Uber

[PositronicRay]

I hate signing up for stuff I may never use.

I live just outside a small town and use a taxi several times a month. A typical 5 mile journey costs around £12.

Is uber much cheaper and how well does it operate outside the big metropolises?

(yeah I know I'm not too 21st C)

Eta do I need a smart phone or can I use a pad and WiFi?

[mr_spock]

It can be cheaper. Not great outside main conurbations, they don't serve anywhere around here (Huntingdon-ish). Great when travelling overseas or bigger towns. Yes you need a smartphone with the app, but I guess a tablet with GPS may work.

[Munter]

PositronicRay said:

I live just outside a small town and use a taxi several times a month.

Chances are Uber isn't in your area based on that.

But the only real way to find out is download the app, and see.

[Puggit]

Munter said:

Chances are Uber isn't in your area based on that.

But the only real way to find out is download the app, and see.

Christmas Day last year our neighbours convinced some relatives to ditch the car and have a drink... We live in a village 7 miles outside of Reading. They decided to boot up Uber, and there it was. A car, in our village... They grabbed it on the app and were off to Farnborough.

Total fluke!

[PositronicRay]

Puggit said:

Munter said:

Chances are Uber isn't in your area based on that.

But the only real way to find out is download the app, and see.

Christmas Day last year our neighbours convinced some relatives to ditch the car and have a drink... We live in a village 7 miles outside of Reading. They decided to boot up Uber, and there it was. A car, in our village... They grabbed it on the app and were off to Farnborough.

Total fluke!

Can you book an uber in advance? Reading's quite a big place too.

Edited by PositronicRay on Wednesday 27th February 16:38

[carboy2017]

I use if often and its easy (at least for me) also you can link it to a credit card or paypal hence you dont need to carry cash either!

Yes you can use the iPad as long as it has wifi or data connection thats working,I suggest you download the app and see the service in your area and if you dont like it just remove it!

PositronicRay said:

I hate signing up for stuff I may never use.

I live just outside a small town and use a taxi several times a month. A typical 5 mile journey costs around £12.

Is uber much cheaper and how well does it operate outside the big metropolises?

(yeah I know I'm not too 21st C)

Eta do I need a smart phone or can I use a pad and WiFi?

[PositronicRay]

Okay so I've downloaded the app, icons pop up for various cars with an eta, but the flag at the bottom of the screen say's no cars available? Does this mean a car will or won't arrive if I click the app?

Sorry to sound thick but I'm new to all this, I don't actually need a car at the moment, just wanting to see how it works.


Eta

Ah I see how it works now, I put in a city address and the icons gave me pick up times and stuff.

So pretty useless for me.

Edited by PositronicRay on Wednesday 27th February 17:22

[Patch1875]

It’s mostly the big cities they are in.

I’ve actually been driving for them for a couple of months through the winter been pretty good fun!

[Integroo]

Puggit said:

Christmas Day last year our neighbours convinced some relatives to ditch the car and have a drink... We live in a village 7 miles outside of Reading. They decided to boot up Uber, and there it was. A car, in our village... They grabbed it on the app and were off to Farnborough.

Total fluke!

In the UK they are licensed mini cab operators so can (or should) only operate in areas they are licensed to do so.

[sc0tt]

PositronicRay said:

Okay so I've downloaded the app, icons pop up for various cars with an eta, but the flag at the bottom of the screen say's no cars available? Does this mean a car will or won't arrive if I click the app?

Sorry to sound thick but I'm new to all this, I don't actually need a car at the moment, just wanting to see how it works.


Eta

Ah I see how it works now, I put in a city address and the icons gave me pick up times and stuff.

So pretty useless for me.

Edited by PositronicRay on Wednesday 27th February 17:22

You could have checked their website prior to signing up

https://www.uber.com/en-GB/fare-estimate/

[PositronicRay]

sc0tt said:

PositronicRay said:

Okay so I've downloaded the app, icons pop up for various cars with an eta, but the flag at the bottom of the screen say's no cars available? Does this mean a car will or won't arrive if I click the app?

