(Susan Saunders photo)
The mobile app ride-sharing service UBER started service this week in Bloomington-Normal.
The app works by allowing users to hail a car (a non-taxi car driven by the owner ) on their smart phones. The fares are sometimes lower than regular taxi services, but drivers are not subjected to the same regulations as traditional cab drivers. Payments are cashless and managed through the app. Complaints against include fares being able to surge during periods of bad weather or high traffic.
Gov. Bruce Rauner announced the launch of Uber in the Twin Cities, Champaign-Urbana, Rockford and Aurora in addition to its Chicago and Springfield operations. Uber said it already has 20,000 drivers in Illinois.
After Andy Corbin expressed an interested in becoming a driver to make extra money, his driver name “WBNQU-BER ANDY”, we started a search for any local UBER drivers. We discovered Andrew, who worked for weeks in advance of the local launch to pass his background checks and requirements to drive in the local area. Since the app went live on Sunday, he said he has pocketed about $80 for driving, and is getting paid to be available as the service launches even if he isn’t picking up riders.
Click HERE for our chat with ANDREW, which includes a promo ode to get free rides for first time passengers.
Check Cab company owner Aaron Halliday said he hopes his business can withstand the competition as Uber drivers flood the market with their low-cost service.
“They are bullies, they don’t care about what the rules are. They are worth billions of dollars and they’ve pushed around city governments. They buy their way into city governments.”
Halliday said he requested a fare increase last summer from the City of Bloomington to offset an increase in the gas tax and didn’t get an answer. He said he expects the community might try Uber but should stick with a locally-owned company that keep its money in the community.
He also suggested the use of the CURB app, formerly TAXI MAGIC, for those who want the convenience of payment and reservations by smartphone, but said all of their fleet accepts credit card payments inside the cab as well.
After I personally spoke with CHARLIE, a local cab driver with 31 years of experience, he said he would never allow a family member to enter a UBER or (similar service) LYFT car because of the lack of regulation on the drivers. Yes, they pass a one time background check, but he has to take a breathalyzer test before every shift, which non of these drivers do.
Susan Saunders 2-18-15
