27 ms·

Frankly, I don't see any appeal for Uber in Europe - here most Taxis can be called/booked online and dispatch a car to wherever you are within 5 minutes. I unde

by bitL 11y ago

Frankly, I don't see any appeal for Uber in Europe - here most Taxis can be called/booked online and dispatch a car to wherever you are within 5 minutes. I understand in the US this is difficult and is the main appeal of Uber. Here in Europe - well, we had this for around 15 years already, what's the point?

song 11y ago
I wish that were actually true in France and in Portugal...
jmspring 11y ago
It's an incredibly small niche, but for someone from the US traveling to Europe for business, Uber (and similar apps) are useful to remove the need for cash (i.e., use credit cards -- particularly corporate Amex) in booking a ride. I've used this in Paris and Munich in the last year.
- claudius 11y ago
  > useful to remove the need for cash (i.e., use credit cards -- particularly corporate Amex) in booking a ride. > I've used this in Paris and Munich in the last year. Did you manage in Munich without cash at all? My expectation would have been that you needed cash regardless to pay for (most) small things (coffee, bakeries etc. etc.). Credit or even debit card use is not very widespread, essentially the only time I use mine is at ATMs and to pay online for services that don’t support direct debit.
- alkonaut 11y ago
  There are still taxis in Europe in 2016 that don't take credit cards? I would have expected the opposite (lots of places don't take cash because of risks etc). If the taxis in your city don't take credit cards, or you can't book online, or there is no competition, then just petition your local authority to fix it before Uber comes along and "fixes" it.
- david-given 11y ago
  And removing the need for tipping, which is a nightmare for anyone who's not used to the local customs.
chrisseaton 11y ago
This is definitely not true in several European countries like France. But for me you missed the biggest point - credit cards. Some London black taxis take cards, some pretend their machines are broken, others don't take the cards in the first place which they will proudly tell you with a big user-unfriendly notice in their windows. The second two ruin it for all the black taxis, as I can't flag any taxi down unless I have actual physical money, which I hardly ever have, because I don't know which of the three it will be. Issues like price, time to pick up, knowledge of the area, even wanting to support local businesses etc are irrelevant if I can't pay them.
- Nursie 11y ago
  Black cabs are a law unto themselves. Well, quite a few laws really. I believe there are apps for calling non-Uber and non-Black Cab firms in London these days.
Wintamute 11y ago
I've lived in London for 15 years, difference in convenience comparing before Uber and after Uber is light and day. Me and many other Londoners I know will campaign to keep Uber operating at full potential in this city.

by bitL 11y ago

song 11y ago

I wish that were actually true in France and in Portugal...

jmspring 11y ago

It's an incredibly small niche, but for someone from the US traveling to Europe for business, Uber (and similar apps) are useful to remove the need for cash (i.e., use credit cards -- particularly corporate Amex) in booking a ride. I've used this in Paris and Munich in the last year.

claudius 11y ago
> useful to remove the need for cash (i.e., use credit cards -- particularly corporate Amex) in booking a ride. > I've used this in Paris and Munich in the last year. Did you manage in Munich without cash at all? My expectation would have been that you needed cash regardless to pay for (most) small things (coffee, bakeries etc. etc.). Credit or even debit card use is not very widespread, essentially the only time I use mine is at ATMs and to pay online for services that don’t support direct debit.
alkonaut 11y ago
There are still taxis in Europe in 2016 that don't take credit cards? I would have expected the opposite (lots of places don't take cash because of risks etc). If the taxis in your city don't take credit cards, or you can't book online, or there is no competition, then just petition your local authority to fix it before Uber comes along and "fixes" it.
david-given 11y ago
And removing the need for tipping, which is a nightmare for anyone who's not used to the local customs.

chrisseaton 11y ago

This is definitely not true in several European countries like France. But for me you missed the biggest point - credit cards. Some London black taxis take cards, some pretend their machines are broken, others don't take the cards in the first place which they will proudly tell you with a big user-unfriendly notice in their windows. The second two ruin it for all the black taxis, as I can't flag any taxi down unless I have actual physical money, which I hardly ever have, because I don't know which of the three it will be. Issues like price, time to pick up, knowledge of the area, even wanting to support local businesses etc are irrelevant if I can't pay them.

Nursie 11y ago
Black cabs are a law unto themselves. Well, quite a few laws really. I believe there are apps for calling non-Uber and non-Black Cab firms in London these days.

Wintamute 11y ago

I've lived in London for 15 years, difference in convenience comparing before Uber and after Uber is light and day. Me and many other Londoners I know will campaign to keep Uber operating at full potential in this city.