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"GetTaxi app ‘will end firms’ by poaching drivers"

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  1. chdot
    Admin

    "

    A NEW taxi app is launching an aggressive bid to take over the Edinburgh cab market amid claims it could “finish” established black cab firms in the city.

    GetTaxi, a mobile app that connects users directly with licensed cab drivers, has signed up 150 drivers in the month since it launched.

    It is now offering £5 cab rides to every passenger, claiming all rides within the city centre will cost just £5 regardless of traffic or time – with the firm footing the bill over that amount. The offer is expected to boost the number of people using the app, which in turn could help GetTaxi recruit more drivers.

    "

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/gettaxi-app-will-end-firms-by-poaching-drivers-1-3716883

    Should 'we' be 'worried'?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  2. wingpig
    Member

    It's not obvious whether Private Hire Cars will be involved - it sounds a bit like GetTaxi would provide a loophole by which a PHC, if they're allowed to be involved, could be directed to an address for a pickup which would otherwise have gone to a slightly-more-regulated black cab. A bit like the Addison Lee thing in London, where they can be called from out on the street via the app, getting around their non-hailability.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  3. ARobComp
    Member

    Yeah it's basically an Ub3r clone. I use Uber a lot in London as the service and the app are incredible and the company themselves are sorting their directors out after a bit of a bad start.

    The addison lee version of the app is so bar that I got really confused and ordered several taxis instead of one and ended up getting banned from using the app.

    To be fair I also managed to accidently order a taxi to an address in battersea while showing my SO how good the app was in person in Edinburgh...

    Posted 10 years ago #

  4. kaputnik
    Moderator

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/uber-taxi-app-boosts-private-hire-licence-bids-1-3788971

    "Uber" is to launch in Edinburgh soon, which is great news for those who enjoy sharing the roads with self-appointed "professional drivers" staring intently into their mobile phones.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  5. steveo
    Member

    And will the new situation differ from the current council appointed expert drivers?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  6. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Depends, private hire might be less likely to suddenly U-turn without warning to stop for a flag-down on the other side of the road, but they might also force such competition in the for-hire trade that drivers get ever more aggressive to anything "getting in their way".

    Posted 10 years ago #

  7. steveo
    Member

    The quality of driving from either of the licensed cab camps is so poor I can't imagine how this can make it worse.

    Does Uber have a rate my driver function?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  8. Stickman
    Member

    "Does Uber have a rate my driver function?"

    Yes.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  9. ARobComp
    Member

    Uber drivers have to retain a "rate my driver" rating of 4.5 stars or above to remain (not)employed.

    All the drivers I've ever used in London for Uber have been FAR better tahn any black cab or addison lee driver I've had the misfortune to come across.

    Plus the UX is so much better I don't really mind.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  10. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Uber drivers have to retain a "rate my driver" rating of 4.5 stars or above to remain (not)employed.


    I assume the rating is by the passenger, not by any cyclists they may or may not have tried to run off the road?

    Posted 10 years ago #

  11. wingpig
    Member

    What we need is some sort of 'flyby' plug-in to comparing a cab number/registration plus .gpx track or location/time with Über-logged journeys...

    Posted 10 years ago #

  12. steveo
    Member

    Yeah but bad driving, of any sort, may get a driver a bad rating. The driver may end up with a cyclist in the back while they try to kill one on their bike...

    Its better than we have now...

    Posted 10 years ago #

  13. ARobComp
    Member

    @kaputnik - yes I'd assume so but the feedback loop is so easy that I'd hope that more people would report a driver that they felt was not safe for other road users.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  14. dougal
    Member

    In the current situation, at least with black cabs and I think also with PHCs, I can email video to the licensing authority and they're good about everything. After forwarding my latest video the LA got the police involved. If I have to rely on the passenger to rate the driver badly then I'm less in control than I was.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  15. steveo
    Member

    Problem is, does anything actually happen to those drivers? Based on the standard of driving witnessed every day I suspect not.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  16. Stickman
    Member

    Do Uber cars display any Uber livery when working? If so, then situation is no different from reporting a black cab or other private hire. And I'd imagine Uber would be a lot more ready to get rid of bad drivers - they seem to have a queue of people wanting to join them.

    If they don't carry Uber livery then that's a problem...

