Taxi Driver Online

Confirmation, if any needed, that Uber still not launched in Dundee

And also more information about a possible PH cap - knew they'd included it in the last HC survey, but think that was a year or two ago, and I'd assumed they weren't going ahead...but this reads like it still might


Will Uber come to Dundee this year?

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/du ... this-year/

The firm was granted a licence in June but so far, no taxis are operating.

The future of Uber in Dundee remains unclear months after the firm was granted a licence to run in the city.

Councillors approved the global taxi giant’s plans to operate an office from the Flour Mill complex in the city centre in June last year.

The firm then said it hoped to be up and running later in 2024.

However, Uber is still not operating in the city – despite the app appearing to show you can order one of its vehicles.

The Courier looks at the latest on Uber coming to Dundee, including an update from the company.

Why is Uber not yet operating in Dundee?

Uber has failed to respond to several requests from The Courier for an update in recent months.

However, pressed on the matter this week, a spokesperson told us the firm is still in the process of recruiting drivers – but did not elaborate on this.

The firm insists it is still committed to coming to Dundee.

The spokesperson added: “We are pleased to have been granted a licence to operate in Dundee, which will help boost earning opportunities for drivers, provide passengers with greater transport options across the city and support the local economy.”

If Uber does eventually start operating in Dundee, expect limited publicity – the firm launched in Aberdeen last year to little fanfare.

What happens when you try to book an Uber in Dundee?

The Uber app gives the appearance of letting customers book a taxi in Dundee.

It shows a user’s location and allows them to select a destination.

Once entered, the app even shows how much it is likely to cost to get an Uber for that journey using the most common UberX option.

However, the app then spends several minutes trying to find a driver, telling the user it is “busier than usual”.

After the pick-up time is pushed back, the app eventually says that UberX is not available.

A message adds: “Sorry, there are no drivers available.

“Please try again in a moment or request a different trip.”

However, the same thing happens again if you try to book another journey.

Although the cost is displayed, the app does not charge the user for the trip.

Users in other areas like Stirling have had a similar experience with the Uber app.

What is Dundee City Council saying about Uber?

The local authority says it will not comment on Uber coming to Dundee as it is a matter for the company.

Licensing convener Stewart Hunter has also told The Courier he has not heard any more about Uber since the licence was approved.

He did say the firm were aware of a possible shortage of private plates due to an overprovision of private hire cabs.

He said: “When Uber were granted a license this was raised with them at the meeting.

“They were relaxed about it and were confident in their business model.”

What are taxi drivers saying?

Chris Elder, who represents several current taxi drivers through Unite the Union, says he too has heard “nothing more” about when Uber will start running in Dundee – “aside from a few customers asking”.

He said: “Customers have told me they have attempted to use the app and the vehicles haven’t turned up.”

Mr Elder believes recruitment could be a challenge for Uber.

He added: “There was a recent survey conducted which illustrated that Dundee already has an overprovision of private hire cabs.

“Due to the possibility of no further car plates for private hire being available, Uber are depending on current drivers or operators going with them.

“I’m finding it hard to see drivers potentially moving to Uber to pick up dribs and drabs.”

Not much need for 'fanfare' if you've only got one car


When 'pressed on the matter', the spokesperson regurgitated the tired old comms cliche they've been issuing for years now in any new or prospective location - including, as I recall it, the 'Local Cab' areas a few years ago

Again, if all they're able to do is recruit from the existing driver pool, not sure if a PH cap would make a whole lot of difference. Which is probably why Uber 'relaxed' about it, particularly as I'm guessing they're having similar recruitment issues as in Aberdeen...

But, of course, like the cross-border dimension, a cap might be detrimental to Uber if they were expecting a flood of new drivers...

Equally, how it would pan out in future would also depend on whether multi-shifted cars became more prevalent, and also how the market in plates panned out

And isn't the procedure the Courier have gone through with the app the same one that happens in any area where there aren't any cars available?

But guess which office the Courier reporter must have been outside when he ordered his Uber?

At least he didn't get run over by a taxi, or battered by someone with a stick

https://wpcluster.dctdigital.com/wp-con ... 8x1365.jpg

This is the Courier article about Stirling that's linked to in the article above, which goes through the same procedure as above of trying to order an Uber car where they're not operating.

Apart from that, not a lot to see for anoraks, but it's a change for articles like this to actually recommend local 'taxi' firms

Funny thing, though, as regards the terminology etc, the piece is about as accurate as you'll get in the mainstream press as regards what Uber actually is

In fact, far better than the likes of TaxiPoint et al

Some extracts below, although by the time I'd selected these I'd have probably been better doing the whole lot, so anyone reading might maybe just as well read the whole piece. Not paywalled, and Courier articles normally load quickly and cleanly

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/busines ... -stirling/

And one reason I don't like the term 'ride-hailing' is because strictly speaking you can only 'hail' an HC

So you can't 'hail' an Uber even within the app

The same thing happens if you try to book an Uber in Aberdeen unless the one driver is in the area. The courier in Dundee seem to be backing the local drivers yet the Aberdeen papers Evening Express and Press & Journal are backing Uber. All 3 papers are owned by D C Thompson and printed in Dundee.

Didn't know the P&J/Eveing Express was printed in Dundee. But it'll be up at their nerve centre up on the Kingsway close to Arbroath Road, as opposed to their other nerve centre close to the rank in the city centre, where all the action takes place

But I've read the vast majority of online pieces about Uber in both the P&J and Courier.

Not quite so many in the Courier, but certainly more than other similar UK locations Uber thinking of launching in, I'd say, so there may be some kind of link there in terms of both the Courier and P&J being DC Thomson titles.

And although the Courier's slant certainly seems to be pro-Uber, in the round their articles seem to have been a bit more balanced than the P&J's

(Like the Evening Telegraph in Dundee doesn't have a separate website these days, the Evening Express will come under the P&J's website regarding Aberdeen coverage. So, only reading stuff online, I've never picked up on the Evening Express vibe at all. But I'd certainly have guessed it would be broadly similar to the P&J's...)

Why would they need a PH cap given cross border is outlawed in Scotland?

I think Uber would have a very good case to challenge any PH cap in Dundee, as it would be hard to argue against the suggestion it was only put in place to restrict Uber's activities.

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IDFIMH

Glasgow has a PH cap it's the only city in UK to have one.

The EE & P&J hate all things taxi. They have hated us for years and love Uber.

Its clear to see Uber have paid some sort of fee to DC Thomson to champion Uber

Rainbow used to advertise cars with Original 106 and sponsor the traffic announcements on the radio, Original 106 is owned by DC Thomson and when the Uber stuff started in the EE Rainbow pulled all advertising and sponsoring.

Uber still hope the SKT will go in Aberdeen.

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So busy night tonight??