UBER! Use it! You'll love it!

[Lewisc]

I suspect it has more to do with money than safety. I would guess the safety issue is just a red herring.

I'm sure it has to do with BOTH. Uber drivers and vehicles should be subject to the same safety and inspection rules as any other vehicle for hire. Uber drivers picking up at the airport should be subject to the same rules and fees as other drivers.

Newspaper articles suggest Uber drivers are driving around the airport, looking at their Uber smartphones, waiting for a customer to pop up on their phone. Uber gives the fare to the driver closest to the requesting customer. That means drivers want to stay close to the terminal as much as possible.

Those Uber drivers are providing a service which is virtually identical to that provided by taxis. Instead of walking to the curb and signalling for a passing cab customers are doing the modern equivalent with a smartphone.

The fact that a customer is using an intermediary and an app to obtain transportation has nothing to do with applicable local laws and fees. Uber didn't launch service in NYC until they came to an agreement with regulators.

 

[Capt_BJ]

using Port Canaveral as an example - one taxi company has a contract with the port to provide taxi service. Every other taxi, limo, shuttle etc that wants to pull up to the terminal to load or unload pays a fee (per vehicle) to do this .. every other commercial carrier. I can pull up in my private car for no fee to pickup my family and friends ... and there is a 'cell phone lot' where I can sit and wait for their call. (this is not hyperbole ... this is the way it is)

As I understand UBER they would get the call on their phone and pull up as if a private citizen and avoid the fee the port collects ....

yes it is about money

+++++++++++
my earlier post was not expressing an opinion - just posting facts. I was picking up DW at Orlando Airport and the signs are all over - and for example while I sat in the 'cell phone lot' waiting for her call there were signs there too warning 'UBER' that getting caught waiting for a call there would get them fined as well . . .

I think UBER is an interesting concept but when you butt heads with an industry that's already regulated you've GOT to expect push back.

 

[bryanb]

The taxi industry has been waging an all-out legal and public relations war against Uber. This service is a serious threat to their business model, so they have been trying to create as much fear and doubt about the safety of service as possible. There are even some unscrupulous taxi drivers who have harassed Uber drivers and their patrons.

It's true that the taxi companies are heavily regulated and Uber arguably has an unfair advantage if they are not subject to similar regulations. It's also true that taxis have kept prices artificially high by raising barriers to entry.

My personal experience with taxis has included some good experiences, but many surly drivers who have driven at unsafe speeds with erratic shortcuts. Uber provides competition to that, which is why I do support that business model.

 

[Missyrose]

The taxi industry has been waging an all-out legal and public relations war against Uber. This service is a serious threat to their business model, so they have been trying to create as much fear and doubt about the safety of service as possible. There are even some unscrupulous taxi drivers who have harassed Uber drivers and their patrons.

It's true that the taxi companies are heavily regulated and Uber arguably has an unfair advantage if they are not subject to similar regulations. It's also true that taxis have kept prices artificially high by raising barriers to entry.

My personal experience with taxis has included some good experiences, but many surly drivers who have driven at unsafe speeds with erratic shortcuts. Uber provides competition to that, which is why I do support that business model.

The bolded is so true. We had nothing but pleasant Uber drivers in Orlando and the one time we had to hop in a Mears cab (because it was sitting there and we were in a rush), the driver did nothing but grunt and acted like we were putting him out by making him drive us somewhere.

 

[helenk]

The taxi industry has been waging an all-out legal and public relations war against Uber. This service is a serious threat to their business model, so they have been trying to create as much fear and doubt about the safety of service as possible. There are even some unscrupulous taxi drivers who have harassed Uber drivers and their patrons.

It's true that the taxi companies are heavily regulated and Uber arguably has an unfair advantage if they are not subject to similar regulations. It's also true that taxis have kept prices artificially high by raising barriers to entry.

My personal experience with taxis has included some good experiences, but many surly drivers who have driven at unsafe speeds with erratic shortcuts. Uber provides competition to that, which is why I do support that business model.

We used taxis twice this past trip, the first driver from AKL to DTD was great, very nice, friendly. Our last day the driver was out right strange, at first I though he was talking on his cell phone, but then realized he was talking to himself pretty much the whole trip from AKL to the GF.

 

[TinyTim2]

A Uber driver was arrested in Orlando for groping a female passenger. Said it was her fault because of the shirt she was wearing. Its in the Orlando paper and news stations web sites(not sure how to link them)

 

[Lewisc]

A Uber driver was arrested in Orlando for groping a female passenger. Said it was her fault because of the shirt she was wearing. Its in the Orlando paper and news stations web sites(not sure how to link them)

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/ub...e-passengers-blouse-orlando-cops-say/28245784

 

[MillauFr]

A Uber driver was arrested in Orlando for groping a female passenger. Said it was her fault because of the shirt she was wearing. Its in the Orlando paper and news stations web sites(not sure how to link them)

Not a biggee. Taxi Drivers have done worse things.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york...r-20-years-raping-passenger-article-1.1789225

http://www.newsherald.com/news/crim...-with-assaulting-two-spring-breakers-1.292589

http://blog.timesunion.com/saratogaseen/taxi-driver-charged-with-identity-theft/21258/

The only reason that this is in the media right now is because the city is not getting their payola. Uber and Lyft are still more efficient and better systems than the broken and outdated taxi systems.

