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I think you've really hit on one of the reasons that cab driver protests fall on deaf ears: nobody likes cabbies. In my experience, Uber's cars are cleaner, I

by jedrek 11y ago

I think you've really hit on one of the reasons that cab driver protests fall on deaf ears: nobody likes cabbies. In my experience, Uber's cars are cleaner, I have a lot less trouble paying (had a card declined once, but I was informed after my ride - no awkward interaction with the driver) and - let's be real - most modern cab drivers use the same GPS the Uber guys do. On the other hand, anybody I know who's taken cabs regularly has had issues with them. I've had drivers try to rip me off in Greece, America, Poland and Austria. Not turn on meters, switch meters to a higher rate, cranked up meters. I've had cabs that stank so bad we had to drive with the windows open in the winter. Cabs that put out black smoke behind me. Cabs that canceled 2 minutes before they were supposed to show, leaving me in a panic. A few years ago here in Poland, if a driver made up to some amount, he had a simplified (easier to cheat) tax code. So lots of drivers stopped driving in late November... which meant getting a cab around Christmas was almost impossible. Who the hell would want to catch a cab around Christmas/NYE anyway, right? /s With Uber I take my ride, get out, get an email with the route and price I paid. I can dispute the route (never had to), I have some sort of evidence, even if me and the driver get in an argument. Thing is, I've never had that issue with them. Ever.

Yhippa 11y ago
This is such a good point. Uber has normalized the taxi experience. Hailing cabs in different cities across the world can be stressful. I remember the streets in Abu Dhabi being huge and getting a taxi was pretty competitive at certain times of the day and hoping that one would even come by. I love that I don't have to deal with dispatchers and how wildly inaccurate they were (almost always on the late side). In fact if a city had Uber service I would be potentially more likely to visit knowing that getting around would be that easy and not creepy like you mentioned.

by jedrek 11y ago

Yhippa 11y ago

This is such a good point. Uber has normalized the taxi experience. Hailing cabs in different cities across the world can be stressful. I remember the streets in Abu Dhabi being huge and getting a taxi was pretty competitive at certain times of the day and hoping that one would even come by. I love that I don't have to deal with dispatchers and how wildly inaccurate they were (almost always on the late side). In fact if a city had Uber service I would be potentially more likely to visit knowing that getting around would be that easy and not creepy like you mentioned.