[mattmanser]

I don't know, every local market has always supported loads of private hire firms. It's a very price sensitive market. And Uber's support for cities isn't great anyway, from my experience.

Like here in Nottingham Uber doesn't support the suburbs 2 years after arrival. You can go there with Uber, just not come back, no-one's around.

A local app with better suburb support is ultimately going to win, as if you can only go one way, Uber becomes annoying.

[specialist]

Forgive my ignorance...

How can Uber not support an area? If a both a driver and a passenger in Goldsport Wyoming both have their apps installed, they can't transact?

[ghaff]

I think he's saying there just isn't much driver availability. I live 40 miles outside of Boston and whenever I've looked there has been little or nothing available. Uber and Lyft might as well effectively not exist in my town although, yes, I can fire up the app and request a ride.

[mattmanser]

Yes, if you go 5 miles outside of Nottingham city centre, you're usually not getting an Uber back. Unless there happens to be one dropping someone off. It's a bit of a chicken and egg problem.

At least with other private hire firms you can phone them up and they'll be there in 10-20 minutes rather than just saying no drivers available.

[cletus]

This surprises and confuses me. As just one anecdote, I got an Uber from a ranch 50 miles outside of Austin back to Austin once.