Doctor Glyndwr wrote:
Curiosity wrote:
The issue seems to be that Uber taxis are not currently subject to the same regulation/laws that regular taxis are.
As far as I can tell, the laws are only around the use of meters and some vague talk of "extra training" for dealing with being hailed from the street. As a customer, I don't see why I should give a shit about the former; as someone who drives some times, I have no idea what the latter could even involve. I'm not one of these hipster "all industry disruption by tech guys is automatically good" Silicon Valley types but so far the cabbies aren't winning me over.
If anyone can point to legislative differences that might make me less safe when being a passenger in an Uber than when I am in a minican or a taxi, then I'll pay attention. But I don't believe that exists.
They say they check black cab drivers, this would only show somebody with a conviction for sex pest type activity's not somebody who might be inclined to do them. Not sure minicab drivers are checked or Uber drivers, my sister in law said she wouldn't get in one on her own.
Also don't forget the "Knowledge" the black cab drivers spend 3 or 4 years often on benefits learning maps and streets in London
This is supposed to separate them from the rest in that they know the best routes, best for who is not clear!
Last time I got in a black cab with my brother, we asked to be taken to a small hotel in Soho, he took us to the wrong place and we had a 5 mins walk from there, knowledge my arse.