The taxi industry is in a major state of disruption with the rise and popularity of the ride sharing company Uber. In every city it has set up, the taxi lobby has waged a campaign to cast this tech-savvy alternative as recklessly endangering the lives of the passengers that use it. There’s also the debate over fair compensation for drivers. Certainly, it’s a service that is going to require some type of new regulation. But what’s clear to me is that as a frequent traveller, Uber rocks!
How Uber works
Uber uses a smartphone-based app to match those who are willing to drive people around with those needing a ride. The app is free. The fare you will pay for the ride depends on the particular city you are in and other conditions (e.g., weather, time of day, special events). Payment for the ride is automatically taken from the credit card you register 0n the app when you sign up.
Why Uber is a traveller’s dream
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One company to access
Figuring out transportation options in a new place can be stressful. We usually opt for public transportation, but sometimes you need a car. This usually means figuring out which local taxi company to use. In some places fares can vary significantly. With Uber, all you need is the app (and a wireless or mobile connection). We’ve used Uber in Boston, D.C., London, Bangalore, and Amsterdam. One app. Easy.
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Fare estimates and ease of payment
The Uber app allows you to see where all its vehicles are in your vicinity on a real-time map and can also give you a fare estimate. Our experience has been that rates are usually lower than for a traditional taxi.
Once you arrive at your destination, you’re done. The payment for the ride is automatically charged to your credit card and you get a receipt via email. We’ve been stuck on occasion not having local currency upon arrival in a new city only to find that taxis accept cash only. Uber does away with this frustration.
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Accountability and Security
After each ride, the passenger is asked to rate the Uber driver based on the experience. The Uber driver can also rate the passenger. When selecting an Uber driver, the app displays the driver’s name, photo, and rating. One of the criticisms the taxi sector levels against Uber is that there are no safety regulations when it comes to its drivers. While Uber states that criminal record checks are a requirement, the rating system also gives me some peace of mind. Of course it’s not fail-safe, but if I see that an Uber driver has a positive rating on the app, I’m inclined to believe there have been no major incidents. I am aware, on the other hand, that there have been sexual assault allegations and other disreputable behaviour on the part of taxi drivers in my hometown that riders never become aware of. So, Uber holds an advantage in this case for the rider. If you’re not an upstanding, competent Uber driver, you’re not going to be an Uber driver for long.
With Uber, the rider has a record of the ride, where exactly you went, when it started, and when it ended. Uber also has a record of the parties entering the car before and after your ride. This also holds a security advantage.
Several months ago, Steve forgot his laptop bag (containing about $10,000 of equipment) in the back of a Winnipeg cab. He realized it as soon as he entered our home. He got very little support from the cab company to locate it. The bag was missing for several days. Clearly, it had been stolen. Steve eventually got it back after a police investigation and a lot of persistence on his part. The driver eventually admitted to taking the bag as part of a mediation agreement, but then later denied direct responsibility at a taxi board hearing about his license. He got a four-month suspension from driving, despite the fact that there were previous concerns about his honesty on the job. He will remain a taxi driver.
Could this incident have happened if it had been an Uber driver? Perhaps, but Uber’s transparent model with the checks and balances of the rating system make it less likely. Taxi companies have a ways to go to catch up.
What do you think fellow travellers? Do you use Uber when you’re on the road and what’s your experience been?
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In some places Uber is the preferred method of transport – we only started using it in South Africa where it is very popular. We became big Uber fans and will now rarely ever take a taxi.
Same with us. If Uber is an option, we take it.