Uber struggles to solve Broome's late-night transport issues

Late-night transport issues remain in Broome despite arrival of Uber In short: Residents and tourists in Broome have long raised concerns about the lack of transport options late at night. The arrival of Uber was touted as a potential solution, but those in Broome say they have struggled to book a ride through the app. Police say the issues people have getting a ride home are no excuse for drink driving. Global rideshare giant Uber has struggled to fill the void of late-night transport in Western Australia's far north. Like many remote locations across Australia, transport options in Broome, 2,000km north of Perth, are progressively limited as the evening wears on. Buses cease at 7pm during the peak tourist season, and many taxi operators stop their service from a similar time. While some drivers continue throughout the night, residents say they face long wait times with expensive fares. Uber was touted as a potential solution during its July launch, but those in town said the app has had little impact. No rides available Jenny Antonipillai recently travelled to Broome from Perth, and attempted to find a ride home from the pub. "We tried to get a taxi or an Uber, but there's not much available out here. It's very hard," she said. "We went on the Beam [e-scooter] and my boyfriend fell, so not a good idea." Travellers Noah Clancy and Orlando Dixon said they had also had no luck with Uber and opted for e-scooters to get around. "There was nothing available at all in the area," Mr Clancy said. "We got taxis quite easily earlier in the day, but later at night it's a bit more trouble." Resident Lili Walker said she was used to long waits and expensive fares costing up to $60 for a 10-minute ride. "It's horrible, you're sitting around on the curb for ages trying to call a taxi,"she said. Private operators an option The state government increased the flexibility of taxi authorisation in 2020, resulting in a number of drivers offering a private service throughout the evening. But their contacts are not always readily available. Pub security guard Matty Arai said it was common to see patrons huddled out the front looking for a way home after close. "There are a couple of good guys around town that will be out all the time, but then trying to pick them up is also hard," he said. More than inconvenient Partygoers said expensive fares, long wait times and limited options created a dangerous incentive for drink driving. But Kimberley District traffic Sergeant Tony Di Giuseppe said inconvenience did not justify breaking the law. "I understand there are difficulties … transport, distance, everything else like that, but it's not acceptable," he said. "It is really a scourge of our community and it's something we put a lot of effort into trying to apprehend." Sergeant Di Giuseppe said police had been working to educate community members they were subject to the same road rules on an e-scooter as they were driving a vehicle. Lack of drivers Broome and Karratha were the first off the rank for Uber's regional WA expansion in July. Broome Private Taxis owner Paul Rewell said he was not surprised the rideshare service has reportedly struggled to take-off. "If people like our group are struggling to find drivers, Uber won't be any different," he said. Mr Rewell has been operating taxis in the town for the past six years, and said his business had trialled working throughout the evening. Repeated incidents of damage caused by passengers has led to the decision to close after 6 or 7pm. He said he welcomed Uber's arrival should they have enough drivers. Uber declined to comment. A boost to buses Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said she recognised the challenges of catching taxi services at night in remote towns. She said the government was committed to "providing accessible and affordable" public transport for regional communities, pointing to an expansion of Broome's bus timetable put in place for this year's tourist season. The bus operates from 7:30am to 7pm each day, but this schedule is set to be reduced later in the month. "Particularly in regional towns, the Public Transport Authority must consider a wide range of factors to ensure bus services best meet the needs of the community with the resources available," Ms Saffioti said.