Controversial taxi app 'Uber' coming to Cardiff

[Arthurgray50@blu]

http://www.itv.com/news/wales/2016-0...-this-weekend/

From what l have heard, in the news etc. I would use this company.

Recently there was an article where a Blind person took a driver to couts, as the Uber driver wouldn't take the Guide Dog, and the lady won.

If you want a decent cabbie - use a known one or a black cab

[papa smurf]

its competition arthure -no more fighting over a cab just order it from your phone and track its progress right to you

tbh i wouldn't allow a dog in my car - where i live if you inform the cab company of your needs they dispatch the appropriate vehicle for you.

[Taf]

My nephew is a Paris Taxi Driver, and has seen his income drop like a stone due to Uber. He's upset of course, but lays the blame on the council who set their fees and take a huge chunk each year for licensing.

Here in Cardiff, the leader of the taxi cabs was stopped from operating because he refused short-distance fares. He got them to strike one weekend from midnight to 2 am, so clubbers just carried on dancing until 2 am. This weekend's strikes were called off... just as Uber launched here on Friday.

Many locals said they would prefer night buses, however infrequent, but the council said no... it would upset the taxi drivers...

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

http://www.itv.com/news/wales/2016-0...-this-weekend/

From what l have heard, in the news etc. I would use this company.

Recently there was an article where a Blind person took a driver to couts, as the Uber driver wouldn't take the Guide Dog, and the lady won.

If you want a decent cabbie - use a known one or a black cab

Uber's advice on carrying animals: https://help.uber.com/h/8ffe0050-756...3-bf7993ff0466

Basically, they do allow animals. If the animal is a pet, they advise you to phone the driver (there is an option to do so in the app) and confirm he or she is happy to take the pet.

If the animal is a service animal (such as a guide dog), the drivers are required to carry it.

If the taxi drivers are losing that much work to Uber ,why don't they become Uber drivers instead of crying like babies that someone else is doing a better job of servicing the industry

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by martyh

If the taxi drivers are losing that much work to Uber ,why don't they become Uber drivers instead of crying like babies that someone else is doing a better job of servicing the industry

I do think that, in London at least, the mini cab firms have a reasonable cause for complaint. TFL has (in it's attempts to make the industry safer) required that the drivers go through all sorts of legal checks (such as CRB), get passenger liability insurace and jump through various other "hoops" in order to get a licence.

With Uber, they have seemingly reduced a lot of those requirements, or not enforced them at all.

[Taf]

Originally Posted by martyh

If the taxi drivers are losing that much work to Uber ,why don't they become Uber drivers instead of crying like babies that someone else is doing a better job of servicing the industry

I understand that a lot of cabs are bought and maintained through sharia loans from Saudi Arabia. Perhaps a clause in the loan contract makes them stay as "black cabs" for better control of the asset and loan?

Originally Posted by Stuart

I do think that, in London at least, the mini cab firms have a reasonable cause for complaint. TFL has (in it's attempts to make the industry safer) required that the drivers go through all sorts of legal checks (such as CRB), get passenger liability insurace and jump through various other "hoops" in order to get a licence.

With Uber, they have seemingly reduced a lot of those requirements, or not enforced them at all.

All Uber drivers in the UK have passed an enhanced disclosure and barring service ,licensed by the local authority and have insurance the same as black cabs
In Newcastle the black cabbies complain about every little thing ,last year they had a bee in their bonnet about the council scrapping the knowledge test because most cabbies use sat navs ,the year before it was because the council where issuing more licences to encourage people to use them but if you try to use one in the city to take you 3 miles to your house they don't like it because it means leaving the rank for a small fair. Uber launched in Newcastle last year and the black cabs shut down the city during rush hour by having slow drive around the city

---------- Post added at 12:50 ---------- Previous post was at 12:46 ----------

Originally Posted by Taf

I understand that a lot of cabs are bought and maintained through sharia loans from Saudi Arabia. Perhaps a clause in the loan contract makes them stay as "black cabs" for better control of the asset and loan?

Do you actually believe that rubbish ?

What is "Controversial" about Uber ?

Originally Posted by Paul M

What is "Controversial" about Uber ?

Black cabs don't like them because it shows them for they are ,overpriced and inefficient dinosaurs

[techguyone]

It's called evolution, every place they've been introduced it's upset the established, and each time they've gone on strike or on a go slow or launched a legal challenge, not just here but in other countries too, it's not gotten them anywhere. In time they'll see the light and join or leave. I don't think this will be a bad thing (surge policies aside) and we the consumer will have what we want, versus to what we're told we're getting.

It's all good. (for us)

[Stephen]

Used Uber a couple of times in Glasgow and they've been fine.

[Taf]

Originally Posted by martyh

Do you actually believe that rubbish ?

Yes, from a local TV interview with several taxi drivers complaining of the lack of a level playing field in financing taxis and maintaining them. Sharia loans were specifically mentioned, and drivers who used them were not denying the practice.

Plus "hot-seating" of taxis by unlicensed drivers to keep them on the road for as many hours as possible.

Unmetered trips were also talked about and proven to happen on longer journeys.

Uber had it's first bad press here when someone was charged over £30 for a 3 mile trip due to "GPS problems".

Originally Posted by Taf

Yes, from a local TV interview with several taxi drivers complaining of the lack of a level playing field in financing taxis and maintaining them. Sharia loans were specifically mentioned, and drivers who used them were not denying the practice.

Plus "hot-seating" of taxis by unlicensed drivers to keep them on the road for as many hours as possible.

Unmetered trips were also talked about and proven to happen on longer journeys.

Uber had it's first bad press here when someone was charged over £30 for a 3 mile trip due to "GPS problems".

So basically exactly the same as any hackney or private hire company in the country

What's wrong with Sharia loans ?

[Taf]

Nothing, just interest free and easy to get during these times of austerity.