Curtis also spruiked the benefits, saying Uber offered an easy to use app where customers could review the driver’s profile and see feedback from other users.
Former Maitland woman Erin Kate, who frequently uses Uber in Brisbane, said it was more efficient and less than half the price of a taxi in most cases.
“I live 20 minutes from the airport and in a taxi that’s almost $50, where as an Uber is $24,” she said. “More supply in the market will lower taxi prices and it'll be more competitive.”
Tom Atkinson agreed, citing his positive experience with Uber in Sydney.
“[I] will absolutely be using it when it comes here,” he said. “It’s only the older generation who will stick with taxis.”
Uber is often cheaper than a taxi because taxi fares are regulated by the government and have set price brackets for different times during the day. Uber’s price fluctuates according to supply and demand.
Have you tried Uber in the Hunter?
Tell us about your experience at maitland@fairfaxmedia.com.au