Adelaide Hills residents to have access to metro-based taxis and rideshare services

Metropolitan rideshare and taxi services will be allowed to venture deeper into the Hills in a an effort to meet local pleas for better transport.

Adelaide Hills residents will have access to metropolitan-based taxis and rideshare services in a move to improve transport options.

Under reforms to point-to-point passenger services that will take effect in December, the boundary of the metropolitan greater Adelaide region will be expanded to include the Adelaide Hills and Mount Barker council regions.

Rideshare access was raised at a transport forum in Mount Barker. Picture: Supplied

The announcement, made by Transport Minister Corey Wingard on Saturday, follows extensive community campaigning about people being stranded because of few taxis.

Residents are currently able to order rides from metropolitan areas into the regions, but they cannot request a pick-up from beyond the boundary.

Rideshare access was raised at a public forum held in Mount Barker this week, which was hosted by the South Australian Transport Action Group and livestreamed by The Advertiser.

Mr Wingard said the current metropolitan boundary for point-to-point services has remained largely unchanged for the past 30 years, and has resulted in a lack of services.

“These changes will mean that metropolitan-based point-to-point operators will be able to choose to provide services to outer-urban and regional customers within this expanded boundary if they wish,” he said.

“The changes will come into effect before the end of the year, meaning that more services will be operating in the Adelaide Hills in time for the busy Christmas and holiday season.”

Under current rules, rideshare companies are allowed beyond the metro area but drivers must buy an additional licence to allow them to accept ride requests from the regions.

Transport minister Corey Wingard. Picture: Emma Brasier

The new arrangement means no additional licence will be required to take Hills call-outs.

Milly Howell, venue manager of the Inglewood Inn, said the changes will stimulate the local economy.

“It opens up more opportunities for our business to promote amazing South Australian offerings like gins, wines and beer all while knowing that our customers will be comfortable and safe on their adventures,” she said.

The government said the change would not take effect until the end of the year because of the time it would take to write and process the new regulations.

Mount Barker District Council Mayor Ann Ferguson welcomed the decision, and said introducing the change in December would allow Hills taxi operators time to prepare.

“It will impact on our local taxis because they’ve had the patch to themselves,” she said.

The government will work with the industry, including country operators, to manage the transition.