Explain Uber To Me

[speeder]

Lots of ignorance on this thread. Typical generational lapse being seen here more and more...not calling anyone dumb, just old or living in the sticks.

[TheMentat]

I particularly like how these new outfits are dynamically pricing rides based on real time conditions. Driver shortages lead to higher rates, luring drivers to work. Contrast this to the status quo, that artificially restricts supply through a taxi medallion system, making it impossible to get a ride during peak hours!

[Ayles]

Originally Posted by speeder

Lots of ignorance on this thread. Typical generational lapse being seen here more and more...not calling anyone dumb, just old or living in the sticks.

Now that you mention it... I feel like it's given taxis the competition they have needed to get better. I'll take a über over a cab any day. Just for ease of use and a better overall experience.

There may also be some confusion between überx and the black car service.

[porsche4life]

I've wondered about relayrides. What will your carrier say about you renting out your ride to any tom dick or Harry?

[porsche4life]

Regarding uber.... I've downloaded the app. Haven't had occasion to use it yet. But plan to.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by speeder

Lots of ignorance on this thread. Typical generational lapse being seen here more and more...not calling anyone dumb, just old or living in the sticks.

Do you know what a "common carrier" is? More to the point, in relation to the standard of prudence that they are held to with regard to tortious negligence? Just because something is new, it does not follow that it is better. Nor does it follow that people who don't share your view are less urbane nor worldly. That is, unless you're really damn worldly.

[speeder]

Why yes, yes I do. I used to drive a cab and got really pissed-off when the city I was working in decided to issue hundreds of new taxi licenses to "improve service to underserved areas", effectively killing the livelihood of the people already doing the job. That would have been me, had I not found another occupation about that time.

As for the legalese, I'm not a lawyer but my dad was the judge who tossed out the taxi union's suit against the city that tried to stop them from issuing the new licenses. He sympathized with the working stiffs but what the city was doing was perfectly legal and within their rights. I sympathize with working stiffs myself but the people driving Ubers have as much right to make a living as the taxi companies, IMO.

I could have phrased my last post better, it was merely a reaction to some of the previous ones about unvetted ghost-people driving Ubers. That's a bunch of BS. They're vetted and lose the job quickly if they do anything against policy or just generally do not please the clientele. I've used an Uber and I have friends that use the app constantly, it works really well. And it's definitely cheaper than a taxi, plus the cars and drivers are a lot nicer in general. As for insurance, the minute they pick up a passenger, Uber's coverage is in effect. Not the driver's insurance. That's the way it was explained to me, anyways.

There are changes coming and taxi companies are fighting the ride-sharing apps with varying success in some cities. A friend was in Vegas last weekend and told me that they have succeeded in keeping Uber out so far. It's ubiquitous on Los Angeles, San Francisco and other big cities and has been for at least a couple years. So now when I hear someone say, "what is this new-fangled Uber thing? It sounds dangerous!", It reminds me of my old man marveling at what young whippersnappers can do with a smart phone like it just came about last month. That's all.

[Holger]

I have not tried this service, I think it might be a good thing that the "old" taxi-companies have to think about getting better at what they do.

But ...

All of you ignoring that it is a profession to be a taxi driver: should we now let anybody (without knowledge) build scyscrapers, or should we now let anybody (without knowledge) perform surgery? Imagine those apps! Emergency surgery and you can watch the "doc" (your neighbour, normally working as a clerk at Walmart) closing in on the map on your phone! Cool!
If you like all those new possibilites then you will LOVE this!

What I want to say is: there is a reason some things are regulated and you need some experience and sometimes education. Some developments are not needed! We dont need everything "just because we can".

[KevinTodd]

Uber rocks.

I will never use anything else especially in metro ATL, where the "licensed" cab companies utilize worn-out, rickety former police vehicles painted with a brush, every idiot light on the dash is flashing, no a/c and surly drivers that barely speak English or any other discernible language for that matter.

Then most of them refuse to take credit cards when in fact there is a city ordinance that they are required to do just that. I've never had worse cab service anywhere in the world than I have had right here in my own city and it is very embarrassing.

The local companies are of course up in arms over Uber, Lyft and other companies like them trying to muscle in on their business, but until these companies wake up and repair their fleets and hire professional drivers they'll never have a chance.

The app works. You choose your service, get the cost estimate, request the vehicle, get a call confirming the ride along with a picture of your driver in under 5 minutes, and there are always several drivers minutes away. Win.

[gprsh924]

I get into a cab at least 8 times a week. Without a way to hail the cab from my apartment/ from the bar, I would go insane.

No can company has built an app to hail their own cabs. When you're having a party and need to leave at a specific time, the only option is to call a cab company and wait for 30 mins for the cab they dispatched (which only comes 50% of the time). With uber, it's arranged seamlessly at your fingertips.

I end up hailing standard taxis through uber at least 50% of the time either because of surge pricing on uberx or longer wait times. In Chicago, I can't see how uber is hurting things. When demand is low, there are no uberx cars available and taxis are abundant. When demand spikes (like when it's raining on a Friday night), uberx surge pricing takes affect. Those willing to pay will take it, and those who want a fixed cost are pushed toward taxis, which increases demand for them.

