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Uber launches in Hobart with about 70 drivers ready to roll

Friday, 2 Dec 2016 10:18:42 | Ted O'Connor

Ready to roll: One of Hobart's first Uber drivers, Tom Helmich. (ABC News: Ted O'Connor)

As Uber launches in Hobart, a divide exists between those hoping to reap the benefits and taxi drivers fearing for their livelihoods.

The global ride-booking giant signed up 70 Hobart drivers ahead of its app going live today at midday.

Uber said it wanted to recruit more than 100 extra drivers throughout summer.

Hobart will be the 13th area in Australia where Uber operates.

Tom Helmich, 70, will be among the city's first Uber drivers and will base himself around the Macquarie Point area on his first day behind the wheel.

Mr Helmich said he was not Uber driving for the money alone.

Having retired comfortably after running a plumbing business throughout his working life, he hopes Uber driving will allow him to stay socially connected.

"When you're retired you get a little bit isolated from the day-to-day things and I think this will probably help me to stay involved," Mr Helmich said.

"You control your own destiny, you go whenever you want, whereas with a taxi driver you're an employee of the taxi service."

Mr Helmich said he was keen to work on public holidays and major events to take advantage of Uber's "surge prices" that kick in with higher demand.

Non-drinker out to earn extra money

Uber app in Hobart Photo: Uber's app is the only way to book one of their drivers. (ABC News: Gregor Salmon)

Stuart Allen, 29, who does admin work for his parents' cleaning business regularly gives his friends lifts to nightspots because he does not drink alcohol.

Mr Allen figures Uber driving will allow him to do just that but earn some cash as well.

"It's a big responsibility, getting people who are intoxicated home," he said.

"The taxi industry has held that responsibility for such a long time, and now Uber have to take that on.

"I think that's one of the reasons you have to get a 'working with vulnerable people' check to make sure we can look after people who are intoxicated."

Mr Allen was surprised at the amount of checks he had to complete before he being approved by Uber.

"There's lots of steps, like working with vulnerable people, police check, you need a vehicle inspection done by the RACT, you need to provide current registration papers, a full driver's licence," he said.

As a regular Uber driver Mr Allen will pocket 75 per cent of every fare.

Chance to recoup pension losses

Hobart Uber driver Tim McKay Photo: Hobart Uber driver Tim McKay is hoping to earn a bit of spending money. (ABC News: Ted O'Connor)

Tim McKay, a retired bank-manager, has seen changes to his part-pension leave him out of pocket a few hundred dollars a week.

He hopes Uber driving will help make up the difference, hopefully earning $4,000-5,000 a year.

"That'll be enough — a little bit of spending money for my wife and I if we want to go out for lunch somewhere," he said.

Mr McKay used to be a taxi driver but is drawn to the prospect of being his own boss.

"Well it's a much better option for me because taxi driving you're doing 12-hour shifts, where as with Uber I'll be more or less picking the jobs," he said.

"I've got quite a few grandchildren and often I've got to pick them up from school, so I've got the flexibility to work my Uber hours around my other responsibilities."

Hobart's taxi drivers have mixed feelings

There are 350 cab drivers working in Hobart and many fear Uber's arrival will mean fewer fares and a hit to their income.

The Taxi Industry Association did not want to be interviewed for this story.

The ABC instead spoke to several cab drivers waiting for customers at the Salamanca rank.

"Well you'd have to be worried, wouldn't you?" one driver said.

"Hobart is a small city, so we already have many taxis and Uber coming is not good for the taxi industry," another said.

But some taxi drivers are considering switching to Uber.

"I'm just a driver I can move ... if it's more work in Uber I'll just work in Uber," one driver said.

An analysis by the consumer group Choice found the regular UberXs were 40 per cent cheaper than taxis on average.

The Tasmanian Government has not compensated the taxi industry unlike other states.

But it has agreed to stop issuing taxi licences for the time being, to allay fears of an oversupply.

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