How does sharing a cab work

I have heard of some cases where the driver has tried to weasel around this one. As a courtesy, though, most people will tell the driver that there will be two or more stops when they are getting in the cab. If the meter goes on and off, it results in two fares that have a combined value that is higher than one long fare, if that makes sense. Once this happens, you the passengers are stuck with paying for two separate fares. There have been a few times that I suspected the driver knew only one person was exiting, but feigned confusion and reset the meter anyway as well as a few times when I knew it was my fault for not being clear.

Thus, I always state this up front, and repeat it several times. No tips. Urban Dopers: How do you "share a cab"? Or is there some other system? Interesting and enlightening answers, everyone! It knows where you are. Because the passenger's credit card is linked to the e-hail account, no cash changes hands.

At the destination, the driver stops the car and the passenger gets out and walks away. A receipt is sent via email, with links to options for rating and tipping the driver. Drivers for Uber and its competitors use their own cars, and they seem incentivized to keep them clean and well-maintained. The cheapest options are late-model compacts, not junkers.

The riders input their destinations into the app, and the drivers use navigational software to get there. Wrong turns are unlikely. The drivers are generally polite and well-spoken.

They never refuse to take you to any particular destination. They don't even know your destination before they accept your call. Does this sound like a case of damning with faint praise? That depends on what city or cities you were accustomed to catching taxis in.

A consistently low rating will force a driver out of Uber or its competitors. All of the above and more foster a positive experience for ride-sharing customers. It is impossible to come up with a definitive or average price for an Uber. Its pricing scheme varies with every city, and that surge pricing model changes the prices constantly based on demand.

According to Consumer Reports , longer trips are generally cheaper by Uber but short trips can be more expensive. And the vast majority of trips by Uber are short. So, an Uber ride from the airport to a suburb should save you money, but a mile-long trip across a neighborhood could well be cheaper in a cab and would definitely be cheaper by bus or subway.

Consumer Reports also warns that the surge pricing model for both Uber and Lyft can mean much higher prices at busy times of the day. The bottom line: Uber can be less expensive than a taxi or car service, but not consistently. One point in its favor, though, is that Uber tells you exactly what the prices will be for the options available at that time before you confirm the trip. With cheap prices and readily available cars, customers get into the habit of taking a car for very short distances.

The costs can add up quickly. Safety is an important advantage for drivers working with Uber and other e-hail services. The riders using the service have registered their identities and their credit card numbers on the app.

They are not random strangers on the street. Because the transaction is cashless, a driver doesn't risk unpaid fares or need to carry cash for change. Rude, aggressive, and disruptive passengers are weeded out because drivers rate their customers. Consistently low ratings or reports of unsafe behavior toward drivers can cause the deactivation of an account.

Unlike yellow cab taxi drivers who work hour shifts or black car drivers who are scheduled by dispatchers, Uber drivers enjoy considerable freedom and flexibility. Drivers log in and out of the system anytime they choose and pick their own hours. Drivers avoid expensive taxi rental leases by using their own vehicles.

They also pay their own fuel and maintenance costs. All else being equal, this may mean more profit for drivers. Drivers are also spared any office politics because the app renders dispatchers irrelevant. Uber has become a prime example of the gig economy at work. Its workers are not guaranteed a minimum wage, they have to supply and maintain their own vehicles, and have few if any benefits. That is becoming controversial in some cities where Uber operates.

In , California legislators passed California Assembly Bill 5 AB5 , a law classifying ride-sharing drivers as employees, not independent contractors, but the state's voters later reversed that by voting in Uber-sponsored Proposition 22 in November On Aug.

Uber and Lyft announced they would appeal, and Prop 22 remains in effect as the matter wends its way through the courts. Some Uber drivers say they struggle to earn even a minimum wage once Uber takes its cut. They also bear most of the costs associated with the service, such as fuel, maintenance, and repairs. It's a classic use of the free market principle of raising or lowering prices according to supply and demand.

How should they split the bill? It's not a joke but an everyday numbers dilemma, and it highlights some important economic principles. I asked several economists to solve the problem, and they came up with some unique approaches. One called on the work of game-theory pioneer John Nash the inspiration for "A Beautiful Mind" to divide up the bill. Another referenced the ancient Jewish legal text, the Talmud. You may change your billing preferences at any time in the Customer Center or call Customer Service.

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