Taxi Driver Online

I wonder who the 'better known global operators' might be?

Nothing particularly new about the concept and marketing spiel here, but not sure if these grassroots app start-ups are quite so common in the big cities as in the sticks.

120 drivers sounds good, but only 2,500 trips over several months is chickenfeed - only 20 jobs per car

So presumably they're also working for 'other providers' at the same time. Which is presumably Uber, or Bolt, or whichever of the big apps there currently are in Edinburgh.

And I'd guess the mainstream private hire providers wouldn't allow working for this app at the same time. So it all seems a bit odd that the drivers are working for Uber and Moon at the same time, while Moon are slagging off Uber...


New Edinburgh private hire taxi app launches

https://www.insider.co.uk/news/new-edin ... i-31670800

The platform began testing earlier this year and now has more than 120 drivers using it


Image: Insider.co.uk

A new private hire platform, designed to give drivers more of the fare, has launched in Edinburgh.

The idea for Moon was born in 2018 when a group of the city’s private hire drivers grew frustrated by the high commission rates being charged by better-known global operators.

Passengers can access Moon Private Hire via an app, which takes a low commission by market standards, recouping only 8% from all trips - compared to other providers that can charge up to 35%.

A spokesperson explained: "Moon was designed to disrupt the market with a not-so-disruptive idea – offering a fairer alternative that benefits drivers, passengers and the local economy.

"We ensure drivers retain most of their earnings, keeping income in Edinburgh and giving passengers confidence that their fare stays in the community."

The start-up received its operating license from the City of Edinburgh Council in 2021 and began a test phase earlier this year. It has since completed more than 2,500 trips.

The spokesperson added: "We started with 25 drivers, which has now increased to over 120, with more joining every week.

"During the current cost of living crisis, launching at this time of year feels particularly important to give back more to hard working drivers providing an important service across the city."

Moon's rates aren't that great

£2.49 minimum fare, then £1.25 per mile...

So for a two-mile run, that's a fiver, basically

According to PHTM the HC rate in Edinburgh is £8.40 for the two-mile run

I thought the traditional PH firms there had meters fitted and charged HC rates (recall a few years ago when there was a big hoohah about the PH cars having meters showing *below* the HC rate, but I think the council agreed to it in the end. But more recently I think their rates had hardened, but of course all bets were off during and after immediately after lockdown. And not sure how that compares with Uber, so maybe that's why Moon's rates are low).

But even if the traditional PH firms are discounting, certainly doubt it's the kind of sums being offered by Moon - no wonder they're punting their low commission rate.

(Moon's 'price per minute' is 40p per minute, thus £24 per hour, which is healthy enough. And I'm not sure if that's like an HC meter rate and only kicks in while stationary or at very low speeds, or if it's a rate which applies all the time over and above the base and mileage rates. If the per minute rate is also applicable all the time the car is loaded, then that would certainly make rates quite healthy.)

Most apps are run by people who think undercutting the competition is clever. After all nobody has ever tried that before

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

This app will be gone in a year or two.

It simply hasn't got the financial muscle able to compete with Uber.

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IDFIMH