Following years of declining private hire and minicab numbers in the city, Uber’s application for a licence in Aberdeen will provide passengers with greater transport options and, crucially, support the local economy.
In Aberdeen, hundreds of thousands of Uber users have opened the app to try and book a trip, especially during commuting hours and to get a safe trip home from the city centre.
Being able to fulfil this unmet demand will grow the night time economy, in particular the hospitality sector, support the high street and help facilitate the delivery of large events in the city.
Opportunities for drivers
It will also boost local earning opportunities for drivers. In the UK, driver numbers have grown by over 70% to over 100,000 since 2021.
Every driver who earns on Uber now has worker protections, including a pension, holiday pay and sickness protection. All drivers can also have formal representation through the GMB Union.
Uber already has licences in Glasgow and Edinburgh, with drivers on average earning over £30 per hour in both cities. These high earning opportunities demonstrate the demand for safe transport services as local economies continue to recover.
Connecting our transport hubs
If a licence was granted in Aberdeen, Uber would be able to play a key role in providing more seamless journeys to and from the city airport and rail station.
Across the UK, more than 40% of Uber trips begin or end near transport hubs, with the top ten destinations including eight train stations and two airports. Uber connects cities together and supports local economies as part of the local transport infrastructure.
And many of the growing number of business and leisure visitors to Aberdeen will already be familiar with and use Uber in their own cities, thus improving their experience on arriving in Aberdeen.
All drivers are fully licensed by the city authorities to ensure passengers have a safe trip to their destination.
From driver ratings to GPS tracking and emergency support - the Uber app offers both passengers and drivers numerous safety functions to track their own trip, share it with trusted contacts and stay connected with Uber’s support teams.