Taxi Driver Online

Another day, another app.

Doubt if Uber's lawyers will be too pleased about the name Ubaro - sounds suspiciously like 'passing off' to me: "Making some false representation likely to induce a person to believe that the goods or services are those of another."


Barrow to get its own version of Uber taxi service

https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/17704125 ... r-to-uber/

A NEW taxi app promising to be Barrow’s answer to Uber is due to be launched.

Called Ubaro, the app will allow people to order taxis on their phones like the popular national service, which operates mainly in big cities.

The team behind the creation took inspiration from another of their ventures, the Barrow Eats food ordering app.

They said a number of taxi drivers in Barrow had approached them to make the app, which could reduce the normal overheads that come with driving for a firm.

Only licensed taxi drivers will be allowed to sign up for the service - unlike Uber, which previously allowed anyone to set themselves up as a driver.

App co-founder Sam [edited by admin] said: “People in Barrow have got used to ordering food through an app so it makes sense to order a taxi in that way.

“Quite a few taxi drivers approached us about this and we think it could really benefit them.

“There’s also the convenience for passengers.”

Mr [edited by admin] developed Ubaro alongside business partner Scott Beckman.

The app allows people to book a taxi on their phone in “three taps”.

A driver then tells the passenger how long it will take to reach them, with users being able to track the car’s progress on a map.

Passengers will be able to pay by card, cash and mobile payment.

Fares are said to be similar in price to standard taxis, but without the usual “surge pricing” Uber uses at peak times.

Bob Mullen, secretary of Furness Taxi Trade Association, said he hoped the app would provide a boost to the existing car trade in Barrow.

He said: “For a number of years now we have been saying that we would like the fares to be higher.

“I think if more drivers start using the app then it could give us a bit of a boost to the trade.

“It may liven the trade up a bit. We have been in the doldrums for a while with fares.

“Firms have been frightened to raise fares so us drivers have been stuck in the middle of that.

“It might spark them to have a rethink."

Mr Mullen said he was concerned about using the app without an operator in between the drivers and the people booking taxis.

He said the app might not be used by every driver, with some not being technologically-savvy enough to get on board.

Colin Garnett, manager of Barrow’s Business Improvement District, said: “The Barrow Eats team took on a national company in Just Eat, it’s good to see do it again now with Uber.”

The app creators have not announced a launch date but said it will be released before the end of the month.

An open meeting for taxi drivers to discuss Ubaro is due to be held at Hawcoat Park Sports Club on Monday from 2pm.

Yes, but overseas


But if they're using PHVs they'll need an operator's licence just like any other, er, operation.

an App for the sake of an app

it's only the propaganda from the tech companies that's convincing everyone that apps are "essential"

It is actually quicker to order by phone

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Reading between the lines here, looks like little interest in the new app, so they've teamed up with a traditional office and rebranded it 'Streetcars'. Which sounds a bit old hat rather than the hi-tech future they were promising


Barrow's Uber-style taxi app reveals launch date

https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/17898200 ... 39-barrow/


Image: The Mail

THE creators of a taxi app due to launch soon have rebranded a traditional taxi firm after buying a stake in the business.

Barrow Cars has been renamed Street Cars after the creators of the Ubaro taxi ordering app joined the firm.

They said one of the taxi company's main selling points would be that all taxi drivers would accept payment with bank cards.

The Ubaro taxi ordering app, created by the team behind the Barrow Eats app, is due to launch before the end of the month.

Scott Beckman, co-director of the company behind the app, said of Street Cars: "All of our drivers now accept card so all customers can pay for their fares via electronic payment in the taxi.

"How often does it happen that you get in a taxi and need to be dropped off at a cash point.

"And we now have more drivers than we did with Barrow Cars so the service will be much quicker and far more reliable."

Mr Beckman said the Ubaro launch was delayed to add payment within the app.

He said: "We learnt our lesson with Barrow Eats not to make too many changes after launch while people are using the app."