    Posted 10 years ago #

  17. Morningsider
    Member

    Uber operations in Edinburgh can only be carried out using licensed taxis and private hire cars operated by licensed drivers. Maximum fares cannot exceed the maximum taxi fares specified by the Council - so no "surge pricing".

    These conditions were imposed by the Council when Uber's Edinburgh booking office licence was granted in March.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  18. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Do Uber cars display any Uber livery when working?

    Beyond the Private Hire Car / Taxi licence plates - no.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  19. ARobComp
    Member

    If a driver loses their high rating they can no longer work for Uber (unless they sit an exam on how to be a better driver - which costs them £) And even then I believe they have probation.

    I only have my experience to go on in London but the service from the app is incredible, the feedback loop great, pay straight out of your account NOT to the driver, and you have a layer of accountability if you think they went the long way.

    I'll be using them (on the 2 or so occasions a month I have to get a taxi and work isn't paying)

    Posted 10 years ago #

  20. chdot
    Admin

    https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&nv=1&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.lefigaro.fr/conjoncture/2015/06/25/20002-20150625LIVWWW00018-taxi-uber-greve.php&usg=ALkJrhjzrNE6v8RIPH5AokDPTRKp7d6QjA

    Posted 10 years ago #

  21. chdot
    Admin

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/taxi-app-boss-obliterating-traditional-service-1-3822451

    Posted 10 years ago #

  22. chdot
    Admin

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/uber-launch-in-capital-delayed-by-lack-of-drivers-1-3865927

    Posted 9 years ago #

  23. chdot
    Admin

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/taxi-app-uber-launches-in-edinburgh-today-1-3939326

    Posted 9 years ago #

  24. acsimpson
    Member

    Refreshing comments from the one of the Edinburgh taxi bosses. Basically saying It's only competition and he's happy with that.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  25. chdot
    Admin

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/uber-fares-skyrocket-on-hogmanay-1-3995151

    Posted 9 years ago #

  26. LaidBack
    Member

    Four times the normal fare and I thought Uber was about saving money...(!)

    Daughter actually cycled on her Raleigh 3 speed quite a bit on her Christmas visit to have more money for drinks avoid taxis.
    That though is not normal I know as the city is just one big splurge of errant walkers and abandoned cars so considered dangerous by some. Young hive gets parents to taxi!

    On Jan 1st she gave her South African visitor a lift on the shop's Helios tandem He thought it was as good as the overpriced Princes St fairground stuff and also useful for going places.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  27. Its_Me_Knees
    Member

    Daughter got stung to the tune of 80 quid on Uber at Hogmanay and it wasn't flagged to her on the app before she made the journey. Cue a wee social media 'campaign' which had black cab drivers retweeting like fury country-wide. Uber duly refunded the (ca. £60) excess. She's now bought a pair of cycling tights and gloves and is getting to grips with my MTB. I don't think the two events are unconnected...

    Posted 9 years ago #

  28. chdot
    Admin

    "She's now bought a pair of cycling tights and gloves and is getting to grips with my MTB."

    Sounds good.

    I'm sure you'll be encouraging her.

    She might find something useful here -

    http://cyclefridays.wordpress.com

    Posted 9 years ago #

  29. Its_Me_Knees
    Member

    @chdot: Interesting link. Those oft-touted reasons for not cycling I have found to be convincingly countered by reasoning that cycling to work builds a 'work-out' into your daily routine that you would otherwise only achieve by taking significant time out from your leisure hours. I find my cycling commutes add maybe an hour or two to my net commuting time each week (cf. car) but I reckon I'm expending about as much energy as around 5 games of five-a-side footy each week (based mostly on my perspiration, which I grant you may not be hugely accurate). That amount of 'fives' would easily take ten hours out of my weekly leisure time if you include playing, showering and travelling to and from the pitches. And my knees would be in bits (again). So the cycle commute is a win-win IMHO.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  30. The Boy
    Member

    ^^^ and that right here is always my ultimate counter.

    Spend money buying a car, insuring a car, running a car and then spend more money and time losing the weight gained from living a sedentary lifestyle.

    Or just build said exercise into your daily routine and spend the money saved on more cake. Thus negating any weight loss advantage...

    Posted 9 years ago #

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