Uber – London Tube Strikes or How to take advantage of a protest
1–10 of 52 posts
Re: Uber – London Tube Strikes or How to take advantage of a protest
#2I 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?
Re: Uber – London Tube Strikes or How to take advantage of a protest
#3Erm.... keep London moving by putting even more cars on the road?
Because that's the problem, not enough affordable cars. That'll definitely work.
Re: Uber – London Tube Strikes or How to take advantage of a protest
#4I 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.
Re: Uber – London Tube Strikes or How to take advantage of a protest
#5I 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.
Hailo doesn't require cash, the card payment mechanism is incredibly seamless - you literally get out of the cab and carry on with your day. Also, about 13.000 London taxis are (apparently) signed up to Hailo.
Re: Uber – London Tube Strikes or How to take advantage of a protest
#6I 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.
Not to disagree with you but IMHO Hailo works fine and is totally cashless.
Re: Uber – London Tube Strikes or How to take advantage of a protest
#7I 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.
Hailo (and competitors) let you use cards, and the drivers seem pretty happy about it.
Re: Uber – London Tube Strikes or How to take advantage of a protest
#8I can see it now: Londoners huddled outside of the barred-up tube entrances in the rain, moaning privately to themselves about the lack of transportation, until one clever sod whips out his smartphone and announces, "Uber will give us 50% off if we split!"
Dozens of commuters will scramble to share a cab with him as they excitedly scroll through the options for different drivers. "This one's only got four stars!" says one Uber virgin, shocked that anybody would consider less than five.
"Don't worry," says one of our Uber-savvy commuters, "they regularly prune the list of people who're getting poor reviews. I read it in an article on Hacker News."
"You read it on what news?" says another.
As the commuters split evenly into fairly sensible groups based on their desired destinations, the cars begin to arrive and they all pile in, leaving the pavement empty but for a busker and a Big Issue salesman.
As the final satisfying slam of an UberX car vibrates throughout the street, our new, friendly passengers get to know each other.
"This is rather nice, isn't it?"
"Pfft, who needs the underground?" says one, as they sit in gridlocked traffic on City Road, merely two hours from their destination, one-and-a-half miles away.
Re: Uber – London Tube Strikes or How to take advantage of a protest
#9I can see it now: Londoners huddled outside of the barred-up tube entrances in the rain, moaning privately to themselves about the lack of transportation, until one clever sod whips out his smartphone and announces, "Uber will give us 50% off if we split!" Dozens of commuters will scramble to share a cab with him as they excitedly scroll through the options for different drivers. "This one's only got four stars!" say…
"Wait, what's surge pricing?" says one Uber virgin to the Uber-savvy commuter that packed them into the car.
"Oh, it means Uber can charge you whatever they want during peak times."
"But you said we were getting 50% off?"
"Oh but we are! 50% off the surge price."
"So if they put the surge price to 2x then we'd be paying the exact same amount we would anyway, and this promotion would be for nothing?"
"Well, yes. But I'm sure Uber would never do that. Uber is my best free-market friend!"
Re: Uber – London Tube Strikes or How to take advantage of a protest
#10TfL has indicated that due to additional traffic, car journeys may take twice as long as usual (which is long enough) during the strike. I hope you like the people you're sharing with because if you do this during rush hour you will be spending a lot of time sitting next to them.