Canberra-based ride share app PKUP has today announced the relaunch of its service, after a pause in operations due to COVID-19.
As part of its relaunch, the company is calling on new drivers to transport customers needing to get home, or across the city, in their own car.
PKUP founders and brothers, Joshua and Oscar Gonzalez, said they were pleased to see the company back up and running, with a brand-new app and a COVID-safe business model.
“We stopped operating in March this year when it was announced that bars and clubs would be closed. A lot of our volumes came through there and it wasn’t commercially viable to continue,” Oscar said.
“While challenging, the past six months have provided an excellent opportunity to work on improving our systems and the service PKUP can offer to all Canberrans,” Joshua added.
This month’s driver recruitment campaign is hoping to enlist up to 200 new drivers to restart services in November.
Joshua said joining PKUP as a driver was the perfect way to get back into the job market or work flexible hours.
“PKUP offers the flexibility of a fresh new start, or simply an opportunity to supplement your income by working the days and hours that suit you,” he said.
“A big thing for us is knowing people have lost hours and we are hoping to come in and facilitate a bit more work for those who need it. It will help them, and it will help us.
“Our new PKUP driver application portal allows drivers to sign up and start driving in just a few minutes, so I’d encourage anyone who’s interested to visit our website and give driving with PKUP a try.”
Following this month’s driver recruitment campaign, pick-ups will start from next month with all drivers being supplied with disposable steering wheel covers, gloves and face masks.
“The most important part of getting back on the road with PKUP is, of course, returning safely, and we’ve prioritised the personal health and safety of all who drive and ride with PKUP through an effective COVID-saafe plan,” Joshua said.
“We look forward to introducing PKUP to as many drivers and riders as possible, and of course, welcoming our existing and loyal users back again.”
The brothers were joint recipients of the 2019 Young Canberra Citizen Award for the charity work they had previously been doing through the business.
Joshua said they were in discussions about more charity work once the service was operational again.
“Once business is up and running, we will definitely be revisiting that,” he said.
“We are looking to get some more engagement on it but have been talking about doing something environmental to combat carbon emissions.”
Those interested in joining PKUP as a driver can find more information and sign up online.
