David Cantrell wrote:
On Wed, Aug 17, 2016 at 01:26:03PM +0100, Recliner wrote:

One obvious reason: it's more expensive

IME Uber is cheaper than a local minicab company by around 25%.

Not where I am. The trusty local minicab firm is consistently cheaper than
Uber's estimates. And Uber doesn't claim to be cheaper than minicabs, only
black cabs (which it certainly is).


especially at 'surge' times.

OK, I'll grant you that. They're rare though.

Lots of people say otherwise.


- Second reason: it's less likely to have cars available locally in
residential areas (just like black cabs).

Wrong. There are four, right now, within 500 yards of my flat.

I suspect you're near the sort of traffic magnet that attracts Uber
drivers. They don't otherwise hang around residential areas.


- Third reason: you have to have a smart phone, with a signal/wi-fi
access (which is why very few blind people will have an Uber account).

The blind people I know actually find a smart phone more useful than a
dumb phone.

And how exactly do they operate the Uber app if they can't see the screen?



- Fourth reason: you have to have an Uber account before you can use
it, and Uber's app installed on your smart phone.

Well duh. And how long does it take to install and set up? Not very long
at all. It certainly takes less time than it does to find a local
minicab office if you don't know the area.

I was talking about using one's local minicab firm. If you're out and
around, then Uber is certainly more convenient, even though it's more
expensive.



You only have to do it once though. I did it while waiting ages for a
normal minicab to become available at a cab office in Balham.

Yes, of course. And it's great if travelling abroad.