Uber discussion on podcast....

[Prose]

I have heard other podcasters talk about how convenient and affordable it is to use Uber, however, they are always male. I am wondering whether the crew would feel differently about Uber if they had to use it as a solo female? I am hesitant to use it - somehow I feel safer using a taxi service. Would be interested to hear from solo females who have used Uber, as well as from those men who do use Uber about how they would approach it differently if they were female.

 

[dina444444]

I've used Uber a bunch of times in NYC and twice in LA to get to/from home to LAX. I've found it to be very easy to use especially in NYC where hailing a cab can be next to impossible during shift change. Most of my experience has been with UberX and I've only had good experiences.

 

[YachtClubWoman]

I use Uber extensively in the Boston area when I travel there for work monthly. I have never felt unsafe and the cars and drivers are so much better than the taxis. It is also nice not dealing with fares or tips. Everything is set up on the App and my credit card charge. I have seen rates half of what a taxi would have cost me.

On the app I believe there is a feature to track your trip by someone else if you want someone to know where you are.

 

[flvy]

I had serious reservations about Uber and then I actually used it with some friends, and then solo. I can say I felt 100% safe, and I lean towards the stranger danger side of things.

 

[DLgal]

I won't use Uber by myself as a female. My husband uses Uber but he even said he would not feel okay with me using it alone. There is just not enough accountability for my comfort zone. Anyone can be an Uber driver and it doesn't take a criminal background to be a creepy person who wants to do something bad to a woman.

 

[weeniecat2442]

i have used Uber in Providence several times a week solo to get home from work. I am always hesitant about it, although it is basically the same as using a cab solo. I usually text a screenshot of my uber driver info to a friend or my boyfriend and let them know when I get home.
I have come across quite a few female uber drivers as well

 

[ninecrayons]

I have heard other podcasters talk about how convenient and affordable it is to use Uber, however, they are always male. I am wondering whether the crew would feel differently about Uber if they had to use it as a solo female? I am hesitant to use it - somehow I feel safer using a taxi service. Would be interested to hear from solo females who have used Uber, as well as from those men who do use Uber about how they would approach it differently if they were female.

Frequently solo female here and I've used Uber fairly regularly. I used it a lot in LA and a few times in NYC.

I can understand the uncomfortable factor - I took a very early morning Uber to SNA for a 6:00am flight home from Disneyland. My driver pulled up in a Volkswagon and was wearing black leather gloves. All I could think was "Please let the gloves be because this guy is a really pretentious driver and not a murder." I also think that ride was a little uncomfortable because it was so early and nobody else was out and around.

I like the idea of texting the Uber info to a friend or boyfriend. I hate to say it, but you can't be too careful.

 

[indyumd]

My wife uses Uber solo or with one other woman for all of her wine club events. She will usually text when she leaves for home so I know how long it should take to get home. But she's never felt uncomfortable. In some ways there's less risk because the system is so connected to GPS and the phone, both the driver and passenger are tracked at all times. In fact, you can follow the route of the car against the GPS-provided route to your destination, so you will instantly know if you are going off-track.

 

[Princess Jes]

Uber isn't as big here as it is in the USA, but it's growing for sure.
Our travelers at work use uber almost exclusively now when in LA, and they're usually solo females.
They also work for a privately owned company that could cause them to be ransom bait (they get personal body guards when in Brazil and South Africa for this reason and general safety) and they feel safe in uber.

 

[AndyPok1]

My girlfriend uses it probably 4-5x as often as I do. Yeah, you're going to have a creepy guy every now and then, but you give him a 1 star and then he loses the ability to be a driver very quickly. I'd be curious to see numbers on any actual crimes (beyond general creepiness) in ubers vs taxis.

 

[OKW Lover]

I'd be curious to see numbers on any actual crimes (beyond general creepiness) in ubers vs taxis.

That would be interesting. I'm wondering how much of this Uber "fear" is a result of sensationalized news reports.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

That would be interesting. I'm wondering how much of this Uber "fear" is a result of sensationalized news reports.

Kinda like "Disney stuff", huh?

It definitely would be interesting. I have not used Uber yet, as I didn't have a Smart phone for a long time, and then have had several problems with the app, but am going to try it in the future. I know my friend's son started driving for them about 6 months ago - first part-time, he's been doing it full time for a few weeks now, he loves it. And I know he's a friend's son, so I/m biased, but he's a great young man, and very protective, helpful, and respectful to females. Even as a tween (which is when I first met him), he's always held doors open for me, carried groceries and laundry if he sees me, etc. , so I can't imagine him treating his customers (especially females) any differently.

 

[Accident]

I don't know any friends or coworkers that use anything other than uber (and we're in nyc where cabs are quick usually)

 

[Prose]

Thanks, everyone, for the input. It's probably my own fears in my head - you know, don't get in cars with strangers - in cabs, it just feels safer somehow with all that plexiglass and hardware between the front and back seats, plus the safety of having the car dispatched.

I live in an area where cabs are rarely used, but will probably do more traveling for work in the future and want to consider Uber as an option.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

Thanks, everyone, for the input. It's probably my own fears in my head - you know, don't get in cars with strangers - in cabs, it just feels safer somehow with all that plexiglass and hardware between the front and back seats, plus the safety of having the car dispatched.

I live in an area where cabs are rarely used, but will probably do more traveling for work in the future and want to consider Uber as an option.

And as a fellow usually-solo female, I think you have every right to be "better safe than sorry", and to have concerns about your safety - personally, I think you'd be pretty cavalier in this day and age not to. But I'd also say in this case, I think any problems would be the exception rather than the norm. If you do use Uber, please let us know about your experience!

 

[CampbellzSoup]

I'm not sure why being a solo female distracts you from using the service as it's safe trusted and reliable. You have the persons name and they go through a screening process id feel more safe wirh über than a random cab

 

[Sarabi's Cubs]

I think if I was from an area where cabs are used frequently, and I used them a lot, I would be more comfortable with it. I am not, and like the OP, am reluctant to get into a car with a stranger. From what I understand, Uber is self-regulated and conducts its background checks using a less reliable process without oversight. For me, that's not good enough.

Laurie

 

[SorcererHeidi]

I think if I was from an area where cabs are used frequently, and I used them a lot, I would be more comfortable with it. I am not, and like the OP, am reluctant to get into a car with a stranger. From what I understand, Uber is self-regulated and conducts its background checks using a less reliable process without oversight. For me, that's not good enough.

Laurie

They did do a "background check" on my friend's son (which frustrated him, because it took longer than he wanted/expected), but I do not know what that entailed.

 

[Sarabi's Cubs]

My understanding is that Uber doesn't use fingerprints so they don't search the FBI database.

 

[Princess Jes]

I'm not sure why being a solo female distracts you from using the service as it's safe trusted and reliable. You have the persons name and they go through a screening process id feel more safe wirh über than a random cab

I mean this with zero malice in my tone but, not being a solo female traveller, or not even female at all, you couldn't understand.
Tv shows, the news, movies all tell us that women who go anywhere at night are at risk of assaults, it's drilled into us to fear strangers, especially at night and usually those hidden in plain sight.
It's sexist, yes, but unfortunately true :-(