• Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    Australians of Lemmy, what’s how has Uber impacted your taxi industry.

    All I know is that, as an American, my experience with your cab industry felt very very different than my experience in the states. Your cabs felt much cleaner, safer, and more reliable than what was available in major US metros.

    Also, last time I was there I still noticed a LOT of cabs still driving around. That’s not the case in many American cities these days.

    • Deceptichum@quokk.au
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      8 months ago

      Cabs here fucking suck, Uber forced them to up their game a bit but they’re still the worse option.

      My memory of cabs is ridiculously expensive, cancelling trips or never showing up, driving dangerously, racially discriminating, sexual assaults, refusing rides if not far enough, talking on the phone or radio while driving, reeking of cigarettes, etc.

        • Deceptichum@quokk.au
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          8 months ago

          In Australia I find they’re great. Super cheap, can get a ride in >10 minutes, clean, drivers are friendly. Only real complaint is a bit of the talking on devices, but that’s rare.

      • Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        Interesting. How much of the nation’s cabs are like 13 Cabs? I was surprised that those things were decently clean, had security cameras, and had app hailing with GPS tracking.

        American cabs are still often old school. You call to request one that might or might not come, there is often no app to see where / when the cab will arrive, there are no cameras or security features for passengers, and some cabbies might aggressively ask for cash. And I’m talking about getting a cab in the San Francisco / Silicon Valley area… Uber’s home turf. So these cabs feel like time traveling to the 90’s.

        • danl@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          They are only clean and have GPS or even apps since Uber. Before they had competition, only premium cabs were vaguely healthy to use.

    • maniacalmanicmania@aussie.zoneOP
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      8 months ago

      Dunno, I just catch public transport or walk everywhere. I know this option isn’t as accessible or available for everyone. I also don’t want to have an app for every single thing so that’s why I’ve never used uber or the like (including food delivery) and just waited by the roadside to hail a cab on the very rare occasions I needed one. Again, something I know not everyone has immediate or close access to.

      • Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        Yeah, I’m kind of jealous of that too. Public transport in major Australian cities is often much better than it’s American counterparts.