Do you Uber? Expect to be asked this question more often. The taxi app that allows you to summon an approved driver in their own car has given the transport network a shake in cities across the world, earning the American company a $50 billion valuation. Now Uber has arrived in Glasgow and opened to Edinburgh customers on Friday.
Download the app to your smartphone and you can book a planned trip and agree to a price, which fluctuates, unlike taxi cabs which offer standardised fares.
Hundreds of Glasgow drivers have registered with the company and are now able to pick up customers throughout the day.
Glasgow taxi cab firms have slammed the decision of Glasgow council to allow Uber a conditional one year licence to operate in the city. The app has been subject to protests from taxi drivers in every city they have operated and has also had to answer serious questions about their driver vetting procedure and passenger safety. Uber has been operating in London but has faced court challenges and clashes with the London Mayor’s office and Transport for London authority.
Max Lines, Uber’s general manager for UK expansion, has hailed the company’s arrival in Glasgow a success saying: “We have been blown away with the reception we received in Glasgow. Thousands of Scots have embraced Uber over the last few weeks and we hope to continue this success.”
With more drivers expected to register to provide services via the app in the coming months and Richard Branson investing in a rival taxi app service it looks like hailing a lift in Glasgow will involve more choice for customers in the future.
