Uber or Lyft how to use ? Are they good?

[cdaigle430]

We use Uber all the time in Brazil. Cheap, reliable and safe even there-less crooked and cheaper than taxi cabs. What I like about Uber especially is the set fee-a taxi costs whatever the meter says at the end of the trip and they can take the long way. I also cant speak english when in a taxi because they charge us gringos more. Uber I can drive across the city of Rio for 3 american dollars.

Have not tried it here in the US because I live in the country and dont see many Ubers. The App works everywhere.

 

[cdaigle430]

How do they get away with running what is essentially an unlicensed, unregulated taxi service? There's gotta be some loophole in the law or I'm sure they would have been shut down by now. I know the "explanation" is that these drivers "just happened to be going your way" and are giving you a ride and that the fee is just "sharing expenses", but we all know that's BS.

Its ALL in the Uber App-thats the secret. To sign up as a driver you MUST meet their background checks and prerequisite for the car you own. You are your own boss and you do share your own car with others who pay you a nominal set fee. The cool thing is these drivers are all about ratings and they bend over backwards to please you for the perfect rating. No dispatcher to call and the Uber app lets the driver know exactly where you are and lets you know where your driver is.

 

[Zick]

Used Uber quite a few times and all went really well except for one time in Florida. Got a ride from someone who didn't have a valid license (got stopped at the Port security) and we almost had to hoof it to the boat.

We used it a lot in Vegas and it was great as there were so many Uber drivers, they were there in 30 seconds after placing the ride. Smaller cities/town are little harder to find uber drivers close by.

I like that w/ the app you can see exactly where the driver is and how long until they show up and there is no cash exchange (all paid via the app/cc).

 

[prichard]

I guess my grandfather was an uber driver before there was the internet. He lived in an elderly apartment building and drove all the ladies to hair salon, Dr, etc. To avoid trouble for not being a licensed taxi he just told then to leave what they could or wanted to on the back seat when they got out.

 

[BoylermanCT]

I use Uber on most my business trips. Been very pleased.

I would be very upset at these ride sharing companies if I ran a taxi and had to pay a couple hundred thousand for a taxi medallion in NYC and then a bunch of yahoos in Priuses show up and complete for free!

 

[quicksandfarmer]

I use Uber on most my business trips. Been very pleased.

I would be very upset at these ride sharing companies if I ran a taxi and had to pay a couple hundred thousand for a taxi medallion in NYC and then a bunch of yahoos in Priuses show up and complete for free!

NYC taxi medallions were selling for over a million dollars when Uber started. Quite a bit less now.

 

[California]

I read somewhere the NYC medallion system was begun because in the early days of cars, NYC became so full of unregulated cabs that the traffic congestion was worse than today. Limiting competition was needed to get the traffic under control.


Here's an article about how these services are re-creating that situation.

Studies are increasingly clear: Uber, Lyft congest cities

Ride sharing is pulling from and not complementing public transportation ...

A study released in December found that large increases in the number of taxis and ride-sharing vehicles are contributing to slow traffic in Manhattan's central business district. It recommended policies to prevent further increases in the number of vacant vehicles occupied only by drivers waiting for their next trip request.

I've only used Lyft as the guest of a subscriber - in SF - so I can't say much. Each experience has been excellent.

 

[mark02tj]

I've only had one less than pleasant Uber experience. In Atlanta last year, had an older guy (said he was a retired truck driver) pick me up in his Dodge Quad Cab. Really nice guy, but his truck S T U N K!!!

I've used Uber food delivery (Uber Eats?) while out of town for work before. Worked like a champ!

Our county's Regional Transit Authority did some ridership analysis on some of the rural routes that they run. On the route out by me, they figured it was cheaper to let the few passengers that rode the bus on that route go to the bus stop and order a Lyft!! You use a certain code and the Lyft driver will pick you up and take you to the "mini-hub" where the bus would take you to anyway. Or the Lyft will drop you off along what used to be the bus route. The RTA picks up the tab for the Lyft when you use the code. It does limit you to only using it for the bus route.

 

[dragoneggs]

I have been using Uber for several years traveling mostly on business but some pleasure rides too. I知 sure I have more than sixty to seventy rides. Generally significantly cheaper than a cab. Also a cleaner car, a more well spoken driver that can converse with you and give you a local tip or two on restaurants and such. No cash/card transaction and they already know where you are headed and you already know the cost because of the wonderful app. This is my default way of travel if I do not rent a car or do not want to drive. I imagine Lyft is about the same but never tried them.

Taxis are like fax machines IMO.

 

[KennyG]

We've had very good luck with Uber in many cities and in Europe. One suggestion. You pay for the ride directly to Uber with your credit card. Carry cash to tip the driver. They like that and will give you a high rating. The higher your rating, the more drivers will want to pick you up and you get quicker service.