Dr. Furface
One small step for me
I know a guy who used to drive for Addison Lee who left them to drive an Uber and that's pretty much his view too, he's much happier.
TfL denied Uber operator license, ride hailing service wins on appeal (Sept 2020)
- Thread starter bemused
- Start date
Spymaster
Plastic Paddy
Fair enough. I used to be a reasonably regular user of black cabs and can honestly say that I've only taken a handful of them since Uber came on the scene. For me the best thing about Uber hasn't been the cost, but the convenience of knowing exactly how long I'll be waiting and how much the journey will cost in advance. And of course, not having to have cash on me. Black cabs have lost my business and pretty much everyone else's that I know, and we're not unique.
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maomao
普費斯
Last Uber driver I got worked for a few companies. He'd done an aiport transfer to EC1 for about 50 quid for one company, then set the Uber app for Romford (he lives in Chadwell Heath) and done another 40 quid on the way home. In the old days companies would sanction drivers heavily for refusing a job in the wrong direction at close of play. AL and Uber changed that.
phillm
Trolling through Life (TM)
Same here and they like the fact it is a level playing field rather than the 'guvnor' in the cab office creaming off the best fares for his croneys. Fuck the black cabs - I've had so much shit off them over the years with not going south - Uber will win in the end I'm sure.
I feel strongly that buses in London cause a lot of problems not least of which being massive pollution they spew into the air we breath, thus helping to contribute to the 20,000 premature deaths each year from poor air quality.
I also can't think of another way to move the amount of people they do for the low cost. Bloody stupid wankers who got rid of all the trams.
Dr. Furface
One small step for me
There's nothing much worse than sitting in a black cab in traffic and watching the cost rising and nothing you can do about it (well there are worse things, but you know what I mean!)
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
does the amount of people they shift compensate for the fumes they spill out, compared to cars?
The Octagon
Stop...Hammertime
Use them occasionally out in Surrey as the public transport is slowly getting shittier and my gf uses them a lot to get to the hospital (they've cancelled the only useful bus route to the hospital, meaning a journey that used to take 20ish minutes would now take well over an hour for her, as she literally can't drive or bike it).
Most of the drivers I've spoken to come from miles away (Essex) to work the local area, most were more than happy with the flexibility / pay, but perhaps they don't want to risk saying anything that could be fed back via the rating tool?
On the other hand I've been in a few where the drivers have talked / bragged about working looong hours and nearly falling asleep at the wheel (that was comforting while I was still their passenger), so if this forces safer / fairer policies by Uber it won't be a bad thing.
Most of the drivers I've spoken to come from miles away (Essex) to work the local area, most were more than happy with the flexibility / pay, but perhaps they don't want to risk saying anything that could be fed back via the rating tool?
On the other hand I've been in a few where the drivers have talked / bragged about working looong hours and nearly falling asleep at the wheel (that was comforting while I was still their passenger), so if this forces safer / fairer policies by Uber it won't be a bad thing.
Spymaster
Plastic Paddy
How much do Uber drivers make out of the fares?
I dunno, I still take the odd black cab for the sake of nostalgia. It gives me a warm feeling being driven the slowest route possible by a racist West Ham fan.
Of course, but there are comparatively few private cars on the road in Central London. Its overwhelmingly buses, cabs and Uber.
maomao
普費斯
Pretty sure it's currently 75%. It was 90% when they started. 75% is way more than any other firm offers on account work.
Crispy
The following psytrance is baṉned: All
They've started introducing all-electric buses on some routes, but there's only a commitment to have 300 by 2020, out of a fleet of ~10,000.
Uber: Crap/Not-Crap?
I've been pretty anti-uber from the get go. Doesn't mean I don't feel bad for someone who may be about to lose their livelihood.
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
this is why more people should consider the bus instead of Uber, even if they can afford it (though Uber is very expensive compared to buses - I would continue to use buses even if I had money as I couldn't justify an £8 fare compared to a bus fare)
bemused
Well-Known Member
Mind control drugs in the lasagne.
maomao
普費斯
It shouldn't have been a problem. The other operators would happily take back the drivers and the work. However the new operators license fee structure means the cost of an opeartors license will increase from about 4 grand a year to over 30 thousand a year once the firm has over a hundred drivers on their books means firms will be reluctant to flood their circuits with drivers straight away.
maomao
普費斯
I would never get a cab to work on a Sunday morning. I'd rather take the bus. However there are situations where people need a quick car. Yesterday afternoon the trains went silly and my wife's one didn't stop at our stop. If I hadn't got her a car she would have been over half an hour late picking up our daughter from nursery.
binka
!!!!!!!!!
I use Uber in Manchester all the time. I am aware they are a shit company however I would imagine you'd struggle to find any private hire firm not run by dodgy unpleasant cunts.
Every driver I've asked has said they like working for Uber, many private hire drivers prefer it - they feel more in control, less hassle especially late at night and having to deal with cash, not having to pay a flat fee like they would to a private hire firm.
I very rarely used private hire or black cabs before Uber so they haven't lost any business for me. The last time I tried to get a black can he said I wasn't going far enough for it to be worth his while.
People have said use public transport. Well buses in Manchester are a right rip off - if two of us are going into town it's cheaper to get Uber there and back (about £4 each way) than get two returns on the bus(£4.30 each for a day rider) Fuck Stagecoach.
Every driver I've asked has said they like working for Uber, many private hire drivers prefer it - they feel more in control, less hassle especially late at night and having to deal with cash, not having to pay a flat fee like they would to a private hire firm.
I very rarely used private hire or black cabs before Uber so they haven't lost any business for me. The last time I tried to get a black can he said I wasn't going far enough for it to be worth his while.
People have said use public transport. Well buses in Manchester are a right rip off - if two of us are going into town it's cheaper to get Uber there and back (about £4 each way) than get two returns on the bus(£4.30 each for a day rider) Fuck Stagecoach.
Yeah I hear this a lot about buses outside of the capital. Basically they just appear to be a deregulated capitalists wet dream.
Despite Boris Johnson relentlessly raising the price they are still pretty decent value in London, especially if you're going to be on it a long time.
Dogsauce
I’ve got Skol but I’m not a Scholar
I'm sure Uber will give their drivers a generous severance payment. That'll definitively happen.
cupid_stunt
Chief seagull hater & farmerbarleymow's nemesis.
The license fee structure seems very unfair to me, 100 cars £4,403pa, 101 -1000 cars £33,304pa, 1001 cars £33,304 plus just £14 per car over 1000. Surely a flat fee per car would be more logical?
Proposed changes to private hire operator licence fees
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
We have £3 fares in Leeds and not much coverage of many residential areas. Several companies operating too.
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
beesonthewhatnow
going deaf for a living
What a ridiculous decision. London just got even worse 
maomao
普費斯
It will hit certain firms (like the one I work for) very hard as we have adapted to the post-Uber world by supplementing our shrinking full-time fleet with a long list of owner drivers all of whom we have to keep records on, do background checks etc., just like any other driver. There's at least a dozen such companies in London that are fifty-sixty car companies with three or four hundred drivers on their books. 90% of those drivers are Uber Exec drivers as well.
What a ridiculous decision. London just got even worse
Why a bad decision?
Did you read the stuff about Greyball? Or is this just an inconvenience to you?
bemused
Well-Known Member
When I travel for work I always get an Uber to the train station so I don't need to lug my suitcase on the bus.
maomao
普費斯
What a ridiculous decision. London just got even worse
It's not a ridiculous decision at all. They've repeatedly and flagrantly flouted licensing regulations (which have been particularly strict in London since 2003). What kind of licensing authority would ignore that?
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