Since I don't hold a driving licence, and the man's at work most days, there isn't a point in us renting a car and paying overnight garage charges. While the rental of the car is affordable, the parking charges doubles that cost and it doesn't make sense. It isn't practical to wait around for buses or trains or keep calling cab companies to book cabs that take forever to turn up. We're UberX-ing it great.
The problem is, Seattle coalition groups aren't happy with UberX, Lyft or Sidecar. Seattle City Council has voted and wanted to make it the first city to cap the number of UberX drivers on the road at any one time to 150. London's cabs aren't happy about Uber either. Honestly, the UberX app makes getting a car a total breeze. Calling for a cab in Seattle doesn't guarantee you'll get one, and if you do, it takes a good 20 minutes for it to turn up. We've never had to wait more than 12 minutes for any UberX ride, and it's mostly a six-minute arrival guaranteed. Importantly, the fares are frankly, more competitive than the average cab's. No extra cash or tips exchange hands. I dislike carrying cash. Cabs in US expect tips on top of the average US$16 - 32 fare over a distance of 10 - 16km, and many don't bother carrying/giving change either.
(Erm...there're only like 635,000 humans in Seattle, and in all of Washington state, 6.9 million. And many drive, preferring to rent ZipCars or whatever. Do the math.)
The man and I are SIM-data monsters. The whole point of procuring US numbers is to use the phones at our convenience like we're at home, one of which would be utilizing the UberX booking service. Cars could pick us up from anywhere. There're estimated fares for our distance of travel and we could decide if it's worth the trip. We could wander to the tiniest and farthest nooks of the Seattle and still not worry about getting back to the hotel. There's huge accountability in the fact that there're avenues to track a ride, driver details, pick-up points, routes and destinations, e-receipts, rate-the-driver, rate-the-passenger, etc. As long as UberX's computer servers don't malfunction, we've got everything locked in. The feedback portion is useful since it kinda indicates a measure of reliability. Self-regulatory. In fact, this trip we've ditched the cabs to totally depend on this more efficient and professional service. Let's hope UberX continues to operate in Seattle. :)
At the moment, deciding between using UberX and a Singapore cab isn't a big issue of consideration for me. It's the peak hour scarcity that I've to deal with. And the fact that in any other major city (except Kuala Lumpur, Beijing and Shanghai), the drivers of either a cab or UberX turn on GPS and merrily take me to any destination desired, and conversely, I've to give our Singapore cab drivers directions to any address because they're complete idiots who massacre road names and seem befuddled by the roads in this small city. Their miserly cab companies refuse to equip them with a basic GPS unit; majority of the drivers simply refuse to use a GPS for dunno-what-gawddamn-reason. I'm frustrated with cab drivers who regularly get lost within my tiny residential estate. WTF. Cab drivers getting lost? Only in Singapore.
Not certain I'd bother with UberX in Singapore where cab fares are still fairly reasonable. While ERP tolls apply, UberX Singapore doesn't do a booking surcharge. I don't have a problem getting cabs via SMS or the app unless it's Friday evenings or if it's raining. Factor in those and I'm not even sure UberX will have enough cars ply the road when everyone wants a ride. As it is, I arrange my schedule around peak hour transportation issues. Mostly, I take the bus or the train, which can be slightly less painful.
6 comments:
We love using Uber too! Have been trying to convince others too since it's usually cheaper, cleaner and more reliable! They are running into problems in almost every city though. No one knows how to regulate them I guess... But the cab companies really cannot compare.
Btw, KL cabbies are really sucky too. I still remember being scolded by one for not knowing the way. We asked him to stop the cab immediately and threw random dollars on his seat.
More like the regulated wants the self-regulated UberX to be regulated to cut the competition. Muahahah. The regulated companies are sticking to old-school provision of services (from booking to payment), which are way less refreshing than what UberX offers. They so need to revamp. They don't understand that UberX is efficiently self-regulatory.
For now, UberX definitely has a winning formula. I dunno how they're going to sustain it, but I'll enjoy it while it lasts.
Oh totally. KL, Shanghai and Beijing. Same category of cab drivers- called THE YUCKS. Bangkok cab drivers are getting there too.
Baltimore is the first city trying to ban Uber outright! Uber US also ensures every driver is licensed and insured and runs background checks. Not sure that is done out of the US.
D: I'm trying to stifle laughter imagining them doing background checks in SG. I hope they do that.
Why Baltimore so mean? Pfffft.
ok maybe i'm living in a hole but this is the first time i've heard of uberX. sounds interesting and will definitely check it out for when we are in sg or travelling!
as for cab drivers getting lost... i've experienced it a couple of times in london too. not in (tube) zone 1-2 central london area, but from central london to just zone 3 area (my friend's house), which was still rather central of london in my opinion. but of course, they always stopped the fare meter when lost.
D: it's still kinda new. I've never taken a cab in London! Not even to and fro the airport. We take CarrotCars or GLH. Or AddisonLee. Been working out all right.
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