The TARC is busy and nowhere close to where you are, you’re car is in the shop, and you need to leave for work now. Louisvillians will soon have another option in local transportation thanks to international, technology company, Uber.
Uber is a mobile app where users find a ride, pay through the app and can see when their ride will arrive.
James Ondrey said, “People love it because they don’t have to leave where they are, and it’s convenient. It’s really just the click of the button.” Ondrey is the Uber general manager of Ohio and is also helping to launch Uber Louisville after successfully establishing Uber in Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus.
The company is based in 50 cities across the U.S. and 20 countries. Founded in 2009, Uber now tops other companies on MIT’s Technology Review’s List of 50 Smartest Companies in 2014 in “disrupting the taxi business.”
“We’re all about giving people transportation choice,” said Ondrey.
After Uber users reserve a ride in the app, “you get a picture of the driver, make, model, and lisence plate number of the car, and the ability to call the driver with the push of a button,” said Ondrey.
Drivers are classified as either Uber Black or Uber X. Uber Black drivers are professional chauffeurs with commercial licenses and commercial auto insurance driving a black sedan, town car or SUV. Uber Black, driving luxury town cars, is quoted at 20 percent more than a typical taxi ride.
Uber X drivers are at least 23 years old with a personal license and personal auto insurance. Uber X, driving midsized sudans and hybrid vehicles, is quoted at 20 percent less than a typical taxi ride.
So what separates Uber from a taxi company? “Uber is not a transportation company. We’re a technology company. We don’t employ the drivers, and we don’t actually own the cars,” said Ondrey.
While drivers are not employed through Uber, they do undergo a stringent background check, driver training, and the company looks at their motor vehicle history report. Uber also insures that the driver is properly licensed, has personal vehicle insurance, and vehicle registration.
Commuters in Louisville can now search, secure and schedule a driver through the mobile app Uber.
Pay with credit card, Google Wallet or connect PayPal to your Uber account. Once users arrive at their destination, the fare is automatically charged to their credit card, and Uber will email users a receipt.
After riding with Uber, “there is feedback within the app where riders let us know how their ride was, rate it on a scale of 1 to 5, and provide comments,” said Ondrey.
With the launch of Uber Louisville timed perfectly for Derby and Oaks, Ondrey said, “It’s seamless and simple. I think its going to change the way people are going to move around in Louisville.”
For more information on Uber Louisville, click here.
Photos courtesy of Uber.
