What's your Uber experience?

[Quickstatus]

I think a lot of thread topics become too narrow over time. I would not like to see multiple threads on Uber.

 

[QF WP]

I've had some great experiences in Perth so far this trip - 5 trips with 1 to go. But two cancellations in addition, both of which were highly unusual.

Setting the tone was my first Uber ordered at the airport upon arrival. After collecting my bags, walking away from baggage belts I ordered it (from I think Terminal 3/4, the QF terminal). It indicated that there was a specific shareriding area and I dropped my pointer there. As you can see, he went to the Virgin/International Terminal. The first phone call (he rang me) went something like this:

Him: I'm here at the share-rising area, where are you.
Me: I'm at the share-riding area but I think you at the wrong Terminal. You're nowhere near me according to the GPS
(It went on in the same vein for a bit before he "tried" to find me)

He made it back to the roundabouts then he went back to the Virgin Terminal and rang me back. He had the temerity to ask me to cancel the ride

Pity that I couldn't give him 1*, but I'm thinking of sending the story through to Uber. I don't think I got charged even though it was outside the 5 min rule.

 

[TomVexille]

Do send that to uber @QF WP. It'll help weed him out

 

[QF WP]

Sorry had forgotten to post the screenshot. Name and shame

 

[NoName]

Sorry had forgotten to post the screenshot. Name and shame

View attachment 118628

With a 4.55 rating he won’t be around much longer. Probably a former taxi driver. No doubt he’ll go straight back there. Uber’s loss will be the taxi industry’s gain.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

Uber Express POOL: Uber’s Lowest Cost Option Yet - One Mile at a Time (in Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, and Washington DC currently)

 

[QF WP]

Do send that to uber @QF WP. It'll help weed him out

What's the process to do that @TomVexille ? Can't see anything on the App (because I never had him pick me up)

 

[Pleb Status]

Uber is really starting to annoy...

The now completely 'hidden' surge pricing and drivers 'gaming' the 'surge' system are going to destroy their user base.

I ended up taking a taxi at the low end of estimate after a driver cancelled to successfully force up the 'surge'.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

It's good when you know what the taxi price usually is. I look at the Uber range and if more than a taxi, simply call a taxi. I've only needed to do that a couple of times.

I did recently have a lady Uber driver who was telling me she sympathised with the pax with surge pricing ... whilst she drove me the slowest route and took an unnecessary longer route thinking I was just another tourist who wouldn't know! She didn't fair well on the rating system for both blatantly lying to me and trying to scam me of a few lousy cents on the fare! Oh, and I almost forgot, she failed to look at the roundabout leaving CNS Dom and we very nearly collided with a car to which she was supposed to give way!

 

[Pushka]

Why would an Uber driver go straight through the middle of the CBD to get from Tullamarine to Punt Road? Never been that route before and it’s taking forever

 

[NoName]

Why would an Uber driver go straight through the middle of the CBD to get from Tullamarine to Punt Road? Never been that route before and it’s taking forever

GPS?
Why didn’t you tell him to go a different way?

 

[Daver6]

Why would an Uber driver go straight through the middle of the CBD to get from Tullamarine to Punt Road? Never been that route before and it’s taking forever

Perhaps the usual best route as traffic or other delays?

 

[Pushka]

GPS?
Why didn’t you tell him to go a different way?

I don’t know Melbourne well enough to know at what point he diverged.

 

[UP4014]

Autonomous Uber vehicle kills woman pushing bike across street

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I have the feeling "driverless" should not be pushed through a commercial venture.

 

[dajop]

I have the feeling "driverless" should not be pushed through a commercial venture.

It's a difficult one. If successful "driverless' vehicles should eliminate fatigue, drinking, inappropriate speeds for road conditions and also reduce reaction times. However, it's success and failure will be based on ability to cope with abnormal conditions in a safe as possible manner, including "obstacles" on the roadway such as cyclist, pedestrians, animals, fallen trees etc, and a range of different weather conditions.

On the other hand we were talking about driverless technology with a colleague the other day, whilst driving through the streets of Chennai, India. We both laughed.

 

[Forg]

Driverless vehicles apparently have the same problems as the rest of us, when pushbike-pushing pedestrians jump out right in front of the car at random locations ...

 

[Hvr]

I have the feeling "driverless" should not be pushed through a commercial venture.

If the commercial venture is appropriately held liable for incompetence in development then I think they would be the best way to introduce this technology.

All new technologies have costs including human. The key is to minimise these costs and develop a profit.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

If the commercial venture is appropriately held liable for incompetence in development then I think they would be the best way to introduce this technology.

I'm wondering who is funding these trials, Uber as the management company, or individuals as the vehicle owners, hiding behind a shelf company?
Let's face it, Uber apparently do not want the maintenance and running cost of their vehicle fleet and have handballed that off to the drivers.
Uber, according to the news reports, are losing money hand over fist, so do they actually have the inclination or wherewithal to be a good corporate citizen and fund any liability, or will they palm that off to the vehicle owners insurance. Then there is the insurance. Has third party insurance companies come to grips with driverless vehicles? Indeed, are they covered at all?

Seems to me that there are quite a few questions that need to be managed before a commercial venture takes this technology on the road. It seems the press about driverless cars is when someone is killed. Having said that, there is nothing to suggest that even if a driver was in control, the same accident would not occur. In fact, overall, the road toll may drop considerably in the long term, but I'd be far more trusting of driverless cars being rolled out with drivers until the bugs and faults are ironed out of the systems and that to me sounds like getting Joe average in them ferrying their family around first. At least the majority of them will be keen to ensure they are safe. A commercial venture is likely to be more keen in chasing profit and I fear "quirky" cars will be let loose before they're ready.

 

[Deleted member]

I'm wondering who is funding these trials, Uber as the management company, or individuals as the vehicle owners, hiding behind a shelf company?
Let's face it, Uber apparently do not want the maintenance and running cost of their vehicle fleet and have handballed that off to the drivers.
Uber, according to the news reports, are losing money hand over fist, so do they actually have the inclination or wherewithal to be a good corporate citizen and fund any liability, or will they palm that off to the vehicle owners insurance. Then there is the insurance. Has third party insurance companies come to grips with driverless vehicles? Indeed, are they covered at all?

Seems to me that there are quite a few questions that need to be managed before a commercial venture takes this technology on the road. It seems the press about driverless cars is when someone is killed. Having said that, there is nothing to suggest that even if a driver was in control, the same accident would not occur. In fact, overall, the road toll may drop considerably in the long term, but I'd be far more trusting of driverless cars being rolled out with drivers until the bugs and faults are ironed out of the systems and that to me sounds like getting Joe average in them ferrying their family around first. At least the majority of them will be keen to ensure they are safe. A commercial venture is likely to be more keen in chasing profit and I fear "quirky" cars will be let loose before they're ready.

Bear in mind, this driverless car revolution will coincide with EV revolution, so maintainance will be a fraction of the cost it is now. Electric motors have very few moving parts when compared to the internal combyengine.
I’m not a fan because I like driving, that said, I like some of the snazzy features like the ability of the car to detect when the driver is sleeping or distracted and will make corrections accordingly, another feature I like is the new cruise control option where the distance between you and the car in front is automatically adjusted for speed. I do wonder how old bangers like my 67 MGB will fare into the future and if they will even be allowed on the road eventually.