Sorry to sound thick but I'm new to all this, I don't actually need a car at the moment, just wanting to see how it works.


Eta

Ah I see how it works now, I put in a city address and the icons gave me pick up times and stuff.

So pretty useless for me.

Edited by PositronicRay on Wednesday 27th February 17:22

You could have checked their website prior to signing up

https://www.uber.com/en-GB/fare-estimate/

No that ling just gives you an estimate, it doesn't tell me if they're actually available.

[sc0tt]

PositronicRay said:

sc0tt said:

PositronicRay said:

Okay so I've downloaded the app, icons pop up for various cars with an eta, but the flag at the bottom of the screen say's no cars available? Does this mean a car will or won't arrive if I click the app?

Sorry to sound thick but I'm new to all this, I don't actually need a car at the moment, just wanting to see how it works.


Eta

Ah I see how it works now, I put in a city address and the icons gave me pick up times and stuff.

So pretty useless for me.

Edited by PositronicRay on Wednesday 27th February 17:22

You could have checked their website prior to signing up

https://www.uber.com/en-GB/fare-estimate/

No that ling just gives you an estimate, it doesn't tell me if they're actually available.

Fair enough, I take it for granted it is readily available.

[C&C]

PositronicRay said:

Can you book an uber in advance? Reading's quite a big place too.

Yes - apparently you can book one in advance (if you're in an area they cover), according to Mrs C&C who uses Uber from time to time quite successfully. I'm still to actually give it a try myself.

[Condi]

Integroo said:

In the UK they are licensed mini cab operators so can (or should) only operate in areas they are licensed to do so.

Licence laws are more relaxed now.

99.9% (possibly slight exaggeration) of Uber drivers are licenced in Wolverhampton, because its the easiest place to get a licence. They can then work anywhere in the country.



Its good, considerably cheaper than a regular taxi normally, and no need to worry about carrying cash or card.

[Patch1875]

Condi said:

Licence laws are more relaxed now.

99.9% (possibly slight exaggeration) of Uber drivers are licenced in Wolverhampton, because its the easiest place to get a licence. They can then work anywhere in the country.



Its good, considerably cheaper than a regular taxi normally, and no need to worry about carrying cash or card.

Don’t think that’s right? No way you could work in Edinburgh.

[bigandclever]

Puggit said:

Munter said:

Chances are Uber isn't in your area based on that.

But the only real way to find out is download the app, and see.

Christmas Day last year our neighbours convinced some relatives to ditch the car and have a drink... We live in a village 7 miles outside of Reading. They decided to boot up Uber, and there it was. A car, in our village... They grabbed it on the app and were off to Farnborough.

Total fluke!

Of course, Reading council have repeatedly denied Uber a licence. Most of the Uber drivers around Reading are licensed by Slough, or by Windsor, so they shouldn’t really be working here. Although the bit of the Reading licence criteria they fail on is not having a manned office with a phone line. What it really means is, Uber’s here, but for a town this size there aren’t as many cars as you’d expect.

[Condi]

Patch1875 said:

Don’t think that’s right? No way you could work in Edinburgh.

Maybe Scotland is different, but in England its correct.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-4...

[Patch1875]

Condi said:

Patch1875 said:

Don’t think that’s right? No way you could work in Edinburgh.

Maybe Scotland is different, but in England its correct.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-4...

Looks like it, that’s crazy!

[Munter]

Condi said:

Licence laws are more relaxed now.

99.9% (possibly slight exaggeration) of Uber drivers are licenced in Wolverhampton, because its the easiest place to get a licence. They can then work anywhere in the country.



Its good, considerably cheaper than a regular taxi normally, and no need to worry about carrying cash or card.

Ironically in Wolves it's cheaper to use the GoCars app than to use Uber. By a tiny bit.

But then technically we do have 1 taxi to every 24 people...