Uber comes to Australia

[burmans]

You would think that with competition, they would be trying to lift their game, not sink to what seem to be all time low levels of customer service.

Don't recognise a problem, you wont do anything about it! I honestly still think that the taxi industry is still in the denial phase, ie we can lobby our mates in government and this Uber problem will just go away.

 

[zainman]

My parents who are in Melbourne on vacation are using Uber extensively, didn't bother getting MYKI cards as tram within the city is free now so they just get to the city and can make their way round quite easily. An uber is more economical from where they are staying plus much easier! They completely understand why if you're a party of 2-4, you wouldn't bother with public transport.

 

[puppysparkes]

BMW 5 Series tonight. Factor in surge pricing and it was a regular cab fare.

 

[jb747]

I've used Uber a couple of times, both in Oz and the US. Was fine on all occasions.

I've also called the police a couple of times to have a chat about taxi drivers. On one occasion attempting to run another car off the road. Half of the cab drivers, if not more, don't even seem to actually know how to drive.

 

[scwappy]

The only bad experience I have had with Uber was an Uber Taxi, lol

 

[puppysparkes]

I've used Uber a couple of times, both in Oz and the US. Was fine on all occasions.

I've also called the police a couple of times to have a chat about taxi drivers. On one occasion attempting to run another car off the road. Half of the cab drivers, if not more, don't even seem to actually know how to drive.

jb747 glad you survived, where was that horrible experience?

 

[puppysparkes]

The only bad experience I have had with Uber was an Uber Taxi, lol

I'm pragmatic when dealing with Uber or people generally. Your gonna get a bad one every now and then...

 

[PLANT]

Anyone see the new Uber advertisement on ACA last night? 4 girls trying to get home and a taxi driver......

 

[lovestotravel]

Apologies CL??. I should pay more attention than noting the brand..View attachment 42844

Looks like someone that would work for Uber IMO

Uber actually has some of their own staff working as drivers, I had a mate who was picked up down in Sorrento over the NYE period, he was walking down the road trying to get a lift, and a guy pulls over and offers a lift, then starts talking about Uber and hands him a business card with a link for $20 off your first ride etc etc to get him to sign up... Good idea to get people to sign up IMO

Oh and Uber court case in Melbourne next week..

The TSC vs Uber.........

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I've had Jordan as a driver before! In fact in my 50+ rides in Brisbane in yet to have the same driver twice

 

[whatmeworry]

John Blackman of Hey Hey it's Saturday is now a Uber driver.

 

[Austff]

That would be a very entertaining ride.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

OT but didn't want to start a new thread - seems London Cabs aren't too impressed with Uber either - nteresting read: Uber: why London cabbies hate the taxi app | News | The Week UK

 

[anat0l]

OT but didn't want to start a new thread - seems London Cabs aren't too impressed with Uber either - nteresting read: Uber: why London cabbies hate the taxi app | News | The Week UK

This article was from June last year. I remember this story hitting the press - I believe the London cabs put on a strike of their own - I think that might have been one of the first of its kind in the world - and like the reaction in the latest Perth strike, Uber got quite a surge of signups and bookings on the days that the strike occurred.

 

[BillytheFIsh]

Caught my first taxi in 3 months last night (left my phone at home).

Cab was clean and didn't smell, but the driver was tap-tapping away at his job computer all the way home, not focusing on the road. Providing turn-by-turn directions was also a pain given I live at the back of a maze.

$25 (including 10% credit card extortion) vs $15-$16 in an uber since the price drop in Brisbane. I hope it will be longer than 3 months until my next cab ride.

 

[puppysparkes]

It was inevitable.

http://m.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/uber-fined-17-million-by-queensland-20150624-ghwugz.html

By AMY REMEIKIS
Uber is helping to fill the state coffers, with drivers for the ride-sharing service fined more than $1.7 million in the past 12 months.

A cease and desist order has been in place on the app-based company since May last year, with transport officials slapping drivers with fines of up to $1707 for operating without authorisation.

Providing a taxi service without an appropriate licence can bring a fine of $1366.

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In the past year, 1536 infringement notices have been issued against 538 drivers for a total value of $1,732,262. Of those, 1234 fines have been paid, reaping the state $1,415,213.

It is understood Uber pays the fines for its driver.

A spokeswoman for the company said Uber didn't "believe anyone should be penalised for providing safe, reliable rides in their city and Uber will always stand by our driver partners".

Governments across the world have been caught in a battle between the established taxi industry and ride-sharing apps.

The Taxi Council, which until recently was displaying a running total of Uber fines on a billboard in the Valley, has been very supportive of the government's response to the ride-share app, lobbying for the state to impose the same licence restrictions on it as the taxi industry experiences.

But Uber has been lobbying just as hard, recently releasing its own advertising highlighting what it says are its safety advantages, in response from one from the taxi industry which highlighted what it said were its safety disadvantages.

Queensland has been negotiating a fine line with both.

In May, Uber wrote to each of the state's 89 MPs asking the government to "enter into meaningful conversations about reform and recognise ridesharing as a new and distinct form of point-to-point transport that requires a new regulatory approach".

The Queensland Taxi Council countered Uber was attempting to "bully" its way into the marketplace, with an unfair advantage.

The state's taxi strategy, set down five years ago, expires this year.

 

[burmans]

The Queensland Taxi Council countered Uber was attempting to "bully" its way into the marketplace, with an unfair advantage.

Ironic comment from a group that is quite prepared to use "bully" tactics to keep this as a monopoly.

The main unfair advantage Uber has is that they provide a better service at a competitive price.

While I understand the governments urge to keep the taxi money flowing into their coffers, I believe its inevitable that public pressure will force governments to find a way to accomodate Uber. How long can they really run the "we are doing this in the public's interest" line if the public dont actually agree?

 

[Alanslegal]

And in Paris, the taxi drivers there are on strike because of the car-sharing service.

I would be happy to ride in an UberX again once this government decides to tell the taxi counci to f.o .....

Comment: Paris protests, but Uber is here to stay

 

[dajop]

Why doesn't the taxi industry get on board and work with Uber? In Singapore we have UberTaxi ( as well as UberX, UberXL, UberExec and ExecLarge) ... So people wanting to take a taxi can get a taxi, good way of booking , and without having to deal with payment etc at the other end, as well as tracking the trip, driver etc. Drivers like it so they can bypass queues (particularly at the airport). But I guess in Australia the influential players in the taxi industry need to extract their pound of flesh, leaving passengers and drivers to suffer.

 

[whatmeworry]

With how much taxi plates cost, the Taxi industry has many lobbists.