Drunk Guy vs. "Uber" Driver

[Virgil Showlion]

I've seen this news story hosted on every site from CBS to ZH:

www.cbsnews.com/news/camera-captures-assault-of-uber-driver-by-passenger/

Video (NSFW):



I'm reposting it here for three reasons:

1. If I don't start at least one thread with > 20 views per year, I'll get laughed and/or pointed at during the mod scrums, and I figured this topic was my best bet.
   
2. I've never asked anybody in RL if they've used "Uber". Has anyone here? Would you recommend it? Do you consider it safe/ethical?
3. I've seen Uber increasingly under fire lately: rape allegations leveled at drivers (both of the may-be-true variety and proven-to-be-untrue variety); undercutting regulations, maintenance requirements, insurance requirements, etc. required of cab drivers; "passengers from hell" (see this thread for an example); "drivers from hell"; price jacking by uber; and, as in this video, risks of violence to both passenger and driver.
   

What say you to Uber? Thoughts on the video, or points 2 and 3 above?

[ArchietheDragon]

I took Uber last night.    I like it.  Convenient and easy. 

[swamp]

I have never used Uber, but I would if I had the chance.

And I think that the drunk guy is an asshole.

[Virgil Showlion]

Nov 3, 2015 9:44:37 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

I took Uber last night.    I like it.  Convenient and easy. 

It doesn't bother you that they're undercutting all the regulations that cab drivers are required by law to comply with?

In Toronto, the requirements are no trivial matter. The vehicles have to undergo rigorous maintenance and checks (far beyond what an ordinary vehicle would do). The vehicles have to be specially fitted with dividers, panic buttons, and other safety features. The drivers have to pay to insure passengers. They have to comply with municipal regulations about what documentation they have to have visible/available that don't apply to regular drivers. I believe the cab drivers in Toronto also have to be members of a specific union and pay union dues as well.

I've long heard about Uber, but considered using it unethical because the drivers are undercutting all of regulations imposed on cab drivers. I can't help but see it as cheating, even if it does drive prices down.

[ArchietheDragon]

Nov 3, 2015 9:56:43 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

Nov 3, 2015 9:44:37 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

I took Uber last night.    I like it.  Convenient and easy. 

It doesn't bother you that they're undercutting all the regulations that cab drivers are required by law to comply with?

In Toronto, the requirements are no trivial matter. The vehicles have to undergo rigorous maintenance and checks (far beyond what an ordinary vehicle would do). The vehicles have to be specially fitted with dividers, panic buttons, and other safety features. The drivers have to pay to insure passengers. They have to comply with municipal regulations about what documentation they have to have visible/available that don't apply to regular drivers. I believe the cab drivers in Toronto also have to be members of a specific union and pay union dues as well.

I've long heard about Uber, but considered using it unethical because the drivers are undercutting all of regulations imposed on cab drivers. I can't help but see it as cheating, even if it does drive prices down.

no. 

[MJ2.0]

I was out with some girls in NYC and we needed to get a cab to the train station before the last train. No cabbies would take us because I guess it wasn't enough money to make it worth their while. We finally got an Uber to take us. Nearly $30 for a 10 minute drive.

[Virgil Showlion]

Nov 3, 2015 10:05:36 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

Nov 3, 2015 9:56:43 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

It doesn't bother you that they're undercutting all the regulations that cab drivers are required by law to comply with?

In Toronto, the requirements are no trivial matter. The vehicles have to undergo rigorous maintenance and checks (far beyond what an ordinary vehicle would do). The vehicles have to be specially fitted with dividers, panic buttons, and other safety features. The drivers have to pay to insure passengers. They have to comply with municipal regulations about what documentation they have to have visible/available that don't apply to regular drivers. I believe the cab drivers in Toronto also have to be members of a specific union and pay union dues as well.

I've long heard about Uber, but considered using it unethical because the drivers are undercutting all of regulations imposed on cab drivers. I can't help but see it as cheating, even if it does drive prices down.

no. 

But why? Just a "screw the regulations, they're unnecessary; caveat emptor" capitalist ethic?

[ArchietheDragon]

Nov 3, 2015 10:14:51 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

Nov 3, 2015 10:05:36 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

no. 

But why? Just a "screw the regulations, they're unnecessary; caveat emptor" capitalist ethic?

something like that.  

