Seeking your views on rideshare in the Barossa

One of the biggest challenges we have in such a celebrated food and wine region like the Barossa Valley is the strong demand for transport between venues and towns, not just for tourists, but also locals.

I’ve spoken with locals working in hospitality who drive patrons home late at night, young people who simply can’t get to the neighbouring town for sport, and tourists who walk for kilometres to get to their destination.

Rideshare could be a way to fix that. So I've launched a petition and inviting locals to have a say about whether rideshare options like Uber should be allowed to operate in the Barossa.

Many people don’t know that State Government regulation actually prohibits rideshare companies from operating here.

You may recall that in 2021, for the first time, the former State Liberal Government introduced the option of ridesharing in the Adelaide Hills in a move that was celebrated across the board by locals, tourists, and businesses.

It benefitted locals with easier and more readily available transport options, while also supporting local businesses with a significant boost in tourism – so why wouldn’t we consider it here?

If you’re staying locally, it can sometimes be challenging to travel between cellar doors, but also if you’re a local it’s just about getting from A to B easily.

Our taxi companies do a great job, but they are often stretched, particularly during festivals and concerts, and ridesharing could complement what is already on offer.

If the petition receives a positive response, I will approach the state government and together with businesses and locals, I’ll seek support for the regulatory changes needed to allow ridesharing to commence.

To share your view, please visit my Schubert Office in Tanunda where a petition will be available for you to sign – or see my survey below - and if you’re a business we can drop a petition off to you.