[foxpaws]

I was in Chicago a few weeks ago - used UberX a couple of times - love it!!!!!! Nicer cars, cleaner cars, nicer drivers, and they didn't take me the longest route possible, like the cab drivers sometimes do. Everything from hailing to paying done on the phone, perfect for my expense reports.

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by Holger

I have not tried this service, I think it might be a good thing that the "old" taxi-companies have to think about getting better at what they do.

But ...

All of you ignoring that it is a profession to be a taxi driver: should we now let anybody (without knowledge) build scyscrapers, or should we now let anybody (without knowledge) perform surgery?

Agreed that there should be some minimum standard of insurance and training... However if you've ridden in any big-city cab you will know that many of the drivers are not professional, good drivers, clean, etc... so by comparison I doubt I'd know any difference.

I stopped using cabs and went to a sedan service here in Chicago to get to the airport. THe cabs were late 30-40% of the time and never called to tell me. When I called they were always "almost there". Often smelled and dirty. I don't want to get on a plane to a customer meeting in an expensive suit and show up smelling like fake coconut.

[beepbeep]

I'll explain. Uber is to Cab companies that Word Perfect is to typewriters and secretaries...
It's MP3 to CD's. An Ebay to yellow pages. A PC to a mainframe.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by cstreit

Agreed that there should be some minimum standard of insurance and training... However if you've ridden in any big-city cab you will know that many of the drivers are not professional, good drivers, clean, etc... so by comparison I doubt I'd know any difference.

I stopped using cabs and went to a sedan service here in Chicago to get to the airport. THe cabs were late 30-40% of the time and never called to tell me. When I called they were always "almost there". Often smelled and dirty. I don't want to get on a plane to a customer meeting in an expensive suit and show up smelling like fake coconut.

Chris, you'd definitely notice the difference. Here in L.A., taxis from the reputable companies are generally pretty clean compared to other cities but the UberX cars I've seen and been in have all been pristine, late model Prius or similar. They often give you a free bottled water when you jump in. The drivers are American, speak well and are clean. Tipping is not only not necessary, it's not allowed. It's all built into the pricing and it all happens on your smart phone, ie. charged automatically.

Oh, and they are generally about 40% cheaper than a cab ride and they show up in less than 5 minutes anywhere in the parts of L.A. I'm in. You can watch the car drive to you on your screen and pick which car you want based on location to you when you book it. They beat traditional cabs 8 ways from Sunday. I know people who do not drive here and they simply don't give a second thought to how they are getting from one place to the next, there is always an Uber around the corner and it's cheap.

[speeder]

There is also the benefit of "rolling below the radar", no one even notices someone jumping out of a Prius here but taxis are a little more visible. That is sometimes attractive to people.

[Moses]

Originally Posted by BRPORSCHE

You guys made me sign into PP solely to comment on this thread...

Huge +1 to the above! I had heard of Uber but had never used the service in Houston. I traveled to Chicago a few weeks ago, and now I am absolutely hooked. I used Uberx and had great experiences with 99% of the drivers. It was easy to use. Very easy to use.

The one thing I actually enjoy about Uber is that once you step out of the car you are asked to submit a review. Now, this may seem like a pain if you are in a rush, but it's actually really works!

My friend and I were traveling to a specific destination which I knew roughly where it was located. The guy really could have made a few better turns (it geniunely looked like he thought he knew where he was going) but after getting out of the car knew he could have done better. After getting out of the car I was prompted to rate the driver. Car was on-time, spotless, and professional. He just managed to get lost with the help of a GPS. I knocked it down to 3 stars because I really thought he should have known where to go. ISYN, within ten minutes I had an email from Uber saying that they had reviewed the route and agreed that his route wasn't really optimal and refunded me the money! Now I am not being judgemental... but try and do that with archaic Yellowcab!

WOW! That's a revolutionary change in service. Pretty impressive. I've paid for many long and unnecessary YellowCab "tours".

[Moses]

Originally Posted by Holger

All of you ignoring that it is a profession to be a taxi driver: should we now let anybody (without knowledge) build scyscrapers, or should we now let anybody (without knowledge) perform surgery?

It's just a ride. In a car. It's not surgery. It's not engineering. Geez. It's a ride. In a car.

[speeder]

And the barrier to entry for the cab driving profession is a weak pulse and bad breath.

[theFONZ]

I don't understand why anyone would take an uber ride. Why would you want to wait forever, sit on a sticky vinyl seat, smell the driver, fear for your safety, listen to the driver chat on his cell/radio in some code talk, and stare at the meter ticking up. Oh wait...

The last time I took a cab the driver stopped for gas and asked me to spot him $20 or he couldn't get me to my destination.

LOL, cab companies have dug their own grave.

[gtc]

The only bad thing I've heard about Uber is that their drivers can be too eager to please - pushing you to take a free bottle of water, use their phone chargers, etc.

I use Car2Go. It's pretty cool also.