My Uber got pulled over by the Denver police – and then things got really weird
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Re: My Uber got pulled over by the Denver police – and then things got really weird
#2This is why you don't have "conversations" with law enforcement. If it actually was illegal, even if you didn't know, you just confessed to a crime and they can use what you just told them against you.
ps. reality-check, this dude paid $100 to basically get across town and eventually back - this is not how most of the rest of the world lives
Re: My Uber got pulled over by the Denver police – and then things got really weird
#3I get (and like) Uber.
On the other hand, I do not really get UberX. What is the difference to any other taxi I order by using an app (and there are many such apps now in most cities, at least in Western Europe)?
I have used UberX too and most drivers told me that we were not accepted for Uber, so they were driving for UberX in the hope of making it to Uber later. That would also explain part of your experience, i.e., the speeding. For a professional driver, speeding, especially when driving a customer, should be an absolute no-go.
In any case, I am very sorry for your experience with the American police. I have never had any encounter with the American police but I am also afraid of having an experience like you had. And as a guest in the US, there is not much I could do but to be as obedient as possible … :(
Re: My Uber got pulled over by the Denver police – and then things got really weird
#4I get (and like) Uber. On the other hand, I do not really get UberX. What is the difference to any other taxi I order by using an app (and there are many such apps now in most cities, at least in Western Europe)? I have used UberX too and most drivers told me that we were not accepted for Uber, so they were driving for UberX in the hope of making it to Uber later. That would also explain part of your experience, i.e.…
"For a professional driver, speeding, especially when driving a customer, should be an absolute no-go."
That does not describe my experience with taxi drivers at all. They speed a lot and customers expect them to speed when they hurry somewhere. (I do not live in USA)
Re: My Uber got pulled over by the Denver police – and then things got really weird
#5Prev discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8059380 (9 hours ago)
Re: My Uber got pulled over by the Denver police – and then things got really weird
#6I get (and like) Uber. On the other hand, I do not really get UberX. What is the difference to any other taxi I order by using an app (and there are many such apps now in most cities, at least in Western Europe)? I have used UberX too and most drivers told me that we were not accepted for Uber, so they were driving for UberX in the hope of making it to Uber later. That would also explain part of your experience, i.e.…
"For a professional driver, speeding, especially when driving a customer, should be an absolute no-go." That does not describe my experience with taxi drivers at all. They speed a lot and customers expect them to speed when they hurry somewhere. (I do not live in USA)
Agreed. I've spent a ridiculous portion of the last 4 years in taxis and liveries in the NYC metro area and a few other major cities in the US and several in western Europe. Speeding has been an absolute constant; no exceptions whatsoever. Is there actually a place where taxis do not default to pushing speeds to the highest extent possible?
Re: My Uber got pulled over by the Denver police – and then things got really weird
#7Expected horror story, got one with a good ending. Don't hear that often! Nice article.
Re: My Uber got pulled over by the Denver police – and then things got really weird
#8[deleted]
Re: My Uber got pulled over by the Denver police – and then things got really weird
#9I get (and like) Uber. On the other hand, I do not really get UberX. What is the difference to any other taxi I order by using an app (and there are many such apps now in most cities, at least in Western Europe)? I have used UberX too and most drivers told me that we were not accepted for Uber, so they were driving for UberX in the hope of making it to Uber later. That would also explain part of your experience, i.e.…
You definitely haven't taken a cab in big cities in US. Cab drivers always speed. It is what they do - I don't know why - but driving below 75mph is not within their realm of possibilities.
You also haven't taken a UberX ride from looks of it. If you did, you would realize that they never ever speed and are very courteous in their manners!
I know it sounds strange - that professional drivers speed like mad dogs and are at many time disrespectful while random people like you and me are better/sane drivers - but it is what it is. Uber does a great job weeding out bad drivers through their rating system - unfortunately cabs can't do that..
Re: My Uber got pulled over by the Denver police – and then things got really weird
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
"For a professional driver, speeding, especially when driving a customer, should be an absolute no-go." That does not describe my experience with taxi drivers at all. They speed a lot and customers expect them to speed when they hurry somewhere. (I do not live in USA)
Agreed. I've spent a ridiculous portion of the last 4 years in taxis and liveries in the NYC metro area and a few other major cities in the US and several in western Europe. Speeding has been an absolute constant; no exceptions whatsoever. Is there actually a place where taxis do not default to pushing speeds to the highest extent possible?
Here in Amsterdam taxis speed all the time, to the extent that they are the most dangerous cars to keep an eye on while biking.
This might be due to the economical aspect of a taxi ride. The base fee starts at 7.00 euros sometimes, just for walking into the taxi. I don't have the exact fares data, but although they are earning additional money during the whole ride, for short rides it's clearly more remunerative for them to get to destination as soon as possible to be able to take another one.