Tennis fans have been struggling to get home from the Australian Open as Uber’s fare prices surge and drivers repeatedly cancel trips, while public transport options at night are limited.
Record crowds at this year’s Open have exacerbated transport issues, and despite Uber’s multi-million-dollar advertising campaign across major train stations – featuring Kris and Kendall Jenner alongside Mark Philippoussis – people complain of difficulties using the ride-share app.
A sign outside Melbourne Park on Monday indicating where tennis fans can take a ride-share vehicle.Credit:Paul Rovere
Open attendee Aimee, who only wanted to provide her first name, tried to get an Uber at 11:30pm last week from the pick-up area outside John Cain Arena but said multiple drivers cancelled.
“The two that did accept the ride went to the wrong pick-up area thinking we were near the Richmond entrance, despite having location services enabled,” she said.
Aimee was hit with two cancellation fees, subsequently refunded by Uber, and eventually gave up on getting the rideshare service home, and instead caught the last train from Richmond at 12.20am.
An Uber spokeswoman would not provide information on the number of cancellations, which she said was confidential information.
Uber has splurged on a multi-million marketing campaign starring the Kardashians and former tennis star Mark Philippoussis.
“A driver-partner earns no money from a trip if they accept a job and then reject it before it starts,” she said.
“Repeatedly accepting trips without the intention to complete them, and subsequently cancelling these trips, is considered fraudulent behaviour and is a violation of Uber’s community guidelines. It can result in driver-partners permanently losing access to the Uber app.”
Drivers with cancellation rates above 25 per cent are ineligible for promotions in the Uber app.
Open attendees complained that Uber drivers cancelled on short trips, with drivers above Uber’s “blue” tier – gold, platinum and diamond drivers – having visibility of the duration and direction of a trip as soon as it is booked.
According to Uber, 37 per cent of its drivers are gold, platinum or diamond tier.
Uber was previously a sponsor of the Australian Open but this year opted for a guerilla marketing campaign instead.
Rideshare and taxi comparison booking platform Placie recorded fare quotes varying by up to 200 per cent around the Olympic Park precinct, where the Open is held. Placie does not track Uber and focuses on rideshare companies Didi and Ola alongside taxi companies.
“Our data shows that trips within five kilometres of the Olympic Park precinct varied from around $4 per km at their lowest, to over three times as much ($14 per km) between midnight and 2am on 18th January,” Placie chief executive Jo Hewlett said.
Tennis spectators attempt to get a taxi outside Melbourne Park after the conclusion of play.Credit:Nine News
“The spike was heavily influenced by large crowds leaving Novak Djokovic’s highly anticipated first match of the tournament.”
Many people have turned to rideshare apps after taxi drivers started refusing short trips and demanding inflated fares rather than using the meter.
Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll said on Sunday that Open attendees should use public transport but some people complained that public transport was not a reliable option, especially after midnight.
Tennis fan Shana Levine said: “There are no trains running from Richmond during the week after midnight during the Open except on weekends.
“Given the timing of the end of most matches, advertising or telling the public to use trains is a joke.”
Victoria Azarenka’s match against Zhu Lin finished at 2.17am on Monday and Andy Murray’s marathon five hour and 45 minute match over Thanasi Kokkinakis finishing at 4.05am last Friday.
Attendees have also battled train line closures, with buses replacing trains during the majority of the tournament on the Frankston, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines and for periods on the Mernda and Hurstbridge lines.
Jacki Owen, another fan, said: “When buses are replacing trains all weekend on the Frankston line from Moorabbin to the city it’s hardly a ‘just take the train’ option. We tried.”
Victoria Azarenka’s match against Zhu Lin finished at 2.17am on Monday.Credit:Eddie Jim
A Tennis Australia spokeswoman said the Open has an agreement with Yarra Trams to provide additional shuttle services between the precinct and Flinders Street on the number 70 tram line all day until one hour after end-of-play, regardless of the time play finishes. There is no agreement for further tram or train services.
“Along with our traffic management consultants, we work with a committee to ensure patrons can get to and from the precinct safely at all times of the day,” she said.
The state government has provided about 300 additional tram services for each day of the Australian Open, carrying up to 34,000 passengers to the tennis every day, a spokeswoman said.
“We’ve ensured there’s public transport options available until the end of play – with tram shuttle services heading back into the city from Melbourne Park for at least an hour after the final match ends,” she said.
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2023-01-23 05:12:45Z
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