[projekktor id=’16989′]
It offers cheap, convenient service and has taken a big bite out of the traditional taxi industry.
Uber, the ride sharing app operates in over 260 cities world wide including Halifax, Montreal and Toronto.
They’re not stopping there, with their sights set on expanding throughout Southern Ontario, including Hamilton.
The catch a ride passengers download the Uber app , open an account , enter their credit card information,
and “request a ride”.
Within minutes an Uber car will arrive. The passenger will be sent the picture and name of the driver and picture and make of the vehicle.
No money is exchanged in the car, it is all done through the company online.
Afterwards, the passenger can rate the driver and the driver can rate the passenger.
One Uber user, Simon Mohos says the price is right.
“I honestly use Uber more than I should, it is significantly cheaper than taking a taxi.”
Cheaper by as much as 40 percent.
The company’s GM Ian Black says the app is really revving up.
“What we are seeing already in Toronto is demand is off the charts for this service. People love affordable transportation, they love the choice.”
But critics, like Tony Rizzuto from Blue Line Taxi, say the cheaper rates come at a cost.
“I would be concerned about using it, just the unknown. We were able to track who are drivers are, where they are going, we have a GPS, there’s cameras on board, we’re accountable to two people, the customers and the city.”
Uber on the other hand is self regulating. It’s drivers have not been screened or licenced by any level of government,
but they are insured.
GM Black again,
“All of our drivers have their personal insurance, but in an abundance of caution we’ve actually taken out an extra insurance policy which sits on top of all Uber rides. There’s no circumstance in which an Uber drive wouldn’t be covered, we just can’t afford to take that risk and we wouldn’t want the public to take that risk.”
Uber is also under increased scrutiny over it’s safety measures. This follows a series of rape allegations and a fatality involving Uber drivers.
Closer to home, in what they call a pro-active measure, the City of Hamilton has reached out to Uber to discuss the possibility of it locating in the Hammer.
