Uber v taxis in NSW: Who will you back in the ultimate fare fight?

OLIVIA NOAKES loves the payment process and mix of drivers, but GILLIAN McNALLY can’t see the need to switch over. What do you think?

THE fight for fares is well and truly on in Sydney after ride-sharing service Uber became legal in NSW this week.

The move may have stirred up major opposition in the taxi industry but for consumers, the competition is expected to lead to more cheaper fares and more choice.

So as the battle for hearts and minds heats up, we asked two users to make a case for their preferred transport mode.

Who will you choose? Comment and take our poll below.

An Uber driver heads to pick up a passenger in Sydney.

UBER USER (Olivia Noakes)

Once you’ve downloaded the app, the process is simple. You can see how many cars are available in the area and hit the button to book your Uber.

● You can wait in the comfort of your own home as you see exactly how far away your Uber is — simply stroll out when the car’s pulled up

● Most Uber cars are well maintained, clean and comfortable with a majority providing you with FREE water and lollies.

● There’s a great mix of male and female drivers

● You can converse if you wish or switch off if you don’t and there’s little political rants as a majority of Uber drivers are gen X or gen Y and usually wish to talk about the Sydney scene and what’s happening around the city.

● When you pull up at your destination, there’s no awkward fiddling through the wallet for notes and pondering whether to tip the driver — the exact amount is automatically taken off the card you have linked to your Uber account #Bliss

Taxis wait for fares at a rank in Sydney. Picture: AAP

TAXI USER (Gillian McNally)

For 20 years I’ve caught taxis and while I have a few bones to pick (I’ll get to that later), I am not switching to Uber because I am not convinced I need to.

● I don’t want another online account, password or username, I am happy to pay cash or card in and hailing a taxi or booking by phone or app is good enough for me.

● I don’t care what generation or country my driver hails from. As long as they have a GPS, know the road rules and get me from A to B in one piece, I am good to go.

● I’m not convinced the Uber rating system makes me any safer than I am with a taxi driver’s security cameras, criminal record checks, licence and training and GPS locators.

● I’m not convinced Uber is cheaper for the trips I take. I rarely spend more than $20 on a cab, rarely travel in heavy traffic and probably take a taxi once a fortnight, why change?

● I’m not a drinker so I’m not a pain in the arse who may spew in the back seat, I know where I live and I can pay the fare. As such I get great service on Friday and Saturday nights.

● YES I have had some bad experiences in cabs. I’ve sat through political rants, Uber rants and asked a speeding driver to slow down. But these are rare exceptions. The majority of drivers have been polite, professional and safe drivers. Just like Uber’s.