 

[Flight]

the city is not getting their payola.

Standby. No doubt there will be attempts to somehow regulate these companies and extract money from the operations. Right now Uber has a fantastic business model.

 

[Lewisc]

Not a biggee. Taxi Drivers have done worse things.

The only reason that this is in the media right now is because the city is not getting their payola. Uber and Lyft are still more efficient and better systems than the broken and outdated taxi systems.

Standby. No doubt there will be attempts to somehow regulate these companies and extract money from the operations. Right now Uber has a fantastic business model.

In what world should the business model of a company, app based, exempt the company from regulations, taxes and fees companies in that industry are subject to?

Airports are financed, in part, by fees. Those fees include payments by taxi and livery drivers. Passengers who use Uber use an app, passengers who use a car service use the phone (or website) and passengers who use a taxi wait in a cab line. In what world should an app based company be exempt from paying fees?

 

[North of Mouse]

The airport authority here, plus taxi drivers are having them banned (handing out citations) from the airport here - consider them illegal taxis. Personally, I would not want to use a private vehicle for public transportation - too many 'unknowns' for me. JMO

 

[TinyTim2]

A uber driver in calif. attacked a passenger over the fact that the driver didn't want to go the way the passenger wanted. Check out the facebook page for uber. All sorts of complants from drivers not getting paid to cars not showing up. Yes i know anyone can post anything but it seems to me that uber is not as great as it says it is

 

[maxiesmom]

At least I helped someone out and that makes me feel good.

Hope you have enjoyed calling someone a LIAR and I hope you have a great DAY!

Just so you know, I too was on the fence about UBER, and after reading all of this, won't be using it. Safety considerations aside, it just feels wrong to use a company that is skating around the rules and regulations that others have to follow. I will stick to taxis.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

One of the things I like the most about UBER is no one can steal your car. I was outside the Chelsea Market in NYC in the rain and twice I had people jump in cabs I've hailed.

Hailing cabs in the rain in NYC is very difficult. I'd rather wait indoors for 10 minutes if UBER is busy knowing I will have a ride.

Between 4-5 PM is shift change in NYC and finding a cab at all is quite difficult. I've had taxi's stop, ask me where I'm headed and then shake their head and say no.

I still haven't gotten into a bad, smelly car. I like the cleaner newer vehicles.

ETA: I stepped out of my room at the Dolphin last month. The UBER driver was waiting when I got to the door. Prior to that I've had to accept the much higher cost of the Mears cars waiting in front ($15 to move me from Dolphin to the BC) or wait the 15 minutes for the bell man to call a Mears taxi.

 

[DebbieB]

They are operating on a temporary license here in PA. The Public Utility Commission is deciding if they will be legal, there are concerns about safety & insurance.

http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/6860401-74/judges-uber-company#axzz3EeRWarFV

 

[Tissa]

What really turned me off about Uber is that I saw an ad on Craigslist trying to recruit new drivers. This is all you need to become an Uber driver.

4-door vehicle (2005 or newer, no pickup trucks)

✓ Valid driver's license and personal auto insurance

✓ Vehicle registration

✓ You're at least 21 years old

NO Special license or forms

NO Startup costs or investment

NO Commercial insurance

NO Professional driving experience

2005 or newer car? My Honda is a 2005 and I would not want to pay someone to pick me up in it lol. I am not a big cab fan either so I'm not on their side. I'll just stick to renting cars.

 

[nkereina]

Didn't read all the replies but wanted to give some positive feedback on Uber. I spent a week in Atlanta a few weeks ago, with friends who use Uber almost daily. We used it 10+ times while I was there, and each time was a positive and smooth transaction. The drivers were timely, fares were lower than any cab would have been, cars were clean, and I had a receipt in my email within minutes showing my total (including tip!) which was within the range of the estimate given BEFORE I clicked "request" on the app. One driver even offered us (sealed) bottles of water and pretzels - and we were going less than two miles. Very accommodating. We'll be using Uber in Orlando in November.

 

[marathon]

Curious whether the tipping is done outside uber, or you would have option to include that doing the app transaction. Unless for Uber, everything is included in the fare agreed upon?

 

[MAH4546]

Curious whether the tipping is done outside uber, or you would have option to include that doing the app transaction. Unless for Uber, everything is included in the fare agreed upon?

There is no tipping and there is no "fare agreed upon." It is metered and tip-free. The driver keeps 80% of the fare and Uber only takes 20%, that's his "tip."

 

[marathon]

Thank you, seems very interesting and attractive business model...

There is no tipping and there is no "fare agreed upon." It is metered and tip-free. The driver keeps 80% of the fare and Uber only takes 20%, that's his "tip."