The big three services in Australia - Uber, Didi and Ola all said they have no plans to open up their popular rideshare apps to Griffith residents.

Interestingly, whilst community members have vocalised a need and demand for a rideshare service to enter town, all organisations note the demand just isn't high enough.

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Head of Public Relations at DIDI, Dan Jordan said that DIDI had no plans of expansion to the regions, instead focusing on the areas in which the rideshare service currently operates.

Mr Jordan said this way a means of ensuring that DIDI could deliver the 'best possible service' to passengers and drivers alike.

"Many factors are taken into consideration when deciding to introduce our ridesharing service into a region - it's very much taken on a case by case basis," Mr Jordan said.

"Receptiveness to ridesharing and new technologies in a region is important, as is the demand for a value for money ridesharing option and ensuring there is a sufficient potential driver community to meet such demand."

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And whilst Uber previously said in 2020 that they would launch the service across the entire state of NSW, making NSW one of the largest geographic areas served in the world, nothing such has happened.

Instead, Bathurst, Coffs Harbour, Orange, Port Macquarie, Tamworth and Wagga are the only regional cities to have use of the service, leaving Griffith in the dust.

"There are no current plans to launch Uber in Griffith, but the company continuously monitors demand in regional areas," Uber spokesperson Bryony Czujko said.

Griffith City Council mayor Doug Curran said the demand was there for ridesharing customers and drivers, which would see locals benefit from gig economy work and customers benefit from accessible transport.

"I have no idea why Uber or a similar service has not yet been made available in Griffith, our population size is large enough to support the service."

Taxi services are on offer in Griffith and be bookings can be made to 6325 0096.

Alternatively, locals can use the Smart Hail mobile app to book a taxi directly via their phone.

A full list of public transport bus routes in and around Griffith can be found here.

Do you think this decision is a fair call? Or are rideshare operators crazy for not opening up to customers in the regions? Have your say: letters@areanews.com.au

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