[jasonkester]

Uber really shines in countries with a culture of haggling and gouging tourists.

Landing in Cairo, step one was to buy a local sim and check the price for a ride into town. When the local taxi tout quoted me triple that price, I showed him the app and said I’d pay that. He pulled out a laminated card with his tourist rate printed on it explaining that this was the “official price” and that here was no way anybody could get a cheaper one.

50 feet further toward the exit, he tried pulling out a different laminated card, explaining that it contained the “old price”, which was now only double ubers price. So I hit the “go” button on the Uber.

He never went lower double Ubers price, and followed me all the way to my driver before giving up.

It’s the ultimate travel “screw remover”.

[esperent]

Even in countries without haggling cultures - in Ireland where taxis are strictly regulated and always have a meter, I several times have found myself forced to listen to the views of the driver, usually extremely racist/sexist/bigotted views, and as a frequent cyclist I've been nearly hit by taxis on many occasions, including one where I can only conclude the driver was intentionally trying to knock me off the bike. I pulled up next to him at the next light and told him through the open window that he nearly hit me, and he jumped out of the taxi and started pushing me and shouting at me (this happened in Dublin, of course). Crazy experience, now that I look back on it.

This kind of thing doesn't tend to happen with uber drivers, but it does seem that taxi driving attracts a certain type all over the world. Of course, I've had plenty of taxi rides with lovely friendly drivers too.

[cforrester]

I wonder what kind of regional variations there are on that; where I'm from, the anecdotal impression I've gotten is that sexual harassment is more common from Uber drivers than from drivers for local taxi companies. My guess is that, at least where I'm from, Uber employment is more volatile than local taxis; an Uber driver is more easily fired, but the barrier for entry is lower, so significant damage can be done before a harassing driver is let go.

[DyslexicAtheist]

South France: taxis have a manipulated meter installed which they can alter the price via a button next to their leg or the gear stick. The route starts with normal meter speed and in the last 1 or 2 miles the prize often doubles or triples!! They will _always_ do this when picking up tourists from the airport. Or if they realize you don't know the system.

Being a taxi driver in Nice is like being part of an organized crime ring (petty crime for sure but still crime). It's "organized" because they even has/had lobbyists engaging in local politics.

Not sure if Uber actually fixed this problem in the region but I recall when the first Uber's started driving they would sometimes end up in physical fights with the taxi drivers who unlike Uber drivers were in radio contact with each other and happy to help fight an unruly customer (or competitor).

They're so convinced that they're entitled to this scam that reasoning with them is impossible. I ended up with an argument at 2 AM because the taxi driver refused to acknowledge that he was actually manipulating the meter. That was even after I showed him the wiring and the button with which he did it. I made the same trip many times so I knew the fare was ~€65 but certainly not €250 (!!).

From all the sh1tholes I've visited and been ripped off by taxi drivers in 5 decades on this planet nothing has ever come close to how blatant they go about it in the South of France. :chefs_kiss:

[searchableguy]

Yeah, ride sharing apps can be more safe if the alternatives in the market are not regulated properly. That is the case where I live (India) for rickshaws and to some extent, cab services.

[DyslexicAtheist]

> I several times have found myself forced to listen to the views of the driver, usually extremely racist/sexist/bigotted views

"if you say you're English these days, you'll be arrested and thrown in jail" ?

[alfredlind]

> if you say you're English these days, you'll be arrested and thrown in jail

What do you mean by this?

[DyslexicAtheist]

it's from a Stewart Lee bit that makes a similar point OP was making.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZG-Ig3M7r4 (it's restricted outside of UK unfortunately)

an earlier variation of the same that talks about homosexuality / morality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n-UGQcG3Jw

Both "Stewart Lee's Comedy vehicle" and his more recent "Content Provider" are excellent.

[Simon_says]

> taxi driving attracts a certain type

Or the stress of driving a taxi drives people insane.

[wruza]

Or those who drive a taxi have initially few percent of insane, and those who can’t stand it just leave. My experience (15 years everyday local taxi user) is that good people didn’t last long until uberlikes rushed into town and made it a “still hard but now regular” job with rules and feedback, for both drivers and clients. Before that, taxi was a grey market filled with pathetic excuse of a thug trying to expel the weak, do some easy money and tell their story. Not a single regret about these times and these imbeciles.

[el-salvador]

Reminds me of Costa Rica taking advantage of their tourists with high prices.

For example their main airport (SJO) blocks Uber access on their WiFi network by dropping packets and serving bad DNS records.

Normal tourists don't realize this is done in purpose, and they'll stand puzzled checking their phone screens unable to open Uber.

The official airport taxi price is three times more expensive than a normal taxi or Uber.