Page 34 - drive a2b FEB 2020 web

R OAD SAFETY

Rideshare carpooling
could challenge

Brisbane’s public

transport network
QUEENSLAND

NEWS Thomas Morgan | The Courier-Mail

The rollout of carpooling features on rideshare
apps has raised fears Brisbane's already choked
roads could soon be flooded with even more
cars, as users are enticed away from public
transport.

Rideshare giant DiDi, [last month] launched
its “Share” service in Brisbane, slashing the
cost of a ride drastically by picking up multiple
customers travelling in the same direction.

It’s the first service of its type in Brisbane, and
the first Australian market where Share has
been launched. Uber has launched its own
‘Pool’ service in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

Fare estimates provided to The Courier-
Mail shows that trips on the new service are
marginally more expensive than catching the
bus, rail and ferry fares within Brisbane’s inner
and middle ring of suburbs, but would be faster
and more cost-efficient.

A trip from West End to the City with DiDi Share
would cost $5, compared to $3.31 for a bus,
while it would only be $3 more to go from
Cooparoo to the CBD with a carpool than with
the bus.
QUT consumer behaviour expert professor Gary
Mortimer said Uber Pool had become a major
commuting habit in the southern capitals.

“If you’re going to split the cost with an
unknown person … it’s certainly a faster and
more cost-efficient way to get around the city
and urban areas,” Mr Mortimer said.
34 DRIVE A2B magazine · February 2020