Uber vs. Taxi: Yellow Cabs taxi service and ride-sharing app Uber have been compared and rated in Brisbane
WHAT is the difference between Brisbane’s taxi service and an Uber? It may be less than you think. Read on to see the results of our Uber vs. Taxi experiment.
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DESPITE being competitors, the taxi industry and ride sharing service Uber offer a very similar experience, according to a test by the Quest.
Figures collected across Brisbane’s southeast show while Uber was an average 26 per cent cheaper, the average journey in a taxi was 12 per cent quicker.
Journalists from the Wynnum Herald, South-East Advertiser, Southern Star and City South News compared journeys from each of their communities to Post Office square at Adelaide St, Brisbane.
On average, trips to the city were 3.25 minutes slower with Uber but $9.66 cheaper, with the main point of difference being the mobile phone app.
Technical issues plagued the Yellow Cab taxi app, with some having to reinstall or restart the program.
Comparatively, the Uber app gave live-GPS tracking of approaching Ubers, and detailed information on drivers when selected.
Yellow Cabs beat Uber for car cleanliness but both operators rated level for comfort and customer service.
Yellow Cabs general manager, Bill Parker, said customers paid for what they got.
“There is a reason why catching a cab is a bit more expensive because it’s a whole lot safer,” Mr Parker said. Vehicle inspections, $5,000 camera systems and daily cross reference our drivers’ licences with the transport department are just some ways we offer quality assurances to our customers.”
An Uber spokesman said he hoped the legalisation of ride-sharing services in New South Wales would push the Queensland government to act.
“The decision should act as a catalyst for the government to remove ambiguity for hundreds of thousands of ride sharing participants by introducing sensible, safety based interim ride sharing regulations.”
Queensland’s Opportunities for Personalised Transport (OPT) Review Taskforce will be complete by August.
The review will provide recommendations on a new regulatory framework, as well as future compliance and enforcement measures.
RIDE 1: WYNNUM TO THE CITY
Uber — Paul Eyers
Despite the ease of signing up, I had my reservations catching an Uber to the city.
I was travelling from the Wynnum Community Centre on Florence St and my initial concern had me wondering if I would even get an Uber outside the inner city.
However with four drivers in the vicinity, the app showed a real time GPS location of my approaching ride, including car details and a picture of my driver.
Three minutes later and I was already in my Uber, which beat the taxi to the start location despite there being a rank only 500m away.
While the car’s interior could have been cleaner, the customer service more than made up for it.
The driver offered a $10 discount after discovering I was partaking in my maiden Uber voyage.
The total was $37.23 and resulted in exchanging contact details with the driver should I wish to use him as a driver again.
Taxi — Ellen-Maree Elliot
Paul’s Uber pulled up as I struggled to order a taxi on the Yellow Cabs app.
The GPS placed me a street over from where I was, then crashed.
It rebooted and pinpointed the right street but the wrong side of the road.
After ordering it was quick to arrive from the rank over the crest of Bay Tce and we left at 1.35pm.
The driver had been driving taxis for 15 years and not once needed to turn on his GPS.
He was friendly and, when talk turned to Uber, philosophical: progress was important to stop society from stagnating.
His generosity perhaps spurred because he doubted Uber would badly affect him before he retired.
I fiddled with the radio station and airconditioning with his blessings and we arrived at Post Office Square in good time at 2.05pm to a damaging price tag of $56.39.
RIDE 2: CANNON HILL TO THE CITY
Uber — Sarah Orr
I had never caught an Uber before so I had some concerns coming into the challenge.
The cars are unlabelled and don’t have security cameras — what if something went wrong?
On the day of the race I summoned my lift with a press of a button and the app told me the closest car was three minutes away.
My driver arrived in his Toyota Prius with a welcoming smile and we departed Cannon Hill at 12.58pm.
Along the way my driver and I chatted about soaring petrol prices and what we liked most about Brisbane’s southeast.
When we arrived at Adelaide St at 1.13pm the fare of $21.11 was automatically charged to my card.
The car was spotless, the service friendly and price reasonable.
I’ll definitely ride with Uber again.
Taxi — Paul Eyers
It’s been a long time since I have been in a taxi — previous experiences have left me with nothing but an empty wallet and a frown on my face.
Standing in the sun opposite the Cannon Hill Kmart Plaza on Pickwick St, struggling with the dysfunctional Yellow Cab app and clueless as to where my taxi was probably wasn’t the best way for the taxi industry to win me back.
Long after my colleague Sarah had departed in her Uber, my taxi arrived at 1.02pm.
Fortunately, the journey improved from here thanks mostly to a chatty driver, a spotlessly clean car.
I arrived at 1.22pm and the journey set me back $29.20.
RIDE 3: FAIRFIELD TO THE CITY
Uber — Leah Kidd
May I start this review by saying I have travelled in Uber countless times and would recommend the service to anyone.
But, as luck would have it, my latest Uber trip was my first less-than-five-star experience.
It started off well when my Uber rolled up four minutes after ordering but as I opened the passenger door, I was greeted by a popper’s straw wrapper in the door, seated to a dusty dashboard, a generally unclean car.
I was asked by my driver “do you rate Uber?” Why yes, I do.
Cost was $17.97 for the almost 18-minute journey.
Taxi — Ruth McCosker
Travelling from Fairfield into the city using a Yellow Cab booked via the app was quick and stress free.
The app worked well and my cab arrived just a few minutes after the Uber.
Although the cab driver did not engage in any conversation, the drive was quick and comfortable.
For me, I do not use taxis with an expectation, nor want, to engage in polite small talk, so the quiet drive was exactly what I wanted.
At just more than $20 for the short 12-minute journey, I consider this a reasonable price to pay, and to top it all off, my cab arrived before the Uber.
RIDE FOUR: MT GRAVATT TO THE CITY
Uber — Leah Kidd
Waiting on the roadside and my phone starts ringing — it’s my Uber driver, he’s lost and he needs directions.
It’s not the best start to my journey but all is quickly forgotten seven minutes later when I’m out of the sun and heat in the ultra clean, freshly scented blue Nissan Almera being offered chilled water and breath mints by my well-dressed, well-spoken Uber driver.
The almost 25-minute journey is lovely and sets me back a mere $31.42.
I’m also thrilled when I catch up with my taxi riding colleague and gloat about my free water.
Taxi — Ruth McCosker
If I’m not driving, taxis are my transport of choice.
I had never really used the Yellow Cabs app before and it was very temperamental and took a long time to get working — I do not recommend it.
Once I’d made my booking, the Yellow Cab pulled up in just more than five minutes.
The driver made polite small talk and took the most direct route to my destination in the city.
At $39.90, an Uber may have been marginally cheaper, but for a few extra dollars I choose the reliability and safety of a taxi.
Do you prefer taxi or Uber? Let us know in the comments below.
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