[Jack Malarkey]

GoCatch in Canberra doesn't have a rideshare option.

When I check the GoCatch app as a possible passenger in Canberra, the only two options are taxi and taxi van.

In the larger Australian cities such as Sydney and Melbourne, GoCatch also has a rideshare option.

In Adelaide, 13Limo has rideshare; this is run by CabCharge.

In the larger cities, rideshare drivers therefore have the option of being on more than one platform and can even have the various apps operating at the same time.

In the larger Australian cities, women drivers can drive women passengers via the Shebah app.

It's particularly common in the United States for rideshare drivers to be on both the Lyft and Uber platforms.

The Uber terms and conditions expressly allow drivers to operate on competitor platforms: this is crucial to its intention that drivers using its app be non-employee contractors.

It will be interesting to see if further rideshare choices in time become available in Canberra. The stage 2 regulatory changes in the ACT were in part directed at ensuring that there was no assumption that Uber would be the only rideshare operator.

There was another rideshare operator (OnTap) in the ACT that beat Uber by a few hours to having the first legal rideshare trip in Australia on 30 October 2015. It quickly faded away.

Perhaps Canberra is too small a market to have any rideshare operator apart from Uber. Time will tell.

 

[CBear]

I actually contacted shebah the other day to see if they have any plans to open in Canberra. They told me they do and to sign up. I don't know much more than that as the reply email was pretty short, and I haven't signed up yet, but maybe soon.

I would be keen to see Grab in Australia. They started in Singapore and are bigger in south east Asia than uber, but not in Australia yet. I have some friends in Singapore who drive for both. Grab is really good for people driving casually as it shows the destination upfront, so lots of drivers use it on their way to/from their main work.

 

[Jack Malarkey]

I actually contacted shebah the other day to see if they have any plans to open in Canberra. They told me they do and to sign up. I don't know much more than that as the reply email was pretty short, and I haven't signed up yet, but maybe soon.

I would be keen to see Grab in Australia. They started in Singapore and are bigger in south east Asia than uber, but not in Australia yet. I have some friends in Singapore who drive for both. Grab is really good for people driving casually as it shows the destination upfront, so lots of drivers use it on their way to/from their main work.

Thanks, CBear. That's very interesting news about Shebah planning to set up in Canberra.

This is what their website currently states about planned expansion:

Shebah has taken off in Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, Brisbane, and on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. Soon available in Perth, Darwin and Adelaide.

(https://shebah.com.au/)

 

[CBear]

I also contacted shesafe which is planning on launching soon nationwide. They don't have any details for the specific documents required for Canberra on their website, but when I contacted them they said they are planning to launch in Canberra in the second half of the year. They told me to let any other female drivers I know know about it and to get them involved, so they can get them set up prior to being able to launch. They are still trying to work out what their working with children checks will be for Canberra though, as the ACT process is different to what they require elsewhere

 

[Jack Malarkey]

Thanks, CBear. I know one female driver in Canberra as she sometimes attends the weekly Uber lunch. She isn't a member of this forum.

I'll let her know.

 

[Denmingo]

Good morning Canberra Uber drivers. I live in Queanbeyan, so I have a NSW driver licence and my car is also registered in NSW. Must I register my car for ridesharing in ACT to operate in ACT? What if there is a fare in say Googong or Queanbeyan. Can an ACT registered car pick up there? I would assume so, as NSW taxis are permitted to take hails and walkups in ACT. Can someone also advise on the startup costs please.

 

[Jack Malarkey]

Good morning Canberra Uber drivers. I live in Queanbeyan, so I have a NSW driver licence and my car is also registered in NSW. Must I register my car for ridesharing in ACT to operate in ACT? What if there is a fare in say Googong or Queanbeyan. Can an ACT registered car pick up there? I would assume so, as NSW taxis are permitted to take hails and walkups in ACT. Can someone also advise on the startup costs please.

Denmingo, welcome to the forum.

This newbie thread is important reading: https://uberpeople.net/threads/⭐️-canberra-newbie-guide⭐️.150101/.

Unfortunately, the only way to be an Uber driver in Canberra or Queanbeyan is to have ACT registration and an ACT licence. This requires that you live in the ACT.

The approximate cost for setting up here is $550 with recurrent costs of about $300. See the newbie link for more detail.

 

[Denmingo]

Denmingo, welcome to the forum.

This newbie thread is important reading: https://uberpeople.net/threads/⭐-canberra-newbie-guide⭐.150101/.

Unfortunately, the only way to be an Uber driver in Canberra or Queanbeyan is to have ACT registration and an ACT licence. This requires that you live in the ACT.

The approximate cost for setting up here is $550 with recurrent costs of about $300. See the newbie link for more detail.

Thank you Jack ...

 

[Jack Malarkey]

I also contacted shesafe which is planning on launching soon nationwide. They don't have any details for the specific documents required for Canberra on their website, but when I contacted them they said they are planning to launch in Canberra in the second half of the year. They told me to let any other female drivers I know know about it and to get them involved, so they can get them set up prior to being able to launch. They are still trying to work out what their working with children checks will be for Canberra though, as the ACT process is different to what they require elsewhere

CBear, I have sent you contact details by private message of the other female driver (with her permission).

 

[Jack Malarkey]

Thank you Jack ...

You're welcome, Denmingo. I'm sorry to have been the the bearer of bad news.

For this position to change would require action by Uber accompanied by legislative amendments by the ACT Government and probably by the New South Wales Government.

I doubt that any of these entities would oppose this in principle but it would not be a priority for them.

The ability of Queanbeyan Taxis to pick up in Canberra has a legislative underpinning so, clearly, none of this is impossible in the longer term. I know that's not much consolation to you.

Getting a position with Queanbeyan Taxis or registration as a hire car operator in New South Wales is probably your best option if you cannot in practice obtain an ACT licence and registration.

 

[Jack Malarkey]

Hi Oscar is a Perth-based rideshare service with plans to expand to Sydney and Melbourne.

https://www.broadsheet.com.au/national/city-file/article/hi-oscar-australian-uber-competitor

 

[Jack Malarkey]

At Uber lunch yesterday, one of the drivers said he had been advised by GoCatch in an email that they propose to set up their rideshare service in Canberra soon.

Alas, I won't be able to avail myself of this as I drive a compact car and GoCatch requires that cars on its platform be at least of medium size.