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I'm 50/50 on this. I _am_ offended by the shady practises coming out around Uber, and would like to vote with my feet as it were - but in London UK, Uber has no

I'm 50/50 on this. I _am_ offended by the shady practises coming out around Uber, and would like to vote with my feet as it were - but in London UK, Uber has no real alternative. Lyft doesn't operate at all outside the US as far as I can tell - and I'm unaware of any other taxi firms which operate the same model here. So I'm left with using offical "Black Taxis", which don't have one central app to get hold of them (I think there are four different ones last time I checked), and the darlings of silicon roundabout will point out they cost a lot more than an Uber does for the same journey.

JelteF 10y ago
The same is true for Amsterdam
- Rafert 10y ago
  Well, there's UGo and a bunch of other apps/online services for taxis. The problem with all of them is that they're local and there are less drivers on it. For example in Montreal I wanted to try Téo (they use electric cars) but after five minutes of waiting for an available rider I gave up and ordered an Uber instead.
- qznc 10y ago
  Amsterdam seems to be covered by http://www.taxi.eu http://www.taxi.eu ?
- CaptainZapp 10y ago
  Why exactly do you need Uber in the city with arguably the best bike infrastructure in the world and no hills, whatsoever? Oh, bad weather? As far I recall Amsterdam has absolute stellar public transportation and if that doesn't cut it an occasional taxi ride is probably a valid option. Oh, there's no app (which I doubt)? What about, like in the old times, just give the dispatcher a ring? To each his own and you're responsible for maintaining your moral compass. I for one never used and never, ever will use Uber. No matter what. This company is morally so reprehensible that I could never justify throwing any money on them.
  - avar 10y ago
    I live in Amsterdam and mostly bike around, but sometimes you need to get a car for whatever reason. Uber's much cheaper. I've had a car from the airport into the city go as low as 17 EUR, usually around 25. Hailing a taxi costs at least 40 EUR. It's also very convenient to know the location of your arriving taxi for knowing when to leave a party and leaving out several minutes of explaining the route to the driver. It's also not uncommon for taxi drivers here to drive you a much longer route if they think you're not a local and don't know where they're going. It's happened to me, and several of my friends. Never happened with Uber. I've also found service with Uber to be much better. The first time I tried it here in Amsterdam the driver offered me a bottle of water and asked how I was doing. That had never happened to me once here in Amsterdam. The customer ability to rate drivers does wonders for service over traditional taxi companies.
  - sapphire_tomb 10y ago
    > Why exactly do you need Uber in the city with arguably the best bike infrastructure in the world and no hills, whatsoever? Because cycling when drunk is illegal.
- clubm8 10y ago
  Amsterdam has an amazing public transit system... plus you can basically walk from one end to the other.
- benk50 10y ago
  Abel seems similar https://rideabel.com https://rideabel.com
lucb1e 10y ago
It's interesting how you talk about Uber as being the one central app, while the "official" taxis have 4 different apps. Uber did marketing really well there, making sure they didn't end up as #5 but as "the one".
grey-area 10y ago
Hailo is very similar from a customer point of view in the UK. You can vote with your feet quite easily; sometimes having principles costs a little convenience/money/time. :shrug: Maybe a better lesson to draw from this sort of story though is to introspect on how men behave around the women we work with, what conduct we put up with which we shouldn't, and strive to make all our workplaces (not just Uber) a better place for people who are not white men.
- danpalmer 10y ago
  Hailo is for Black Cabs though, and they are significantly more (often 2-3x) the price of an Uber, probably because they are profitable.
buro9 10y ago
> in London UK, Uber has no real alternative Only one of the largest public transport systems, a large and growing cycle infrastructure, other private hire via large and local minicabs, black cabs and even motorbike taxis. London is one of the easiest places in the world to delete the Uber app, especially given that the average speed of a car frequently doesn't beat cycling or public transport when Central London traversals are involved.
- cleansy 10y ago
  > Only one of the largest public transport systems, a large and growing cycle infrastructure, other private hire via large and local minicabs, black cabs and even motorbike taxis. - regarding large: yes, but you also have only homeopathic coverage in some places, or wait 20 minutes for a bus (line 274, I look at you). - The cycle infrastructure only covers certain areas in London central, north of kings cross you're on your own. It's also dangerous as hell since the streets are so narrow, buses stop all the time in front of you.. etc. - black cabs, minicabs, taxis .. last time I rode with them it was 2x the usual uberX price I would be happy to turn to an alternative for Saturday night trips but all things above considered - uber has no real competitor in terms of price/value. Or at least non that I know of
  - nojvek 10y ago
    You do realize that Uber is heavily subsidized by their massive investments. Notably from the Saudi Arabians princes recently. They are literally burning other people's money in the hope that someday they'll get self driving cars and eat the world for lunch. Gm/cruise/lyft is well on their way to make this a reality next year. Tesla has their eyes set on their own network. Future doesn't look good for Uber. Sure you'll get cheap Uber rides now but their entire business model is not sustainable as it is.
Murkin 10y ago
There are quite a few, how about: https://gett.com/ https://gett.com/ ?
Beltiras 10y ago
Nobody said principles come cheap.
gaius 10y ago
Uber has no real alternative Addison Lee
danpalmer 10y ago
We have some pretty excellent public transport. National Rail isn't great when compared to its equivalent in Europe, but TfL is _excellent_ compared to many European cities, if a little more expensive. As someone who can afford Uber, I feel no real need to use it on a regular basis at all.
pier25 10y ago
I don't know about London, but in Mexico City it's really the only option. It sucks, but it's the reality. Even if you have your own car, there are now air pollution emergency measures in place which prevent cars (even new ones) to be used all days of the week. Public transport is crap. There is metro and metrobus, but coverage is really small. There are also small vans moving around the city but those are not safe to use. Also be ready to sweat like a pig in any of those options. Forget about using public transport when going to a business or work meeting. 80% of Taxis are 10+ years old Nissan Tsuru which are uncomfortable and more often than not you are not sure if you can trust the taximeter. Also many of these taxi drivers do not want to use apps like google maps or waze so you end up taking longer. They know better than Google. With Uber you can ask for a driver wherever you are and you know it will be safe, get a minimum comfort, you won't be overcharged, and you won't even need to exchange money with the driver.

