Rideshare service saves city more than $46k since launch

FAST-growing rideshare service Ola has reportedly saved passengers more than $46,000 in discounts and offers since it launched in Toowoomba.

Managing director of Ola, Simon Smith, is in Hobart to launch his new ride sharing app. He is pictured with new driver, Scott Greene of Hobart. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

FAST-growing rideshare service Ola has reportedly saved passengers more than $46,000 in discounts and offers since it launched in Toowoomba last year.

The competitor to Uber and DiDi, which launched in the Garden City very recently, said the figure was part of $100 million it saved customers across Australia.

Riders receive a statement at the end of each month advising how much they have saved on their rideshares, with more frequent passengers generally saving more.

Toowoomba driver Phillip Gatfield, who has been driving with Ola for several months, said the service was better than others at pairing him with his regular passengers.

“Ola seems to pair you with the same riders all the time, so you get to know them,” he said.

“I’d just like to say a big thankyou for all the people who ride with us.

“Ola offers regular discounts and they take less commissions.

“I’m driving nearly seven days a week, most of the day.

“I’ve been rideshare driving for three years, so you’ve got to put the hours in to make it work.”

Mr Gatfield said plenty of drivers worked for multiple rideshare services at once.

“I use a couple of different rideshares, because you have to,” he said.

“The pie is only so big, and they’re all trying to get a piece of it.

“I mainly do Ola because I’ve got to know the people that I pick up.”

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