Rideshare company Uber is offering a call-up service for older Australians who don’t have access to the app, with Taxis NSW saying the company are taking a page out of their book.
Nine out of 10 Australians aged 65 and over prefer booking a ride service over the phone, with 43 per cent of senior citizens not comfortable using apps to make ride bookings, according to new research from Uber.
The call-up service, which began today, is available from 5am to 8pm and is accessible through a landline phone, but customers will still need a mobile phone to receive a confirmation text.
“This is helping those people that prefer to use a phone to still get the magic of Uber when they’re moving from A to B, to make sure they remain connected to the communities around them,” Head of Uber Australia and New Zealand, Dom Taylor, said.
Pensioner Diana Phelis, 77, said the Uber app has always been too hard to use, but the call-up service could change that.
“Sometimes I just want to jump in the car and go down to the beach and have a swim but I’ve got to think about and ask a friend if they’ll take me down,” Phelis said.
“I would feel more confident speaking to someone on the phone to book my Uber.”
The “back to basics” shift has caught the attention of Taxis NSW, which says Uber is turning towards a traditional taxi model.
“It’s important that we don’t ignore a wider part of our market who like to have the flexibility of choosing how to book a service,” Nick Abrahi NSW Taxi Council chief executive said.
“People over the age of 65 still like to go out and have a good time after 8pm, is Uber going to leave those passengers late at night?
“Little old Mary knows that the $10 she leaves in her wallet after grocery shopping, is the $10 that’s going to get her home… it’s understanding that level of detail to ensure that we provide a reliable service.”
Uber’s ride pricing fluctuates depending on the demand and availability of drivers at the time a ride is ordered.
