Uber in Santo Domingo

[Rustxko]

While existing taxi drivers may not leave their unions, other drivers will become Uber drivers and sign up. Why not? Join the taxi union and get 2 fares a day at $25 or Join Uber and get 10 short fares at $10. Uber will never be a union because drivers can come and go at will. Uber is a union buster. The two models don't coexist well which is why cab drivers in the states hate Uber drivers.

The thing is that they can't do much about it because you can't identify a Uber driver. If you've used it, then you'd understand. You watch the car and person you expect driving to you on the app. You walk to the car. You know the drivers name. He knows yours. There would have to be a union taxi driver at everyone's house to interrogate drivers picking people up. They can't tell from looking whether he is your friend or family.

As far as safety, I did think about it the first couple of time I used it because ride share apps sounded shady to me at first. The first couple of times, I took a snapshot off the app with the drivers information and sent it to my brother before I was picked up just in case.

 

[MikeFisher]

While existing taxi drivers may not leave their unions, other drivers will become Uber drivers and sign up. Why not? Join the taxi union and get 2 fares a day at $25 or Join Uber and get 10 short fares at $10. Uber will never be a union because drivers can come and go at will. Uber is a union buster. The two models don't coexist well which is why cab drivers in the states hate Uber drivers.

The thing is that they can't do much about it because you can't identify a Uber driver. If you've used it, then you'd understand. You watch the car and person you expect driving to you on the app. You walk to the car. You know the drivers name. He knows yours. There would have to be a union taxi driver at everyone's house to interrogate drivers picking people up. They can't tell from looking whether he is your friend or family.

As far as safety, I did think about it the first couple of time I used it because ride share apps sounded shady to me at first. The first couple of times, I took a snapshot off the app with the drivers information and sent it to my brother before I was picked up just in case.

nothing wrong with what you state,
but you clearly have zero experience how that Union Picking works in this country.
i can't tell about the Capitol, as i don't live here,
but here on the East it works the way that shortly after starting, union drivers will know about the existence of the new competition.
from there on they def will find some who ride their private cars that way, and they will be all over them.
we had such often in the past, none of the outcomes been a fine one, none of the "new" ones stayed in the biz.

Mike

 

[Mauricio]

While existing taxi drivers may not leave their unions, other drivers will become Uber drivers and sign up. Why not? Join the taxi union and get 2 fares a day at $25 or Join Uber and get 10 short fares at $10. Uber will never be a union because drivers can come and go at will. Uber is a union buster. The two models don't coexist well which is why cab drivers in the states hate Uber drivers.

The thing is that they can't do much about it because you can't identify a Uber driver. If you've used it, then you'd understand. You watch the car and person you expect driving to you on the app. You walk to the car. You know the drivers name. He knows yours. There would have to be a union taxi driver at everyone's house to interrogate drivers picking people up. They can't tell from looking whether he is your friend or family.

As far as safety, I did think about it the first couple of time I used it because ride share apps sounded shady to me at first. The first couple of times, I took a snapshot off the app with the drivers information and sent it to my brother before I was picked up just in case.

Most people that take a cab sit in the back. If I see a regular person in a regular car, not a taxi, hopping in in the back, I will think, that's probably a Uber driver. I don't think it won't take long for the conventional taxi drivers to identify Uber drivers. That's the only problem I see for Uber and I suspect they thought about that and have enough experience with it in other markets. All the other stuff related to technology and taxi rates are no reason for it not to work. It works in similar countries.

 

[kapitan75]

Uber will work in the major cities. people with money and credit cards will use the service, especially if they are drinking.

Uber is very similiar to a car service back in the day from the bronx . Sunshine car service? Basically residents of the Bronx, with a very nice car or truck will be called for the younger crowd that rents by the hour, or for the occasion , to be seen. These cars were usually fitted with a loud stereo, big flashy rims. Sort of "Ghetto Executive". At the time, one could be driven around in a big body benz or lincoln navigator, "balling". The standard car at the time, till today was the Lincoln town car or crown victoria, so passengers really appreciated something different from the norm.

This service was a benefit to the car owner because they can now own the "fly ride" and make the extra money to pay off the car note. These owners took pride in their rides appearance, and customers took notice.

