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Uber Brighton
- Thread starter seagulls99
- Start date
- Jan 19, 2010
- 1,371
B&H council are keeping close tabs on Uber in the city:
Uber – The Committee had a long debate about the taxi app company – Uber – which has recently started operating in Brighton & Hove. Committee Spokesman, Lee Wares, made the point that as a Group we welcome the competition they bring to the city – as does the taxi trade – but stressed how important it is that they abide by the very high standards which currently apply to the rest of the licensed trade. There are early indications that this may not be happening and Lee requested that their license be reviewed at an early stage if this evidence is substantiated, rather than waiting for a year when it automatically comes up for renewal. The Committee agreed this suggestion.
Uber – The Committee had a long debate about the taxi app company – Uber – which has recently started operating in Brighton & Hove. Committee Spokesman, Lee Wares, made the point that as a Group we welcome the competition they bring to the city – as does the taxi trade – but stressed how important it is that they abide by the very high standards which currently apply to the rest of the licensed trade. There are early indications that this may not be happening and Lee requested that their license be reviewed at an early stage if this evidence is substantiated, rather than waiting for a year when it automatically comes up for renewal. The Committee agreed this suggestion.
If Uber are so bad why are you and the black cabs so scared of them? If that's what they were no one would use them.
Normski1989
Well-known member
I'm still very pro Uber, but I'm getting frustrated by the lack of availability sometimes. I couldn't get an Uber in Hove recently, so I had to call for a licensed taxi instead. Uber's estimate fare was £6-9. I ended up paying £10.80 to a licensed taxi.
I don't see much difference in the service between the two. Uber needs to improve availability, but I've waited in excess of half an hour for a Brighton taxi before too. They also seem to never have large taxi's available, even when pre-booked and ended up charging for two normal taxi's instead. But every Uber I have managed to get has been within the estimated fare on the app, and has always been cheaper than using a local taxi for the same journey.
I don't see much difference in the service between the two. Uber needs to improve availability, but I've waited in excess of half an hour for a Brighton taxi before too. They also seem to never have large taxi's available, even when pre-booked and ended up charging for two normal taxi's instead. But every Uber I have managed to get has been within the estimated fare on the app, and has always been cheaper than using a local taxi for the same journey.
GOM
living vicariously
Uber is big here in Leeds but seems to operate in a different way to Brighton/London from what I read on here.
In Leeds Uber had to register a a licensed Hire company and meet all rules that all such companies have to. All drivers have to be registered with the council and registered that the company the obtain work from is Uber (still use own cars and self-employed). Cars in Leeds have to be less than 5 years old. They have to operate in exactly the same way as any other hire co. in Leeds, just a different booking mechanism.
In Leeds Uber had to register a a licensed Hire company and meet all rules that all such companies have to. All drivers have to be registered with the council and registered that the company the obtain work from is Uber (still use own cars and self-employed). Cars in Leeds have to be less than 5 years old. They have to operate in exactly the same way as any other hire co. in Leeds, just a different booking mechanism.
Maybe they see their profession under threat and being undermined?
I'm sure they do but why not say that instead of peddling half truths and unbelievable hyperbole? My experiences of Uber in Birmingham are of a high quality, high availability service that was cheaper than the meter, If anything says Aldi service at M&S prices it's the useless, miserable sods on the phones at 414141 and the Brighton Station rank cabbies who take you on a magical mystery tour on the off chance you're a tourist. A few need to use some Fabreeze on their interiors too.
ForestRowSeagull
Well-known member
By better quality and lower prices? The taxi industry has needed a shake up for a long time. I won't ever use a black cab again in London and suspect uber will do very well in Brighton too, or will cause Brighton cabs to up their game, which would be a good result too!
The Wizard
Well-known member
- Jul 2, 2009
- 18,399
Give me a licensed taxi at 20% more in price any day, I'm surprised people are so comfortable with Uber, sure it's cheaper but being 100% honest, would you want your daughter or wife getting in a relatively unpoliced Uber drivers car? I certainly wouldn't, maybe it's just me but I find the whole thing very dodgy. Just my opinion.
Normski1989
Well-known member
This argument has come up before, and the statistics suggested that the chances of being attacked/assaulted in an Uber vehicle were no higher than those of being in a licensed taxi. Why do people feel the need to imply that Uber drivers are criminals and licensed taxi drivers are saints?
lost in london
Well-known member
Profession? I don't think having a driving licence is a profession.
I believe that Uber and the taxi industry can coexist very nicely if they help each other improve and stop trying to say one is always better than the other. I know nobody wants to talk about trains at this time but they coexisted with the taxi industry for as long as most of us can remember. The idea is that they each help each other. The same can be said of Uber and the taxi industry.
KingstonSeagull
New member
First the music industry, now taxi's. Took the piss for decades and the chickens have come home to roost.
middletoenail
Well-known member
The hotel industry are trying to put AirBnB out of action too, but like Uber, the people who use them are (generally) quite happy.
If you don't like marmite, don't eat it, but feck off telling me what I can and can't like!
If you don't like marmite, don't eat it, but feck off telling me what I can and can't like!
GOM
living vicariously
Your comment suggests that the drivers are unvetted in Brighton/London or wherever you are talking about. In Leeds all private hire drivers have to take a driving test (same as a learner driver but also added elements relating to the job), also have to take written and oral tests before getting a provate hire licence. They are all CRB, or whatever the latest version of this is, checked, have to renew their licence every year. Their car is MOT'd by the licensing authority when necessary. All this before the Uber checks themselves.
There is nothing dodgy about Uber in Leeds as far as I have heard
Normski1989
Well-known member
clippedgull
Hotdogs, extra onions
Other companies run same business models as Uber, so if the scenario you paint happens then those companies will likely take up the slack and competition will still exist.
kip
New member
- Aug 2, 2011
- 610