In news that will delight Uber fans and draw the ire of even more taxi drivers, Uber has announced that they're making uberX and uberASSIST rides 15 per cent cheaper. In a statement released earlier today, Uber announced the move to lower fares is an effort to boost demand for their services, which in turn will increase "driver-partner efficiency" and earning potential.
What does this mean for riders? For Melburnians, this means that a ride from Chapel St to the CBD that previously costs around $15 will now cost around $12. Meanwhile, rides from the CBD to the airport will now cost around $42. Considering Skybus's recent ticket fare increase to $19 per adult, those travelling in groups to the airport may find the uberX route more attractive.
The fare discount will be trialled to see if riders take up the incentive, with Uber promising to pay their drivers $30 gross per hour in the coming weeks. Nevertheless, this news won't come as good news to taxi drivers, who still contend that using Uber is more risky for customers because drivers are not licensed and are operating illegally in Victoria.