Uber Review

[jastel]

You wont get in trouble from the Transport Department or insurance companies if you take petrol money from your mother, (or anyone else), loan a friend your car, car pool with mates or even pick up a total stranger unless you decide to start a BUSINESS of it.
That's when the line gets crossed.

It really does sound like you need Uber down there in Melbourne, I hope Fels is more successful than he was up here.
For every horrible taxi driver story you have, I will have 2 horrible customer stories so we really could go on forever.

Neither of us are going to change the others mind so I am going to move onto the next topic unless I hear something concrete from government on the issue to share.

 

[penegal]

You wont get in trouble from the Transport Department or insurance companies if you take petrol money from your mother, (or anyone else), loan a friend your car, car pool with mates or even pick up a total stranger unless you decide to start a BUSINESS of it.
That's when the line gets crossed.

I would have to read the legislation again to be sure... But either way, my post was tongue in cheek.

It really does sound like you need Uber down there in Melbourne, I hope Fels is more successful than he was up here.
For every horrible taxi driver story you have, I will have 2 horrible customer stories so we really could go on forever.

Indeed. The Melbourne taxi industry is really bad. There certainly are some fantastic drivers, but there are a lot of bad ones.

Touting is out of control. The number of times I have been refused a ride is ridiculous. Unfortunately the VTD / police / government don't do anything about it. I fear that my regular reports of taxi numbers and time/places fall on deaf ears.

I don't mind if a driver is an immigrant worker, but they should probably learn some of the key landmarks of the city they are driving taxis in. Even non-Melbourne based non-sporting fans know what the MCG looks like and where it is. It is pathetic that taxi drivers don't...

Neither of us are going to change the others mind so I am going to move onto the next topic unless I hear something concrete from government on the issue to share.

I don't disagree with you on the legal points.

The difference between us is that I am happy to use UberX in spite of the regulatory situation.


As recently as the 1950s it was illegal for African Americans to enter public buses from the front door and sit in certain designated "White" seats... Not all laws should be blindly followed.

 

[Danger]

I used Uber for the first time yesterday in LA. The estimated fare was $22-$30 but the total fare was $47, reduced to $37 with my first ride discount.

Does the fare quote take into account discounts that would be applied to your journey? That is, in my case, is the actual fare only $7 over the maximum fare estimate, or is it actually $17?

 

[OzEire]

To add a data point in the discussion, I recently took an early morning cab ride from Bris CBD to the airport and spent much of the ride KEEPING THE DRIVER AWAKE after I noticed his eyelids drooping and taking long blinks.

Instinct was to have him drop me off and get another ride, but I was in the middle of an expressway/tunnel stretch and was already late'ish for the flight.

No way can anyone convince me that the Aus taxi industry would not benefit from the existential threat of Uber, etc. maybe they will finally wake up to themselves (pun intended) and fix the multitude of problems in the industry and actually compete with Uber. If taxis were so much better, or even comparative, Uber wouldn't be able to break in to the market.

 

[N860CR]

That's my theory as well.

For as good as uber is, it's nowhere near as convenient as a cab. There's no guarantee there's a car around, potentially a long wait and then the hassle of being found by the driver in busy cbd areas.

A cab is far easier to flag down and just get in - but the service is so poor and the cost so high it makes uber the better option.

Fixs the problems with the cabs and they won't feel much of a hit from uber. Continue as they are now and cough and moan about some competition and they will start to suffer.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

But guys do not forget the fact that ALL Uber services are operating ILLEGALLY - action is being taken and you can expect more - it is ILLEGAL in ALL States and Territories in Australia 'to carry passengers for hire or reward without the required licencing' - again don't shoot the messenger - just stating facts.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

On a recent cab ride in Melbourne my driver mounted the curb as he fell asleep at the wheel, and then swore at me for using card to pay at the end of the journey. There is no stopping uber with cough like this going on in the taxi industry

 

[DeKa]

Uber launched in Adelaide this morning, and I happened to need a cab so used it. I was the driver's first Uber booking, and he was very excited which was nice to see. The trip was quick and efficient, as usual.

 

[DeKa]

But guys do not forget the fact that ALL Uber services are operating ILLEGALLY - action is being taken and you can expect more - it is ILLEGAL in ALL States and Territories in Australia 'to carry passengers for hire or reward without the required licencing' - again don't shoot the messenger - just stating facts.

No they're not. It's only uberX, (ride share) which is questionable - the other services are just a booking method for professionally licensed drivers of cabs or hire cars.

