I am a huge fan of how easy it is to tell British writers on HN just by how dripping in irony everything is.
Uber – London Tube Strikes or How to take advantage of a protest
31–40 of 52 posts
Re: Uber – London Tube Strikes or How to take advantage of a protest
#32As great as I'm sure this is, I think I will stick to my original plan: working from home.
Re: Uber – London Tube Strikes or How to take advantage of a protest
#33As someone who tried to drive to work during the last strike; you can literally walk faster than the traffic.
Re: Uber – London Tube Strikes or How to take advantage of a protest
#34I don't really understand why people would use Uber in London when services like Hailo exist. A black cab is going to get you around London much faster than a car that can't use bus lanes, there are many more cabs available than Uber cars, and I would guess (without knowing) that a cab is going to be cheaper. So, apart from Uber maybe having some nicer cars available, what's the deal?
It is cheaper, but I see your point.
There's something to be said for the Knowledge, which in case any readers here don't know, is what it sounds like. London Black Cab drivers have comprehensive knowledge of London's streets which allows them to get around very quickly compared to many minicab drivers including Uber cars. They have to have this to get their licence to drive a black cab.
Re: Uber – London Tube Strikes or How to take advantage of a protest
#35I am a huge fan of how easy it is to tell British writers on HN just by how dripping in irony everything is.
I'm really enjoying the posts on this article ... startup wankery meets the real life British commuter.
Re: Uber – London Tube Strikes or How to take advantage of a protest
#36This does not seem like a well-planned marketing campaign. Uber and its competitors would've done well enough on pure demand alone without having to say anything. But now they've decided to (inadvertently or not) jump into labor politics, which will almost certainly be interpreted as an effort to sap the strike of its power...and this effort will be associated particularly with the affluent who are wealthy enough to…
Uber seems to like getting into politics. I suspect they see the resulting press coverage as free advertising.
I hadn't realised they operated in London until this. However I'm now completely put off ever using them by the greedy opportunism here and recognise their name as some kind of creepy übermenschian far-right libertarian cultural import.
Re: Uber – London Tube Strikes or How to take advantage of a protest
#37Scabs.
Re: Uber – London Tube Strikes or How to take advantage of a protest
#38"We’re all in this together, so grab a friend and SPLIT!" Unless you're striking. In that case, Uber will not be with you. Uber will in fact be against you. What about when the strike is over. Well, Uber isn't really with you then either. Please see terms and conditions. We're all in this together "throughout the entire 48-hour strike until 6am on Thursday morning". Then, when unions have been busted and public infrastructure de-funded, you're on your own again.
Re: Uber – London Tube Strikes or How to take advantage of a protest
#39I don't really understand why people would use Uber in London when services like Hailo exist. A black cab is going to get you around London much faster than a car that can't use bus lanes, there are many more cabs available than Uber cars, and I would guess (without knowing) that a cab is going to be cheaper. So, apart from Uber maybe having some nicer cars available, what's the deal?
Black cabs generally require cash. Whilst they may advertise they take card, most drivers don't like it due to the lead time on getting the money through.
What happens when you get to your destination and hand over a card?
"Cash? Sorry, I've got no cash. Just this credit card."
Re: Uber – London Tube Strikes or How to take advantage of a protest
#40If you haven't heard yet, Uber has recently raised it's fees on UberX drivers from 5% to 15%. At first, I was completely behind them, but they're turning into a pretty cut throat company.