That new car, making money on the side, is the big attraction for car owners that make money from their cars. This is a big incentive if it takes off in the DR. Instead of the typical wobbly wheel toyota corrolas in use now, some one is going to pick you up in a Lexus or Infiniti, or Acura Jeepeta or sedan.

This Uber Service could work well in areas that have many big city tourist. The main obstacle in these tourist areas is avaliability of free wifi. Many visitors go around without cellphone service because of cost, but if wifi is free, they will use it.

A compromise can be had with the taxi unions, like in other parts of the world. Uber cant touch the taxi line, airport is off limits, and uber cant have street pick ups, pick ups only allowed thru a scheduled appointment.

That uber registration fee and tax would help the goverments economy too.

 

[MikeFisher]

but do we have such Big City Tourist Area?
i have no clue about the Capital City, but never got the impression that too many tourists would be there(aside of the ones who visit by organized tours of course, but they would not be Uber Clients).

Mike

 

[VJS]

I think Uber may work very well in DR, at least in urban areas - is there a reason why existing cab drivers may not also sign up to Uber and pick more rides? Plus all those guys who invested in a good car beyond their budget and now can barely afford the bank payments - they won't mind pick a few rides now and then. The best thing about Uber is that I know what car is coming, how far away is it from me etc and reject complete junk that passes for a taxi in DR before it gets to pick me up. And I don't need to argue about the fare.

 

[Frank the Tank]

Could be a good opportunity for a Spanish speaking ex-pat with a nice jeepeta and knowledge of the streets.

 

[the gorgon]

I think Uber may work very well in DR, at least in urban areas - is there a reason why existing cab drivers may not also sign up to Uber and pick more rides? Plus all those guys who invested in a good car beyond their budget and now can barely afford the bank payments - they won't mind pick a few rides now and then. The best thing about Uber is that I know what car is coming, how far away is it from me etc and reject complete junk that passes for a taxi in DR before it gets to pick me up. And I don't need to argue about the fare.

Uber might very well be the 21st century alternative to outmoded transportation paradigms, but there is another outmoded obstacle that is more obdurate than one imagines. it is called the taxi syndicates.

 

[dv8]

travel unions do not need to identify uber drivers, they only need to know they exist. all it takes is for them to block main roads, organize few protests and pressure the government to ban it.

 

[MikeFisher]

Could be a good opportunity for a Spanish speaking ex-pat with a nice jeepeta and knowledge of the streets.

who can afford a nice Jeepeta, why should he take Passengers for rides for a few bucks? he will be here to enjoy life.
btw, many do not speak real spanish at all.

Mike

 

[the gorgon]

travel unions do not need to identify uber drivers, they only need to know they exist. all it takes is for them to block main roads, organize few protests and pressure the government to ban it.

i do not think that some people here understand the power and reach of these taxi syndicate morons. i have friends who have gone to Playa Dorada to pick up their friends, and the people had to walk through the gate and get picked up outside.

 

[kapitan75]

but do we have such Big City Tourist Area?
i have no clue about the Capital City, but never got the impression that too many tourists would be there(aside of the ones who visit by organized tours of course, but they would not be Uber Clients).

Mike

In the big city, ( capitol, santiago) the cool want to be seen types will use uber to show off, if they cant show off by their own means, then theres the type of customer that will send an uber to pick up his chica, send important clients around in uber. Like a step up from a cab, step down from executive transport.

The other big city( popular tourist beach zones )with free wifi or easier access to use wifi , this service will take off with visitors familiar with the service. If the all inclusive was more open to the public, in way of a pay resturaunt, or pay for a show/ concert, it would work even better.

As it is now, motoconhos and the random generic car/minivan is used to get people around. Nothing flashy, or what a visitor may be used to back home. In the non tourist zones, you can find a guy with a nice 4dr pick up or suv,with music, for a day trip. I usually pay $100 to 150 for a full day, with a driver always waiting. So the concept is already in use , but not organized.

 

[dv8]

who can afford a nice Jeepeta, why should he take Passengers for rides for a few bucks? he will be here to enjoy life.

actually many folks here have a car they can barely afford :laugh:

 

[Africaida]

Everywhere uber is they have had strong strong oppositions from unions representing drivers. They always managed to implent themselves anyway.

