Taxi Driver Online

Taxi war looms as Uber seeks to open in Portsmouth

CONTROVERSIAL taxi company Uber wants to open an office in Portsmouth – but cab drivers say they are fearful for the public’s safety.

The mobile-based car service, which has been banned in several countries, has submitted documents requesting a licence to operate out of offices at 1000 Lakeside, North Harbour.

City taxi drivers fear the Silicon Valley company, which operates in 54 countries, will undercut their business and put the public at risk as they believe it does not do strict enough background checks on its drivers.

The app has caused controversy in several countries for raising its fares dramatically at times of crisis, putting customers in touch with unregulated drivers and there has even been an allegation of rape against one of its drivers.

But the deputy leader of the Conservative group on Portsmouth City Council Luke Stubbs said that the council’s licensing committee will scrutinise the application if objections are received.

He said: ‘As a council we cannot create barriers to entry for a business but there has already been a lot of controversy about Uber and its business model and we will look at it very carefully.’

Cllr Stubbs said that Uber will only be granted a licence if it meets the strict criteria that private hire drivers in the city already have to meet.

Uber allows customers to hail a cab and agree a fare using a smartphone, letting the user see where their nearest cars are, who is driving and how much it is going to cost, which varies depending how busy it is and how long the journey is.

It is planning a massive expansion in Europe and its CEO Travis Kalanick estimated that it could create 50,000 new jobs across the continent and take 400,000 cars off the road.

It has faced a regulatory minefield across the world, but despite this, the US-based firm has several cities across the UK in its sights although it would not confirm that it was actively seeking to open in Portsmouth, just that it had made an initial application to the council.

A spokesman said: ‘Uber’s ambition is to be everywhere – any progressive, forward-thinking city that has a need for safe, reliable and efficient transportation, we want to be there.

‘We are always exploring our options in the UK.

‘The technological revolution is already happening and a city like Portsmouth should not be left behind.’

Other authorities such as Fareham Borough Council and Southampton City Council confirmed they had not received an application from Uber.

An Uber spokesman said this would mean that customers would not be able to use the app if they were in those areas but there was nothing stopping someone hailing an Uber taxi in Portsmouth and taking it to Fareham.

Taxi drivers across the area have spoken of their upset at this potential new service coming to Portsmouth – despite Uber claiming that it would grow the market for private hire cars and not have a negative impact on it.

Cab driver Steve Clark said: ‘In the UK, successive governments have been regulating taxis and private hire vehicles since 1847 primarily for public safety.

‘As I understand it, Uber has been operating in other parts of the UK, and world, without complying with local licensing conditions.

‘There are also reports of serious criminal allegations against Uber drivers.

‘We have a smart and well-respected fleet of taxis that provide an efficient and safe service to the general public.

‘The entry of Uber will, in my opinion, expose our community and put 
vulnerable members of our society at risk.’

Bruce Hall, general manager of Aqua Cars in Portsmouth, said he was not worried about the Uber application.

Mr Hall said: ‘There are lots of unanswered questions which cannot be answered until Uber is either issued a licence from the council or not.

‘Whatever happens we will still be an extremely competitive company trying to give the best service we can.’

To make a representation about Uber’s application write to Portsmouth City Council, Civic Offices, Guildhall Square, Portsmouth, PO1 2AL or e-mail licensing@portsmouthcc.gov.uk quoting reference 14/04643/PHOPS.

No date has yet been set for a decision to be made by the council.

source: http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/busine ... -1-6567327

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Getting a bit nearer to home methinks.

That said I doubt the amount of people in Portsmouth with credit cards is in double figures anyway.

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IDFIMH

My quotes were very watered down!!!!

Uber will do ok in Portsmouth.

A large tech-savvy student population.

If there's a lot of overseas students with Uber in their home town (especially U.S. and Australia), then they'll do well.

But Aqua run at silly low prices, so why would anyone pay for Uber when they can have a car cheap as chips within minutes?

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IDFIMH

What are Aqua's prices, by the way?

To compare:

Uber in Leeds is £1.25 + £1.20/mile + £0.10/minute (min. fare is £3)
Uber in Manchester is £1.50 + £1.30/mile + £0.15/minute (min. fare is £3)

Also, do Aqua have an app, where you can request a car and payment details stored?

With Uber's app, where you book a car on demand, using GPS to locate you, there is no need to ring an office to confirm these details, where mistakes could be make, and the talking to an operator process is removed. Also, payment has already been dealt with, as your card details are already in the app, and charged at the end of the journey.

Even if Uber does cost more, the convenience of not having to talk to anyone, and payment already been sorted, and requesting a car with two button presses on the app, is what makes it appealing. If Aqua does have an app, then you're right.

Just worked out using Aqua's calculator a 3.6 mile job comes out about £6 (including flag).

http://www.aquacars.co.uk/

Basically starvation rates IMO.

However it's not just low prices that Aqua sell on, it's the fact that the car is their within minutes all the time.

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IDFIMH

Uber's aim is to have a car on every corner for fast pick up times.

Apparently the average ETA for an Uber in central London is 3.5 minutes.

I have been advised that the local press are interviewing Uber's UK director of operations on Monday and do I have any questions I would like to be asked in relation to their proposed Portsmouth operation.

The mind has gone blank!

How many licensed Portsmouth vehicles does he need to offer a similar service to the existing PH operations?

How will Uber be supporting drivers in the initial start up process?

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IDFIMH

Ask her if they'll be employing the same clueless non English speaking foreign nationals that make up about 99% of their London fleet?

Also ask her if they have to supply their own sat navs and are they tax deductible ?

On second thoughts, you'd better not mention tax, Uber don't really pay tax.

Finally can you ask her when the next batch of slaves is due to dock at tilbury?

Tia.

That will depend if existing private hire drivers need an operator's licence to work for more than one firm, if not it would be easier, as drivers can work for Uber alongside their existing firm.

Usually, when Uber starts up, either in a new town, or to introduce a new class of vehicle, they would offer an hourly rate (regardless of jobs completed) to start off with. Obviously, there are certain criteria to be met, such as keeping a good acceptance rate, and accepting jobs in a certain area (so if you live outside the town, you can't just keep the app on while you're sleeping!)

That would depend on the local PH driver population in Portsmouth, which is probably different to London.

Sat Navs are inbuilt into the driver app, on the iPhone Uber supply you with (Google Maps, naturally).

Or if your phone is compatible you can use your own phone (the Uber driver app is available on Google Play, and the App store anyway).

Nevertheless, sat navs are a legitimate business expense, so yes you can offset the cost of one against your income tax.

I'm 100% certain any PH that works Uber will be binned off their present PH circuit.

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IDFIMH

How would your present circuit know, unless you tell them? What you do in your spare time, whether you play football, cricket for leisure, or work for another firm if you wish, whether it's PH related or not is your business, not theirs?

Besides it is now expected (in London), that you work for more than one firm anyway. The traditional local minicab operator where you pay base rent/circuit fee, are now probably loosing drivers fast over the appearance of these app-based firms, because of their flexibiliy, and being commission based, you only pay when you earn.

When I join up to other app companies, they know and expect you to work for other apps as well, and they ask you to log off their app, when you're unavailable with a job on board with someone else. They know that you won't be working solely for them, because the smaller apps, don't provide enough work to make it worthwhile.

Uber, is obviously the only app in London for PH, that you could make a living by working for them solely, but most drivers do other work for other firms as well.