5 ms·

Could someone from Norway provide a comment on this? How credible is e24.no?

by d33 10y ago

thomasnno 10y ago
Norwegian here. I belive that e24.no is highly credible, I have been reading it for a number of years. The news of the harsh penalties for these uber drivers have also been mentioned in the radio news.
- thatwasunusual 10y ago
  Harsh?
  - mschuster91 10y ago
    I'd certainly classify a driver license revocation as "harsh". Even more so if it's complex/impossible to get it back...
abrkn 10y ago
Norwegian here. dn.no is more credible and appears to be running a similar story[1] [1] https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dn.no%2Fnyheter%2F2017%2F03%2F07%2F1738%2FUber%2Foslo-politiet-aksjonerte-mot-uber-sjaforer&edit-text= https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&pr...
- mreftel 10y ago
  ...with e24 as the sole source. Not saying it's not true, just that dn.no repeating it is not /that/ much of confirmation.
  - abrkn 10y ago
    I stand corrected
thatwasunusual 10y ago
I'm from Norway, and e24 is credible enough in this particular case. I'd like to shed some background on why the story, though: In Norway, transporting passengers is extremely regulated. As in most other countries, taxi drivers need to have a license, go through certain tests etc., to be allowed to transport passengers. The problem is that Uber (in Norway) won't cooperate with the government in regards to a number of standards we have; it goes all from how the drivers are paid (taxation) to (more importantly) if the insurance covers any damages other than the car and/or its owner, not the passenger(s). Also, how well do Uber do background checks on their drivers? I guess it's easy to give a negative rating on a driver after you've been raped, or hit in the head with a hammer, but - hey - that could happen to anyone? I've lived in San Francisco, and used Uber, and I must say that I feel a lot safer in a taxi. I know that their insurance will cover me in case something happens, even though my Norwegian travel insurance is worth more than gold in US hospitals (tried that, different discussion). I know that my taxi driver represents a company more than an Uber driver represents him-/herself. Said that, I've met some fantastic Uber drivers over the years, and I hope that - over time - Uber (and the likes) and the licensed taxi/cab business can meet in the middle somewhere. The priority shouldn't be price, IMO, but the safety of the passengers AND the drivers.
- gtirloni 10y ago
  I've been in a few Lyft and Uber rides and at some point I just stopped counting how many traffic laws were being broken (red light, no turn signal, improperly overtaking another car, driving on the bike lane to cut traffic, turning left wher eits was prohibited, etc). Never mind the loud music too. I don't have the same careless experience when I take a taxi. Of course, this is anecdata only, but the fact that there are virtually no requirements make me worried. I only take Uber/Lyft if someone else is ordering it (when we're in a group), otherwise I'll find other options with actual professional drivers or public transportation.
  - blakes 10y ago
    That's interesting, because anecdotally I have had essentially the opposite experience. Taxis in my area (Seattle) drive fast and loose, at least they did 4 to 5 years ago. No signals, always about 10MPH over the limit. Music always on, not loud, but usually always on. Lyft/Uber drivers in the area were/are a little more gentle (the ones that weren't taxi drivers before). Interestingly, sometimes I'll get a Lyft driver that asks if I care about how fast I need to get to my destination and how I'd like them to drive. Also, I took taxis in Prague during vacation, and that system is amazing and I'd choose those taxi services over Uber/Lyft any day. Clean, quick, stupid simple, and the drivers were pros.

Could someone from Norway provide a comment on this? How credible is e24.no?

by d33 10y ago

Could someone from Norway provide a comment on this? How credible is e24.no?

Norwegian here. I belive that e24.no is highly credible, I have been reading it for a number of years. The news of the harsh penalties for these uber drivers have also been mentioned in the radio news.

thatwasunusual 10y ago
Harsh?
- mschuster91 10y ago
  I'd certainly classify a driver license revocation as "harsh". Even more so if it's complex/impossible to get it back...

abrkn 10y ago

Norwegian here. dn.no is more credible and appears to be running a similar story[1] [1] https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dn.no%2Fnyheter%2F2017%2F03%2F07%2F1738%2FUber%2Foslo-politiet-aksjonerte-mot-uber-sjaforer&edit-text= https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&pr...

mreftel 10y ago
...with e24 as the sole source. Not saying it's not true, just that dn.no repeating it is not /that/ much of confirmation.
- abrkn 10y ago
  I stand corrected

thatwasunusual 10y ago

I'm from Norway, and e24 is credible enough in this particular case. I'd like to shed some background on why the story, though: In Norway, transporting passengers is extremely regulated. As in most other countries, taxi drivers need to have a license, go through certain tests etc., to be allowed to transport passengers. The problem is that Uber (in Norway) won't cooperate with the government in regards to a number of standards we have; it goes all from how the drivers are paid (taxation) to (more importantly) if the insurance covers any damages other than the car and/or its owner, not the passenger(s). Also, how well do Uber do background checks on their drivers? I guess it's easy to give a negative rating on a driver after you've been raped, or hit in the head with a hammer, but - hey - that could happen to anyone? I've lived in San Francisco, and used Uber, and I must say that I feel a lot safer in a taxi. I know that their insurance will cover me in case something happens, even though my Norwegian travel insurance is worth more than gold in US hospitals (tried that, different discussion). I know that my taxi driver represents a company more than an Uber driver represents him-/herself. Said that, I've met some fantastic Uber drivers over the years, and I hope that - over time - Uber (and the likes) and the licensed taxi/cab business can meet in the middle somewhere. The priority shouldn't be price, IMO, but the safety of the passengers AND the drivers.

gtirloni 10y ago
I've been in a few Lyft and Uber rides and at some point I just stopped counting how many traffic laws were being broken (red light, no turn signal, improperly overtaking another car, driving on the bike lane to cut traffic, turning left wher eits was prohibited, etc). Never mind the loud music too. I don't have the same careless experience when I take a taxi. Of course, this is anecdata only, but the fact that there are virtually no requirements make me worried. I only take Uber/Lyft if someone else is ordering it (when we're in a group), otherwise I'll find other options with actual professional drivers or public transportation.
- blakes 10y ago
  That's interesting, because anecdotally I have had essentially the opposite experience. Taxis in my area (Seattle) drive fast and loose, at least they did 4 to 5 years ago. No signals, always about 10MPH over the limit. Music always on, not loud, but usually always on. Lyft/Uber drivers in the area were/are a little more gentle (the ones that weren't taxi drivers before). Interestingly, sometimes I'll get a Lyft driver that asks if I care about how fast I need to get to my destination and how I'd like them to drive. Also, I took taxis in Prague during vacation, and that system is amazing and I'd choose those taxi services over Uber/Lyft any day. Clean, quick, stupid simple, and the drivers were pros.