Uber will pay motorists to forgo their cars for sustainable alternatives

Ridesharing group Uber has created a challenge for 50 Australians to give up their vehicles for a month, in favour of app-based travel, walking and public transport.

The 'One Less Car' trial has been created by the company to tackle our over-reliance on private vehicles, with Australia recording the second-highest rate of private car ownership per capita. 

While reducing the country's vehicle dependency is at the forefront of the campaign, the trial is also an attempt to promote a more sustainable future. Globally, Uber is aiming to carry out 100 per cent of passenger trips with zero-emission vehicles, public transport or micro mobility platforms by 2040. 

Participants in the trial will be provided more than $1300 in Uber credit, which can be spent on a range of transport options. 

The entrants will be surveyed throughout the four weeks to determine any potential savings that reduced vehicle ownership brings. The company will also measure health and well-being impacts via personal health trackers. 

'One Less Car' is available to motorists in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra, who are willing to forego their cars for the duration of the trial.