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GOT a craving for ice-cream?
Uber is making sure Bendigonians won't go without their favourite sweet treat this Friday.
The controversial ride-sharing company is bringing its ice-cream on demand service to Bendigo for the first time.
Uber is partnering with Gelato Messina to deliver ice cream to Bendigo people who download the Uber app on any Apple, Android or Windows device.
While Uber might not be the flavour of the month with Victoria's taxi industry, it has won appeal with passengers across the state. The company is reporting strong interest in its services from Bendigo people.
"We already know many people have downloaded the Uber app in Bendigo, so we hope to be back with more than ice cream in the not too distant future," a Uber spokesperson said.
An online poll on the Bendigo Advertiser website this month revealed nearly 60 per cent of respondents would use Uber if the service was offered in Bendigo.
A total of 227 people (56.75 per cent) votes yes, while 173 (43.25) voted no.
Bendigo Uber drivers will deliver a limited-release uber-x scoop ice cream between 11am and 5pm.
The specially created flavour consists of hazelnut gelato, with white chocolate, hazelnut fudge, milk choc ship and wafers.
The gourmet ice-cream is free to new Uber customers. Existing customers will be charged $15 a tub. Uber was swamped with orders when it ran the promotion in Melbourne and Sydney in 2013 and 2014. Ice cream on demand is being offered in 232 cities, in 57 countries, on six continents across the world. In Australia, the #UberIceCream campaign will run in 17 cities, including Ballarat and Geelong.
The promotion comes as Uber is calling on the state government to license its drivers and allow them to lawfully operate on Victoria's roads alongside taxis.
In a submission sent to Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan last week, Uber said it wanted ride-sharing included in current laws regulating the taxi and hire car industry before broader legislation was written up.
Uber head of policy Brad Kitschke said the company was heavily self-regulated and drivers met the same standards as taxi drivers.
He said the company did not want to cut into the taxi market and be allowed to gather at ranks or be hailed in the street.