I am an Uber user. I find it convenient but more expensive for short distance. Also their pricing change all the times so for the same trip depending on demand you may pay a different amount. In NY, I could live without them. In Paris, it was genius because taxis are expensive.
Uber cars are nothing to write home about, clean but I prefer Lincoln from other car services. Drivers are generally nice too. I just find it convenient when I am in area with little taxis.
The good thing is that uber often run specials.

 

[MikeFisher]

In the big city, ( capitol, santiago) the cool want to be seen types will use uber to show off, if they cant show off by their own means, then theres the type of customer that will send an uber to pick up his chica, send important clients around in uber. Like a step up from a cab, step down from executive transport.

The other big city( popular tourist beach zones )with free wifi or easier access to use wifi , this service will take off with visitors familiar with the service. If the all inclusive was more open to the public, in way of a pay resturaunt, or pay for a show/ concert, it would work even better.

As it is now, motoconhos and the random generic car/minivan is used to get people around. Nothing flashy, or what a visitor may be used to back home. In the non tourist zones, you can find a guy with a nice 4dr pick up or suv,with music, for a day trip. I usually pay $100 to 150 for a full day, with a driver always waiting. So the concept is already in use , but not organized.

for a 150.-greenbucks a day you can get a licensed and insured van with driver for the day all around even in touristy expensive punta cana.
just out of curiosity, as those Uber drivers are private persons using their private vehicles.
how does it work insurance-technically?
a private car does not insure a paying customer, as it is only insured for private use, not for commercial use?
Kapitan,
no private Uber driver will every pick up a customer at any hotel in the whole punta cana area, even within the taxi unions the resorts are devided as to who of them is allowed into which resort to pick up a client.
so your Uber customer needs to make it all the way out of the maingate of those for parts quiet Huuuge resorts. maybe hire a cabby at the Lobby to be brought for 10 bucks to the maingate, and there hopp on the Uber Car, lol.
this Uber System is sure a great thing for areas with high density of a population, big cities, like santo domingo. taxi unions aside, i can imagine such working there, even that i myself would still simply prefer to take my own cabby and be brought straight without sharing the right somewhere, to my own destin. after a night of party in town, well, then i can afford the cabyy ride home. but i can imagine such to work in Santo Domingo, IF they find a solution with the taxi unions.
and still,
how does the asked for insurance thingy work?
Biz under the Radar?, like nobody knows it was a paid for commercial ride?

Mike

 

[MikeFisher]

actually many folks here have a car they can barely afford :laugh:

well, if it's a nice expensive big one, something "to show off"(as Kapitan states), then it will need it's fuel per mile in quantity and not be cheap to get a ride on it, and anyways, that "Nice Car" Owner should have a full time job to do to pay for the "nice" Jeepeta's loan, so not much time to make daily many rides which would pay off such high quality vehicle.
for here, i see such system more likely working with the average affordable cars, the toyota camry's and the Ford Explorer SUV's and alikes. they are available and owned by people who may join teh Club of a smartphone app to make some bucks once in a while.
but they have to show Background checks? how often? issued papers for that are valid 30 days here and cost some money(several rides).
I imgine that the Car Owner has to be the real car owner, to always have the background checked trusted person as the trusted checked driver. but how many of those "nice Jeepetas" are paid for already, with the original papers in the hand of the "owners"?
and they need to connect a bank account/credit card.
they need a car insurance which includes commercial rides, even already struggling to pay the average full insurance for the 3 years old car.
Naaa,
not working here on the east, no way.

Mike

 

[MikeFisher]

Everywhere uber is they have had strong strong oppositions from unions representing drivers. They always managed to implent themselves anyway.

I am an Uber user. I find it convenient but more expensive for short distance. Also their pricing change all the times so for the same trip depending on demand you may pay a different amount. In NY, I could live without them. In Paris, it was genius because taxis are expensive.
Uber cars are nothing to write home about, clean but I prefer Lincoln from other car services. Drivers are generally nice too. I just find it convenient when I am in area with little taxis.
The good thing is that uber often run specials.

o.k.,
for areas with little taxi presence.
well, here in this country, you have almost as many taxis present as there are cars.

Mike

 

[Tamborista]

Do they have paragraphs in Punta Cana?

 

[MikeFisher]

Do they have paragraphs in Punta Cana?

for what?
what paragraphs?

MIke

 

[the gorgon]

i am interested to see how the Dominican government will tailor the liability regulations regarding Uber.