He added a number of taxi drivers in Barrow had welcomed the app and drivers had signed up to take passengers exclusively through Ubaro.

"We've held a few meetings and lots of taxi drivers have attended. They've said the meeting have among the most attended meetings of the trade ever."

When passengers are not able to find a taxi, it is said they will be asked to call the Street Cars number to book one.

The former Barrow Cars office is in Dalkeith Street.

The Street Cars directors are now Scott Beckman, Sam [edited by admin], James Linton, Gareth Benson.

So that means not all the Streetcars cabs will be part of the app?

And also reads like Ubaro will have cars on the app which aren't part of Streetcars

So all a bit Uber/Ola-ish, blah, blah, cars working for several different ops etc.

Welcome to the future

I do think the future of the pre-booking trade will be a combination of app, phone and online bookings.

Yes the kids love the apps, but business seem to like online, and grannies will always like the phone.

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IDFIMH

Apps are an essential part of any modern booking system. An app is much faster to book with if you're in a noisy environment like a pub or club. The ability to track the car is huge too, I remember the bad old days of phoning the operator up to ask where my cab that was supposed to be with me 10 mins ago was, to be told "he's just turning onto your road now".. is he bollocks.

You have to ask yourself WHY uber is successful in the UK, it's not just because they're cheap. The ability to pull out your phone virtually anywhere and order a cab without having to ask around for a good local company is massive. Cutting out the "how long is a piece of string" time between placing a booking and having a car assigned is also a major bonus.

Here's one extolling the virtues of an app.

Wonder where they borrowed the term 'driver-partner' from?


Taxi firm V Cars buys Swindon-based cab company United Radio Cars

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/new ... adio-cars/


Image: Swindon Advertiser

V CARS has bought a rival Swindon-based taxi firm to expand its reach across the town.

The regional private hire vehicle operator says it acquired United Radio Cars in a bid to become the best company of its kind in Swindon.

It hopes the takeover will allow more businesses and customers to benefit from an improved passenger experience when they book a taxi.

V Cars Swindon’s general manager Kane Wollen said: “We’re really pleased to be expanding the availability of the V Cars experience for the residents and businesses of Swindon through this acquisition.

“Through our app, driver partners, and infrastructure, our passengers will benefit from a high quality, convenient service 24 hours a day.

“We thoroughly enjoy serving the people of Swindon and, through this increased capacity, we look forward to creating even more amazing journeys for our new passengers and driver partners.”

V Cars has been operating in Swindon since 2005 while United Radio Cars set up shop here several years earlier in 1999.

Through the acquisition, more people Swindon will be able to use the V Cars booking app and benefit from increased capacity and transparent fares.

Partner-driver numbers are expected increase to approximately 400.

The app has been developed through more than £1million of investment and enables passengers to book a journey in three taps.

The app cuts out the need to book a journey through a centralised service, although passengers can still book through traditional methods such as over the phone, walking-in or on account.

V Cars is the south west’s leading private hire business, with more than 1,000 driver partners operating across the Bath, Bristol, Chippenham and Swindon areas.

The company is owned by technology-focused passenger services group, Veezu, which acquired the business in July 2017.

The group has three other major service hubs in the UK, each of them operating under established local brands – Dragon Taxis in south Wales, A2B Radio Cars in the West Midlands and Amber Cars in Leeds.


Image: Swindon Advertiser

Some of the natives aren't too impressed though. Who'd have thunk it?

Could be the competition, though, I suspect

Could be worse. The two big PH ops around here sent people to the uber enrollment events so that they could blacklist any drivers that showed up.

I wonder what shares these partner drivers have in the company?

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IDFIMH

Same happened in B&H.

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IDFIMH

If I were on my way out of the trade I'd be tempted to take the [edited by admin] to court over it. They want their drivers to be self employed so they can avoid PAYE but they want to control them as if they were employees.