 

[blackcat20]

But guys do not forget the fact that ALL Uber services are operating ILLEGALLY - action is being taken and you can expect more - it is ILLEGAL in ALL States and Territories in Australia 'to carry passengers for hire or reward without the required licencing' - again don't shoot the messenger - just stating facts.

Pretty sure Uber Black drivers are properly licensed.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

No they're not. It's only uberX, (ride share) which is questionable - the other services are just a booking method for professionally licensed drivers of cabs or hire cars.

Sorry my bad - I did mean UberX - I assumed posters were not complaining about the booking service to the licensed drivers of cabs and hire cars. I guess we will never hear any complaints about the licensed services?

 

[amaroo]

Sorry my bad - I did mean UberX - I assumed posters were not complaining about the booking service to the licensed drivers of cabs and hire cars. I guess we will never hear any complaints about the licensed services?

UberX is a pox that should be eradicated. I'm no fan of smelly, rude cabbies that have zero knowledge of their area of service, however given the horrendous price the state Gov charge for taxi plates it's only fair that everyone competes with the same CODB platform.

 

[penegal]

Indeed, it is just UberX that is contentious.

UberTaxi, UberBlack, UberSUV, UberLux, etc are just matching licensed hire car drivers with customers.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

UberX is a pox that should be eradicated. I'm no fan of smelly, rude cabbies that have zero knowledge of their area of service, however given the horrendous price the state Gov charge for taxi plates it's only fair that everyone competes with the same CODB platform.

The VIC government has had years and years of complaints and knowing full well just how bad the industry is but they've essentially done nothing about it. If uberX is going to finally get them to do something then good, but in the mean time I will be using uberX on a regular basis.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

For The Record: I do not and never have had an association or involvement in the taxi industry - BUT - my family did own a bus line from 1945 to 1990 - both myself and my father held executive positions in the Bus Proprietors Association of Victoria so I am very sympathetic to the commercial passenger transport sector. I am still in regular contact with high level players in that industry and who are in turn in regular contact with the senior players in the taxi industry as well as the State Government - make no mistake Uber and other potential players are well and truly at the forefront of the minds of all parties.

I have had recent social discussions with some friends from the past and one passed on to me correspondence they have received in last week from Vic State Govt minister - FYI I will cut and paste some of the content here:

The Victorian Government does not endorse or recommend the Uber ridesharing app.

Earlier this year the Victorian Transport Minister, Hon Terry Mulder MP, warned people about driving others around for a fee in their own car using the in the 'ride-sharing' feature on the smartphone app Uber.

In Victoria, citizens providing taxi and hire car services without the appropriate accreditation are in breach of the Victorian Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983. Fines of up to $2500 apply if illegal drivers are detected by the Taxi Services Commission.

There have already been many fines issued to drivers that are not accredited to drive for a fee.

The TSC will continue to issue fines where this practice occurs.

Again please don't shoot the messenger - but you are in laa laa land if you think this system and the multitude of copycats that will spring up will be allowed to continue - thin edge of the wedge - it will be addressed.

 

[amaroo]

How many AFF'ers would travel with an airline that wasn't licensed or regulated? Taxis, hire cars etc are no different....IMHO.

 

[Hvr]

<snip>

Again please don't shoot the messenger - but you are in laa laa land if you think this system and the multitude of copycats that will spring up will be allowed to continue - thin edge of the wedge - it will be addressed.

Like King Canute trying to stop the tide change is inevitable. It has been said that there are none so blind as those who will not see. The taxi industry in its current format is for the benefit of the owners not the customers.

That it has been allowed to continue for so long is due to its undue influence on legislators. Taking a taxi is fraught with danger for passengers with a very real risk of credit card fraud and having a driver who may not be licensed and is using another person's identification.

Unroadworth taxis are generally the norm rather than the exception. I see so many taxis with only one headlight at night it is frightening to think an owner would even consider letting them on the road.

The CabCharge rort of a 10% surcharge was pure profit taking and that it has been reduced to 5% is just a sham.

The taxi industry regulating and investigating itself has failed and needs proper independent review.

All industries face disruptive technologies and new ways of working. The taxi industry is long due for a shake up and we desperately need Uber and other companies to shake up a stale, and inefficient industry. It currently makes the old two airline policy look innovative and far thinking.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Jeez I'm glad I included the bit about not shooting the messenger!

 

[penegal]

How many AFF'ers would travel with an airline that wasn't licensed or regulated? Taxis, hire cars etc are no different....IMHO.

There are plenty of airlines which are licensed which I wouldn't fly with!!!

But yes, I do get the point.

 

[penegal]

I don't think it's quite *that* bad Hvr... I still feel safer getting a yellow taxi home instead of walking or catching a late night train.