JelteF 10y ago

The same is true for Amsterdam

Rafert 10y ago
Well, there's UGo and a bunch of other apps/online services for taxis. The problem with all of them is that they're local and there are less drivers on it. For example in Montreal I wanted to try Téo (they use electric cars) but after five minutes of waiting for an available rider I gave up and ordered an Uber instead.
qznc 10y ago
Amsterdam seems to be covered by http://www.taxi.eu http://www.taxi.eu ?
CaptainZapp 10y ago
Why exactly do you need Uber in the city with arguably the best bike infrastructure in the world and no hills, whatsoever? Oh, bad weather? As far I recall Amsterdam has absolute stellar public transportation and if that doesn't cut it an occasional taxi ride is probably a valid option. Oh, there's no app (which I doubt)? What about, like in the old times, just give the dispatcher a ring? To each his own and you're responsible for maintaining your moral compass. I for one never used and never, ever will use Uber. No matter what. This company is morally so reprehensible that I could never justify throwing any money on them.
- avar 10y ago
  I live in Amsterdam and mostly bike around, but sometimes you need to get a car for whatever reason. Uber's much cheaper. I've had a car from the airport into the city go as low as 17 EUR, usually around 25. Hailing a taxi costs at least 40 EUR. It's also very convenient to know the location of your arriving taxi for knowing when to leave a party and leaving out several minutes of explaining the route to the driver. It's also not uncommon for taxi drivers here to drive you a much longer route if they think you're not a local and don't know where they're going. It's happened to me, and several of my friends. Never happened with Uber. I've also found service with Uber to be much better. The first time I tried it here in Amsterdam the driver offered me a bottle of water and asked how I was doing. That had never happened to me once here in Amsterdam. The customer ability to rate drivers does wonders for service over traditional taxi companies.
- sapphire_tomb 10y ago
  > Why exactly do you need Uber in the city with arguably the best bike infrastructure in the world and no hills, whatsoever? Because cycling when drunk is illegal.
clubm8 10y ago
Amsterdam has an amazing public transit system... plus you can basically walk from one end to the other.
benk50 10y ago
Abel seems similar https://rideabel.com https://rideabel.com