1.  There is no such thing as "the regulations".  every jurisdiction has their own set of rules and regulations that may or may not apply to both cabbies or uber.   I do not consider it my business to know whether cab companies and/or uber are complying with those regulations. 

2.  It is true that uber has come under fire for being able to skirt the regulations that cab companies have to follow.  But in general, those  regulations are for cab companies.   Uber is not that.   Semantics, maybe, but until the regulations are updated, I care not about that "unfairness."

[justme]

Yes I've taken uber. I've yet to take it alone, but my friends have. I've felt way more safe in the uber car then some cabs. In San Francisco I had a cab ask where I was going and refuse to take me. Which they're not allowed to do according to regulations, but surprise! they ignore it. I've never had a dirty uber, I've been in gross cabs. All the uber I've been in are late model cars, not necessarily so with cabs. Every uber driver uses GPS, I know approximately how much I'm going to pay before I go, I can order one when and where I need, and they've all been nice.

My last ride was particularly fun. After asking me and my friends what we had been up to, he let us pick the songs and we had a sing along. I'm pretty sure a cab driver would have killed us if we did that lol.

[djAdvocate]

i didn't take uber.  i took the other one.  liked it.

[justme]

Oh and uber does carry insurance for it's drivers and does a background check and other things. Most of the cab regulations are meant to keep others out so they can keep prices high, not to keep passengers safe. At least that's booty their first goal.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Nov 3, 2015 9:56:43 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

Nov 3, 2015 9:44:37 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

I took Uber last night.    I like it.  Convenient and easy. 

It doesn't bother you that they're undercutting all the regulations that cab drivers are required by law to comply with?

In Toronto, the requirements are no trivial matter. The vehicles have to undergo rigorous maintenance and checks (far beyond what an ordinary vehicle would do). The vehicles have to be specially fitted with dividers, panic buttons, and other safety features. The drivers have to pay to insure passengers. They have to comply with municipal regulations about what documentation they have to have visible/available that don't apply to regular drivers. I believe the cab drivers in Toronto also have to be members of a specific union and pay union dues as well.

I've long heard about Uber, but considered using it unethical because the drivers are undercutting all of regulations imposed on cab drivers. I can't help but see it as cheating, even if it does drive prices down.

No, I used it in Seattle frequently when I went to my research meeting.  The convention center was only 3 blocks from my hotel, but I couldn't find a cab that was willing to take me on such a short ride and I simply could not walk that and the convention center itself.

Uber takes the jobs that many cabs refuse to take and fills a niche.  It wouldn't be so successful if that niche wasn't there.

[zibazinski]

It's safer and cheaper. Both you and your driver are checked out.

[Tennesseer]

The drunk in the Uber vehicle video has been fired.

Taco Bell Fires Marketing Manager Who Was Caught on Video Punching an Uber Driver: 'It is clear he can no longer work for us'

[cktc]

I have a friend who used to drive for Uber, and I'll ride with her or a group if someone else arranges it, but in general I'm anti uber. The lack of regulations concerns me (for both passengers and drivers), and cabs are usually my last resort anyway. 

[andi9899]

He deserves to be fired. You can't just smack people and expect to get away with it.

[flamingo]

I live in a city where Uber is popular. I've never taken it myself, as I live in the center of the city and have no need (all trains lead to me!). But pretty much everyone I work with takes it regularly. A couple people I work with are Uber drivers on the side. Everyone seems to love it. No one has complained about bad drivers or bad passengers. Cabs in my city are super expensive, and if I ever needed one for personal business (as opposed to work), I'd take Uber over a cab. 

I've been in a lot of cabs in my life. I don't think cabbies are any better/safer/less of a threat than Uber drivers. It's a means of transportation, and I only use it as a last resort. But I like that I can order an Uber to pick me up where I'm out, without having to search for/flag down a cab.

[Opti]

I found another story when I googled Uber driver versus drunk. Hopefully this is not common.

www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2015/01/27/police-drunk-arlington-man-tries-to-kiss-his-uber-driver-steals-her-phone/

[MJ2.0]

This really doesn't have anything to do with Uber as a means of transport. This is really about people thinking they can be assholes to everyone and get away with it.

[zibazinski]

And you can't because uber has your info too