Under the proposal, the government will give 10,000 participants the option of paying for Uber rides, Lime Bikes, Ingogo Taxis and Manly Fast Ferry using their Opal cards.
The trial will give a $3 discount to travellers who use public transport after using one of these other forms of transportation within 60 minutes.
The trial is set to begin mid-year and run until December.
“We know how convenient using one card is and this is just the beginning. If the trial is successful, we will look into rolling it out across the network and we’ll be inviting other providers to get on board, too,” Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said.
According to the Minister, journeys will not need to be in a specific order, with transfers between modes needed to occur within 60 minutes to gain the $3 Opal card credit.
Uber Australia’s general manager, Dom Taylor, said the trial was an exciting next step.
“This is a fantastic example of how government and industry can work together to deliver better ways to move people from A to B. Sydneysiders can already access public transport information via the Uber app. Now they can use Uber to take the stress out of getting to and from a public transport hub and be rewarded for it as well,” Mr Taylor said.
As part of the trial, My Fast Ferry customers will save 10 per cent on their ferry fare during peak times and 25 per cent when travelling off peak, with NRMA’s managing director of transport, Samantha Abeydeera, welcoming the inclusion.
“My Fast Ferry is an essential connection for people moving between Manly and Circular Quay, receiving a reward for pairing this up with another public transport trip will make a massive difference for commuters,” Ms Abeydeera said.
The trial forms part of the government Future Transport Technology Roadmap that includes trials of hydrogen-powered buses in Sydney metro areas.
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