Global ride-sharing service provides transportation via mobile app

You’re tired of asking friends for rides, but you don’t have enough money to take a taxi. The nearest bus stop is too far away and walking isn’t a safe decision during the evening. So what’s your next option?

Uber, a global ride-sharing service, launched a Toledo branch in July 2014 with the mission of helping residents get where they need to go at an affordable price.

Because of the prices Uber offers, Toledo residents such as Makena Scott have decided to choose the service for their work-related transportation needs.

“I travel a lot for work,” Scott said. “I always have to go to the airport because of it and I hate leaving my car there. I have used Uber many times before when I have been in places like Los Angeles, and when they started up in Toledo this past summer, I was pretty happy.”

Since the first branch opened in 2009, Uber has continued to grow. In 2014, Uber delivered 140 million rides worldwide through their 250 operating cities across 51 countries.

Uber has high standards for safety, both for its drivers and vehicles. According to the Uber website, drivers undergo a three-step criminal screening and background check so riders can relax knowing they are in good hands. Every ride is also covered by commercial liability insurance in case of an accident.

Do not be confused though — the service is not a traditional taxi.

Customers use their phones to find a driver through Uber’s mobile application. Using the service is as easy as downloading the app and typing in your information and desired pick-up location. The nearest driver will then be sent to pick you up, and you can track their progress on the app’s map. Their name, photo and car details will also be displayed. Once they’ve arrived, a text message is sent to alert you.

Scott said that while she does like how Uber is cheaper than other taxi services, her favorite thing about using the service is that she can use her phone to summon a driver.

“Of course you can call taxi services to get a ride,” she said. “But the difference is that I also get to see who I will be driving with before they come to pick me up. I don’t know why, but I just feel way more comfortable and safer when I use Uber.”

Depending on location, several branches of Uber exist, offering customers a variety of options. The cheapest and most common branch is UberX, which uses a standard car, while the most expensive is UberLux, which uses high-end vehicles. Other options include UberTAXI, UberBLACK and UberSUV. Currently, Toledo only offers UberX.

“The rates of Uber are typically 30 percent cheaper than a traditional taxi,” said Lauren Altmain, a representative for Uber from Chicago.

According to Uber’s website, the Toledo service has an initial $1 base fee to which a 16 cents-per-minute and 70 cents-per-mile fee is added. Additionally, a $1 “safe rider’s fee” is added, which covers the cost of the background checks Uber does on their drivers.

The minimum fare is $4 and the cancellation fee is $5, according to the website. To get an idea of the cost, a trip from the University of Toledo to Franklin Park Mall — a distance of 4.1 miles — would cost about $6-8. In order to get an approximate fare quote, customers can also input their pick-up and drop-off locations on the app beforehand.

The ride-sharing service is entirely cashless. Riders enter their credit card information into the Uber app and once their ride is over, their card is billed and they are emailed the receipt. After your trip, you can rate your driver and leave additional feedback about your experience.

Uber also gives riders the option to split the fare with friends who ride along. If your friends opt in, each person’s credit card will be charged equally.

According to Altmain, Uber allows its drivers to work as independent contractors who can also work on their own time.

Uber driver Zeke Champion said he couldn’t be happier with his decision to work for the service.

“I like that it isn’t a 9 to 5 type of thing,” he said. “I needed some extra money, but the hours I work did not give me the chance to get a second job. My friend told me about Uber and I gave it a try and it was definitely a good decision.”

Champion describes the process of signing up as a driver to be fairly simple. He said all he had to do was fill out some forms and upload copies of his driver’s license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance.

However, no job is perfect and Champion said there are a few aspects of being a driver that he isn’t crazy about.

“The one thing that I cannot stand is sometimes the people I pick up can be really rude,” he said. “Of course, I expect that since to a lot of people it is just a taxi service. There is always a chance that someone you pick up could be sketchy or something, but I have never had any problems.”

With its reliable pick-ups, affordable pricing and convenient payment methods, Uber continues to be a popular choice for transportation. Or at least its nearly 8 million global users think so.

To learn more about the service or to create an account, visit uber.com.