Within recent years, there has been a significant decrease in traditional taxi usage as people are turning to rideshare apps. As San Diego is home to an evolving taxi market, students have become increasingly aware of the changing dynamics within transportation.
Many people believe that the common rideshare company, Uber, is more convenient than having to catch or call a taxi. Senior Kyle Smith said, “Uber is definitely more convenient than taxis. You can order it ahead of time, allowing you to prepay for it so they can be at a location at a specific time. It also allows you to get any type of vehicle you want. With a taxi you cannot do that.”
However, while scheduling an Uber is often more reliable, recent safety concerns have been emerging, often deterring passengers. Junior Brandon Skalnik said, “I have seen stories on the news of Uber drivers being creepy; seeing the reviews is really important. I feel safer with taxis.”
According to the Uber website, to ensure the safety of passengers, the drivers undergo a screening. However, this does not seem to be enough as there have been reports of unsafe driving and even sexual misconduct (uber.com). Smith said, “Uber can be more dangerous and they definitely legally should be required to do more background checks on people.”
Additionally, the price varies between rideshare apps and taxis. Smith said, “I would say that taxis are generally cheaper because most of the money goes straight to the driver with a small fee going to the city. With Uber, the company takes about 20 to 40 percent of the fare which can make it more expensive, but the variability that Uber has makes it a better option.” According to a website about rideshare fares, taking an Uber is often cheaper for longer trips or off-peak hours, while taxis are usually better for short trips (ascendinmotion.com).
Although using rideshare apps such as Uber has become increasingly common in highly congested cities, there are many people who still prefer to use taxis. Skalnik said, “I prefer taxis more because, say you’re in New York, you can get around faster and it is cheaper than Uber. I also feel like taxis are safer.”
Many people believe that Uber is more reliable and can be used in ways that taxis cannot. Senior CJ Harrison said, “Personally, it [Uber] is more reliable, because I am able to call an Uber through my phone and have an app for it. I can click it, and then it comes right to my house instead of having to call a taxi and hope they have one available. I would consider switching to using a taxi if it offered similar safety measures and technology but is cheaper than Uber.”
Many individuals have experienced strange situations in Ubers. Smith said, “One of the worst experiences I’ve had with Uber was the driver not wanting to talk to us. We were trying to make conversation and he wasn’t talking.”