lucb1e 10y ago

It's interesting how you talk about Uber as being the one central app, while the "official" taxis have 4 different apps. Uber did marketing really well there, making sure they didn't end up as #5 but as "the one".

grey-area 10y ago

Hailo is very similar from a customer point of view in the UK. You can vote with your feet quite easily; sometimes having principles costs a little convenience/money/time. :shrug: Maybe a better lesson to draw from this sort of story though is to introspect on how men behave around the women we work with, what conduct we put up with which we shouldn't, and strive to make all our workplaces (not just Uber) a better place for people who are not white men.

danpalmer 10y ago
Hailo is for Black Cabs though, and they are significantly more (often 2-3x) the price of an Uber, probably because they are profitable.

buro9 10y ago

> in London UK, Uber has no real alternative Only one of the largest public transport systems, a large and growing cycle infrastructure, other private hire via large and local minicabs, black cabs and even motorbike taxis. London is one of the easiest places in the world to delete the Uber app, especially given that the average speed of a car frequently doesn't beat cycling or public transport when Central London traversals are involved.

cleansy 10y ago
> Only one of the largest public transport systems, a large and growing cycle infrastructure, other private hire via large and local minicabs, black cabs and even motorbike taxis. - regarding large: yes, but you also have only homeopathic coverage in some places, or wait 20 minutes for a bus (line 274, I look at you). - The cycle infrastructure only covers certain areas in London central, north of kings cross you're on your own. It's also dangerous as hell since the streets are so narrow, buses stop all the time in front of you.. etc. - black cabs, minicabs, taxis .. last time I rode with them it was 2x the usual uberX price I would be happy to turn to an alternative for Saturday night trips but all things above considered - uber has no real competitor in terms of price/value. Or at least non that I know of
- nojvek 10y ago
  You do realize that Uber is heavily subsidized by their massive investments. Notably from the Saudi Arabians princes recently. They are literally burning other people's money in the hope that someday they'll get self driving cars and eat the world for lunch. Gm/cruise/lyft is well on their way to make this a reality next year. Tesla has their eyes set on their own network. Future doesn't look good for Uber. Sure you'll get cheap Uber rides now but their entire business model is not sustainable as it is.

Murkin 10y ago

There are quite a few, how about: https://gett.com/ https://gett.com/ ?

Beltiras 10y ago

Nobody said principles come cheap.

gaius 10y ago

Uber has no real alternative Addison Lee

danpalmer 10y ago

We have some pretty excellent public transport. National Rail isn't great when compared to its equivalent in Europe, but TfL is _excellent_ compared to many European cities, if a little more expensive. As someone who can afford Uber, I feel no real need to use it on a regular basis at all.

pier25 10y ago

I don't know about London, but in Mexico City it's really the only option. It sucks, but it's the reality. Even if you have your own car, there are now air pollution emergency measures in place which prevent cars (even new ones) to be used all days of the week. Public transport is crap. There is metro and metrobus, but coverage is really small. There are also small vans moving around the city but those are not safe to use. Also be ready to sweat like a pig in any of those options. Forget about using public transport when going to a business or work meeting. 80% of Taxis are 10+ years old Nissan Tsuru which are uncomfortable and more often than not you are not sure if you can trust the taximeter. Also many of these taxi drivers do not want to use apps like google maps or waze so you end up taking longer. They know better than Google. With Uber you can ask for a driver wherever you are and you know it will be safe, get a minimum comfort, you won't be overcharged, and you won't even need to exchange money with the driver.