Been there. Done that. Because of a number of circumstances that made it seem like the best option and the encouragement of my geek son, we took an Uber home from the airport on this trip. For those who have not had their TV off this month, Uber is a company that allows people to use their spare time and their empty cars to haul the masses around like taxi’s have been doing for years.
It has the advantages of the taxi. You can call at the last minute and have someone there to pick you up in minutes. You don’t need to crowd in with a lot of people you don’t know. If you need to stop at a bathroom it can be done. You go straight home. None of these can be used to describe a trip on a bus, train or shared ride like Supershuttle.
It also has the disadvantages of the taxi. It is expensive to my taste. The fare is determined by the distance, which doesn’t change, and also the time. In rush hour it costs more because it takes longer. We had a long way to go and it was rush hour in Los Angeles. When I can plan ahead and travel by myself I can get a shared ride van to haul me home for $21.95 plus tip. Since my wife was with me and other needs we took an Uber and it cost us $122 including a $20.00 discount. Ouch. Double ouch. Actually it is almost sextuplet ouch.
I salute the men and women driving Uber. It is a successful company and their flexibility might make me use them in a crisis but that experience was a bit rich for my blood. I was worried about connecting with the driver. With the Uber App and a smart phone it was no problem. I knew the price would be high so I did not have a stroke. More power to them but I don’t want their success to be built on my blood.
Uber, a first, and I hope, a last.
homo unius libri
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