Uber Pool to return to Perth as rideshare giant shakes COVID-19 fears

Caitlyn RintoulThe West Australian
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Rideshare giant Uber has restored its Pool service in Perth after cancelling it when COVID-19 hit over community transmission fears.

Perth is the first and only location in Australia to welcome back the service so far — almost 12 months since the feature was switched off.

The carpooling service allows users travelling in similar directions to link up and spilt fares, making it the most affordable way to ride on the platform.

Some pandemic-safety measures will remain including a maximum three-passenger limit to ensure there’s “enough space” between the driver and each rider.

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Riders will also be asked to confirm that “they’re feeling well” and “have taken hygiene precautions like washing your hands” before requesting a Pool trip.

Uber’s fleet of Perth drivers will have the choice to either accept or decline Pool trips “as they wish”, according to an Uber spokeswoman.

One user can still request two seats in an Uber via one account as long as both riders are picked up and dropped off together, however, an additional fee applies with an extra passenger.

Camera IconA rideshare driver in New York in early 2020 during the start of the COVID-19 outbreak using duct tape and clear plastic sheeting to separate his chair from the rest of his cab. His innovation went viral after it was shared by New York hairdresser Phil Ring. Credit: Supplied

“With congestion a major concern in Perth, an innovative solution like Pool can help ease the burden on Perth’s road network and reduce congestion. It also offers riders an even more affordable way to get from A to B if public transport isn’t a viable option for that route,” a spokeswoman said.

“By sharing rides over the first six months of Uber Pool being available in Perth, we estimate locals avoided an extra 650,000 kilometres being travelled on Perth’s roads, saved close to 115,000 litres of fuel and avoided around 80,000 kilograms of additional CO2 going into the atmosphere.”

In 2019, Perth became the third city in Australia — behind Melbourne and Sydney — to introduce Uber Pool.

If a customer is not matched with anyone on UberPool, the same discount is applied, with Uber scaling back its service fee to five per cent to ensure the driver’s income was not affected.

During some Uber Pool fares, riders are asked to walk to a pickup spot or dropped at a nearby location to their destination that helps keep detours to a minimum and trips faster.

The service can also extend waiting times as it searches for nearby riders and available drivers.

Uber’s announcement today comes after it launched a new “comfort mode” that allows introverts and fussy travellers to silence their drivers or boost the air-conditioning.

People running late can also request that drivers wait for up to 10 minutes outside, however, the service won’t be available at airports.

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