After getting married two weeks ago, myself and my wife faced a small dilemma at the end of the reception: getting from the venue to our hotel in the Sydney CBD.
Never fear, new wife says, we can “call an Uber”.
I’ve always been a little unsure about Uber, the controversial ride sharing service that is becoming more and more loved by Sydneysiders but has traditional taxi services up in arms.
The fact that Uber is largely unregulated and there’s no definitive safety checks when it comes to drivers and vehicles has always made me sceptical.
I’ve also felt sorry for taxi drivers who face significant costs just to get on the road and are suddenly being undercut by a rebel industry.
News this week that the Baird Government is likely to legalise Uber in NSW, and implement new guidelines surrounding its operation, is both inevitable and sensible.
My first Uber experience a fortnight ago was nothing short of superb. Within minutes of requesting a car, our driver confirmed the cost and his estimated arrival time (less than five minutes).
We were able to monitor his progress via a smart phone, ensuring we knew exactly how far away he was.
His car was clean and comfortable and he was both friendly and chatty. He knew exactly where he was going, and was helpful when it came to the large amount of luggage we were carrying.
All of a sudden, I was something of an Uber convert.
My wife, who is a regular Uber user, tells me this level of service has been the case almost every single time she’s used the ride sharing concept.
Most Sydneysiders who are regular taxi users will tell you that it’s often not the same story when it comes to cabs across this city.
Booked cabs often don’t turn up, drivers sometimes have no idea where they’re going and the level of service too often fails to meet expectations.
It is true that booking an Uber is likely to cost you more under the possible NSW Government changes, but I’d suggest people will continue to use the service.
As long as any ride sharing service is regulated to the point that it is safe, reliable and meets all reasonable legal requirements, then there’s no reason it shouldn’t be allowed to operate.
If anything, it will give the taxi industry the kick up the backside it has so long deserved and will hopefully, in the end, be better for the customer.
Originally published in The Western Weekender