40,000 Drivers to lose their jobs in the next 21 days

Fella

GPS with live traffic updates is infinitely superior to local knowledge & that will only become more true. I know every one of the ways I can drive to work. None of that helps me know where the traffic jams are.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

michaels wrote: »

Service industries will also be hard hit as people decide not to go to the theatre, clubbing etc because it costs too much to get home or there are simply no taxis available.

How on earth did Londoners ever leave their house before smartphones and Uber were invented? I have a vague memory of using something called "the tube" after many nights out at the theatre, but perhaps I'm just old and confused. I think there were also these large, red wheeled things that we used to get after a night on the raz; they had numbers and followed coloured lines on maps throughout the night.

Herzlos

Whilst Uber might be alright at going from identified door A to identified door B using GPS, how does it handle vague or open requests ("take us to a good Indian restaraunt near Kings Cross"), or know things like being able to drop someone off in a better spot for the destination (like on a side street next to a hotel rather than the front door, to save 20 mins of traffic)?

I think there's a whole other aspect to black cabs which isn't fulfilled by Uber and is most useful for the tourists.

Anyway, Uber has it's place, but it should still be following the rules for the minicab firm that it is.

michaels

Out,_Vile_Jelly wrote: »

How on earth did Londoners ever leave their house before smartphones and Uber were invented? I have a vague memory of using something called "the tube" after many nights out at the theatre, but perhaps I'm just old and confused. I think there were also these large, red wheeled things that we used to get after a night on the raz; they had numbers and followed coloured lines on maps throughout the night.

You mean those things that many women and some men find intimidating because of the drunken, threatening behaviour, that potentially take much longer and involve walking/standing in the rain at either end and only run to a few fixed routes?

Of course many still use them but many others only go out because there is an affordable alternative and will choose not to if that alternative is withdrawn.

No doubt all those stories about black cabs refusing to go South of the river and packing up early on rainy evenings because they have already made their days takings are completely made up too?

Andy_L

Herzlos wrote: »

Whilst Uber might be alright at going from identified door A to identified door B using GPS, how does it handle vague or open requests ("take us to a good Indian restaraunt near Kings Cross").

https://www.google.es/search?q=indian+restaurant+near+kings+cross&oq=indian+resturant+near+kings&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l3.12422j0j7&client=tablet-android-samsung&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

westernpromise

Herzlos wrote: »

I think there's a whole other aspect to black cabs which isn't fulfilled by Uber and is most useful for the tourists.

If so, black cabs will see off the competition from Uber.

That they have lobbied to get Uber banned suggests that they expect to lose. They are just Luddites essentially.

Herzlos

westernpromise wrote: »

If so, black cabs will see off the competition from Uber.

That they have lobbied to get Uber banned suggests that they expect to lose. They are just Luddites essentially.

I think them lobbying to get Uber banned is more to do with the unfair competition - they can't compete on price with a company that doesn't follow the same regulations.

economic

Herzlos wrote: »

I think them lobbying to get Uber banned is more to do with the unfair competition - they can't compete on price with a company that doesn't follow the same regulations.

the regulations are there to protect the black cabbies cartel possibly?

Out,_Vile_Jelly

michaels wrote: »

You mean those things that many women and some men find intimidating because of the drunken, threatening behaviour, that potentially take much longer and involve walking/standing in the rain at either end and only run to a few fixed routes?

Of course many still use them but many others only go out because there is an affordable alternative and will choose not to if that alternative is withdrawn.

No doubt all those stories about black cabs refusing to go South of the river and packing up early on rainy evenings because they have already made their days takings are completely made up too?

Every theatre, opera and ballet show I've been to in London has finished ~22.30, never later than 23.00. Regular tubes and buses still run at that hour, no need to use the night services for those of a nervous disposition. Those who go Out out ie clubbing are presumably young and hardy enough to cope with a night bus. I really do think the number of those who only go out because of Uber is vanishingly small in the context of the London economy.

I've lived in London for 15 years, have an active social life and am struggling to count over 5 instances of using a taxi in that time.

Herzlos

economic wrote: »

the regulations are there to protect the black cabbies cartel possibly?

I think it's more likely that they are there to protect the public.

Such barbaric practices as carrying out background checks for drivers.