Taxi Driver Online

This article is a couple of weeks old now, so the full launch should be happening about now


Exclusive: Uber takes first bookings in Aberdeen

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/ne ... een-today/

The ride-hailing app is finally taking bookings in Aberdeen... but you might face a wee wait for a lift.

Uber has finally launched in Aberdeen – six years after first being granted a licence for the city.

The ride-hailing service is being “soft launched” in Aberdeen for private hire bookings.

The P&J took Aberdeen’s first Uber ride from Duthie Park to Marischal College shortly after 11am on Monday.

Uber is expected to fully launch in Aberdeen in around a fortnight, we understand.

The firm was granted a licence to open an Aberdeen booking office on Berry Street in June.

Uber finally comes in Aberdeen

Uber’s arrival has been the subject of fierce protest from the existing Aberdeen taxi trade, who take issue with its “surge pricing” at busy times.

“You better watch what you wish for,” one senior trade figure told The P&J, bemoaning the press attention Uber’s Aberdeen arrival was attracting.

Their gripes even ended up in court, though Unite the Union eventually withdrew its challenge of Uber Scot’s licence.

However, the uncertainty of the court appeal did delay the Aberdeen launch – which was initially pencilled in for August.

It also caused Uber to pause recruiting drivers, which The P&J understands is continuing to have an impact on numbers on launch day.

UK head of cities at Uber Matthew Freckelton in May revealed he wanted to have between 40 and 50 drivers in Aberdeen on day one.

Sources close to the operation tell The P&J that driver numbers are hovering around 25 at present.

However, only a handful will be able to take bookings as part of Uber’s soft launch in Aberdeen.

Uber brings hope for Aberdeen businesses

Hundreds of people supported the company’s drive to launch in the Granite City, pinning hopes of a boost for the night-time economy.

Business chiefs believe Uber can help to restore confidence in late-night visitors that they’ll be able to get home easily, making them more likely to come into the city centre.

At peak times, in the early hours of Saturday and Sunday mornings, large queues of people have become a familiar sight at city centre taxi ranks.

Uber bosses reckon their pay structure will entice more drivers to work those unsociable hours, helping to clear the streets.

Their drivers will not be able to pick up at ranks, only being licensed to take pre-booked fares.

And Uber rules mean drivers will take fares only in Aberdeen. While they can drop off in Aberdeenshire, they won’t be pick up hires outside of the city.

Uber driver numbers not yet hit predicted heights in Aberdeen

This is understood to have proved a sticking point with drivers, who face fareless trips back into Aberdeen if they take hires for Aberdeenshire.

All the drivers recruited by Uber are thought to have left another Aberdeen firm to drive, rather than the incomer finding new drivers entering the depleted trade.

The P&J in May revealed blacklisting threats, seemingly from a council-sanctioned taxi lobby group, for any driver thinking of making the jump to Uber.

Many gave up the trade during the pandemic as rule changes made it less financially appealing.

It remains to be seen if Uber’s pay structure is any more enticing.

Might as well say that the private hire service is being launched for private hire bookings


That's months they've had now - if the drivers haven't come across by now, nothing is going to make them do it until they actually launch properly. If even that


Most cars in Aberdeen are HCs, but if they want the surge pricing then obviously the meter would have to come out, and thus it wouldn't be an HC. So I'd guess there's very few HCDs who want to give up their meter and therefore lose the street work.

The PHVs in Aberdeen also work meters in mixed fleets, and thus the meter would have to come out with Uber, because they'll currently be set to the HC tariff. But, again, obviously not many takers willing to risk jumping ship. And the stiff knowledge test for both codes, and the lack of access to cross-border drivers, help explain Uber's recruitment difficulties.


Again, the above factors explain why they just can't 'onboard' rookie satnav slaves from a McWolverhampton

The article makes it sound like all the recruits are PHDs, but they could also include HCDs who've dumped the meter, in which case they've become PHDs

But I'd guess the vast majority of the 25 will be existing PHDs, despite there being vastly more HCs in Aberdeen than PHVs

Uber will offer drivers quite large incentives to join and to take X amount of jobs.

They will also offer free knowledge schools and cheap car hire.

In short, they will chuck bundles of cash to get themselves off the ground.

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