Uber is a relatively new passenger service that brings the entire idea of being taxied to modern day expectations. The service is not yet in Buffalo, but I’m hoping that it gets here soon. Why? Because Uber is highly efficient, and is gaining incredible traction in other cities.
Uber works like this. You download the Uber app, and then whenever you need a ride you just press a button. An Uber driver (the closest to you) gets pinged and is on his or her way to pick you up. These drivers are all around, and not just waiting at some remote garage that’s most likely all the way across town (or at the airport). Since you pre-register with Uber, they have your credit card info handy, so you don’t need to bring any cash, and there’s no need to tip the driver… really! Tips are not even accepted.
At the end of your Uber trip, you are asked to rate the driver. Was he or she courteous? Knowledgable? Efficient? Clean? The better the driver is ranked, the more referrals he or she gets from Uber. So it pays to be an overall buttoned up driver, or the next guy or girl will get all of the business. Some Uber drivers have been known to let the customer pick the music during the trip. Others have vast knowledge of the city where they work/live. Whatever it takes to make the customer happy.
Uber drivers don’t have to pay for expensive medallions. That means that more people are able to get into the game, and the rates can be kept low in order to compete with taxi services. As long as they are insured, and pass background checks, Uber partners up with drivers who use their own cars to get you around town – the better and cleaner the car, the better the driver will rank. Essentially, anyone with a decent car and good driving record can feasibly be an Uber driver and make some extra cash in the process. Uber eliminates the headaches caused by the middleman, and gives the drivers a certain freedom that is reflected in the experience.
As far as rates go, Uber is driven by market demand. On a normal day Uber costs about as much as a metered cab, but on days when the demand goes up (New Year’s Eve for example), the rates go up as well. Customers are able to see the fluctuating rates on the Uber app in the form of surge warnings. As long as the customer is aware that they are using the service during ‘high demand’ times, then they should be able to steer clear if they so wish. Customers should also know that peak times could be during a rain shower or snow storm. But even when the service spikes, there’s something to be said for paying a little extra for quality. In cities like New York, when it starts to rain, it’s tough to find a taxi… but chances are that you can land an Uber driver. In the end, it’s all about supply and demand.
Since launching in 2009, Uber is currently in 70 cities and 35 countries. Friends of mine that have used the service rave about it. So much in fact that it inspired me to post about the app and the service. Uber, please come to Buffalo.