There are now more Uber cars on the streets of New York than traditional yellow taxis. Figures have revealed that there are now 14,088 registered Uber cars in the city, with 13,587 yellow cabs being in operation. However, more trips are still being taken in the yellow vehicles. This has been linked to the fact that a large number of Uber drivers work on a part-time basis.
Uber was launched in 2011, with the company claiming its journeys are just as affordable or even cheaper than most yellow cab rides. The Uber apps allows users to book a journey from their mobile phone, claiming to connect them “with a driver in minutes”. Their services are now operating in cities across the world.
Nonetheless, some users have complained about unforeseen fees and “surge pricing”, where rates shoot up during busy periods. The company’s practices have been branded “unsustainable”, due to its drivers working as freelance contractors. Bhairavi Desai of New York Taxi Workers Alliance said that Uber’s unlimited number of cars were making it hard for any cab driver working for or outside of the company to make “a decent living”.
Uber plans to hire one million female drivers by 2020. It has also been accused of compromising safety and breaking local transport laws.
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