Uber runs contrary to everything the government tries to scare you with. “We” must license and limit the number of taxicabs in a city because:<\/p>\n
– drivers won’t carry insurance
\n– passengers will rob drivers (and rape female drivers)
\n– drivers who don’t know how to drive will cause accidents and get lost
\n– drivers will cheat or rob passengers
\n– there won’t be a cab when you need one
\n– cars won’t be properly maintained and be unsafe<\/p>\n
Enter uber, the antigovernment solution.<\/p>\n
In Chicago, I decided to take a conventional taxi between my Apartment and O’Hare a couple times. Leaving from O’Hare there didn’t appear to be many options. The airport has constant announcements blaring that it is illegal to get in a cab outside of the official process – which involves a single file line of cabs being supervised by some Taxi Police guy (who collects a city fee). You get the next cab in line – which might be a suburban cab not familiar with Chicago outside of the major destinations. It’s almost certain the driver will not understand English and have no driving skills.<\/p>\n
Getting to the airport was a much different experience. Using an app called Taxi Magic, I tell my iPhone I want to go to O’Hare now. A lot of taxi drivers lived in my building, but Taxi Magic was a captive app of only one taxi company. The phone knows exactly where I am, and knows my credit card information. Upon my announcing “I want a cab to O’Hare”, within a minute or two, I get a message saying “I’m on the way” along with a driver name and cab number. The cab shows up, takes me where I wanted to go. There is no cash, and the driver never sees my credit card. The service logs when I asked for the cab, when I arrived. After arriving, I tap on the phone that I have arrived, and specify the tip – the driver is notified that he has been paid, and everyone is happy – but I’m still a captive of a single Taxi company and the driver is a captive of a system that rents him the cab by the day and forces him to drive nonstop just to cover the daily rental fee.<\/p>\n
Enter Uber – same basic idea, except your driver is just your average American driving their own car without a government license. They drive when they want. They may well be a commuter and going where you wanted anyhow.<\/p>\n
Insurance is handled by Uber. The pickup mechanism is similar, other than ANY uber driver can pick you up. Payment is handled by uber.<\/p>\n
The riders rate the driver on every trip. A driver who can’t understand English, gets lost, gets belligerant with the rider will quickly wash out. The driver also can rate the passenger. Were you intoxicated? Vomit in the back seat? Ask the drive to “wait, I’ll just be a minute”?<\/p>\n
The passenger has their phone number and credit card on file, along with their riding history – so it’s pretty low risk even for a female driver. Your profile contains a picture. Driver doesn’t like your looks – they are under no obligation to respond to your request.<\/p>\n
I would love not having a car if I had a comfort level that I could get a ride when I needed one. It’s not my relatives’ job to take me places, but as I grow older I’m less interested in driving my own car – but I generally don’t trust taxis.<\/p>\n
I have the app installed and registered and it appears to be available in Charlotte. I might have to give it a go.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Uber runs contrary to everything the government tries to scare you with. “We” must license and limit the number of taxicabs in a city because: – drivers won’t carry insurance – passengers will rob drivers (and rape female drivers) – … Continue reading