DIT

27/10/2024: The full document can be viewed  via: https://ads19.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DIT-recommendations.pdf

Link to Draft minutes:  https://sites.google.com/view/adlridesharecorrespondance/dit/minutes-28-oct-2024

A portion of the document is shown below:

Group Submission: Feedback from South Australian Rideshare Drivers on the Passenger Transport Act Review, October 2024
https://www.dit.sa.gov.au/point_to_point_transport/industry.

Dear Nick and DIT Senior Officers attending,

Thank you for inviting me, and five others from the Adelaide Rideshare Drivers Facebook Group to tomorrow’s meeting with the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) on Monday, 28 October 2024. This meeting signifies the DIT's commitment to collaborating with industry stakeholders to implement changes to the Passenger Transport Act 1997.

I would like to highlight several points regarding our previous communications:

• 19 May 2024: I sent an email to two Adelaide City Councillors, the Premier, and the MPs responsible for transport, outlining the ongoing challenges that rideshare drivers face in the Adelaide CBD both day and night. You can view this correspondence adelaide-city-council.

• 13 June 2024: I provided feedback on the Hindley Street Revitalisation, which was also cc'd to the Transport Minister. More information can be found in hindley-street.

• 18 September 2024: I submitted a group witness submission (Inquiry into the Digital Transformation of Workplaces - Submission 65), with the Federal Government - House Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training which can be accessed via federal-government.

• 28 October 2024: Meeting with Department for Infrastructure and Transport: DIT.

These submissions represent the collective voice of South Australian rideshare drivers, primarily members of the “Adelaide Rideshare Drivers Group” (including Uber, Didi, Ola, etc.) on Facebook, which has 3,805 members as of 25 October 2024, including the Transport Minister Tom Koutsantonis. It is important to note that some taxi drivers (either past or present) and MV plate holders are also members of this group and have contributed feedback.

It has been noted that after the consultation period ended, we received an email to discuss how the review would be implemented. I believe we should have been notified and consulted during the review creation process.

It should also be noted that we have also had discussions with Holdfast Bay Council  which occurred on 26 June 2024 as documented in city-of-holdfast-bay.

As I have requested the agenda and the names of the DIT attendees but have not received this information, I kindly ask that a copy of this meetings minutes be sent to us for approval as we plan to send them to

·       Mr James Stevens MP,

·       the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education, and Training

·      Mr Ben Hood MP and

·      Members of our facebook group

since we have been keeping them all informed about this matter.

In the absence of an agenda, we have prepared a document outlining our responses to each recommendation. The following table highlights each recommendation and indicates in red which six are most important to us.  So that we are all on the same page, it would also be a good idea if all people attending the meeting view this video, https://youtu.be/Q-FnGsZDNio?si=5VTMIIGHlFVgBuD2 (Adelaide Rideshare driver guidelines as at 15 August 2024 & why we need them. Info from MMM & ABC), which provides comprehensive insights and is structured as follows:

1.   Channel 9 News NSW: 0:00 to 1 minute :10 seconds

2.   ABC Radio Morning Show (7 August): 1:15 to 9:20

3.   ABC Radio Afternoon Show (7 August): 9:30 to 17:45

4.   Advertiser Article (7 August 2024)

5.   Adelaide City Council Vehicle Compliance Technology Video: 18:00 to 21:00

6.   MMM Radio: 21:00 to 27:00

7.   Submission to the House of Reps Standing Committee (9 August): 27:00 to end

For optimal viewing, we recommend watching the video on a computer with sound enabled. It features contributions from over 30 rideshare drivers who are active in our Facebook group.

In our upcoming meeting, we hope to review the key recommendations. Given the range of issues, though, we anticipate a follow-up meeting may be necessary, as one hour might not suffice. Our ask is straightforward: to see fair and practical solutions implemented, such as Brisbane's 2-minute loading zones, rather than relying on additional cameras, fines, and inaction, which can compromise public safety.

While the establishment of dedicated Pick-Up and Drop-Off (PUDO) zones is under consideration, we urge the introduction of a straightforward bill in Parliament, if needed, to permit rideshare drivers to use taxi ranks for pick-ups and drop-offs without fear of fines or harassment. This measure would not only improve public safety and streamline transportation across Adelaide but also ensure a more welcoming and visitor-friendly city. Imagine the confusion of a visitor unable to be dropped off at a city taxi rank—it would highlight a gap in Adelaide's visitor experience and suggest missed opportunities in the State's planning for modern, accessible transport solutions.

Thank you for your attention to these matters.

Neil

The full document can be viewed  via: https://ads19.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DIT-recommendations.pdf

A portion of the document is shown above.