TAXI NUMBERS SURGE AFTER DEREGULATION
long launch to create a superior ride-sharing service for drivers and customers across Australia.
“We’re excited to be in Australia and we will provide further updates about our product in due course.”
The new ride-sharing company’s Geelong launch comes amid reports of rogue Uber drivers demanding inflated cash fees for the return of items left in their cars by passengers. CHEAP licences are driving taxi drivers to sign on in record numbers.
Thousands of new cabs have hit the road in the past year. New figures from the Taxi Services Commission show the number of taxi licences in Victoria have risen from 5636 in August 2017 to 9757 at the end of April.
It comes as the taxi industry pushes for the right to hike fares and last week was given permission to pass on a $1 levy on to customers.
Last year the Andrews Government passed a $1 levy on all ride share trips to fund compensation for taxi licence owners disadvantaged by deregulation. 13 CABS spokesman David Samuel said the company had seen major growth in drivers signing on over the past six months.
“This reflects a clear demand from passengers to use our service and it also shows a demand for drivers in our industry,” he said.
“More taxis means more reliability for consumers and we expect to see a growth in demand as a result of that. We understand we’re in a more competitive market but we’ve never accepted that should be the end of taxis.”
The annual cost of a taxi licence in Victoria has dropped from more than $23,000 to $52.90 since the industry was deregulated.