WARNING: this post is completely different from all previous posts. Instead of sending you a link for something that I find interesting or smart I’m going to debrief the past couple of days using Uber as a travel in Mumbai and Pune.
The first thing I noticed is that there are fewer drivers than I would have expected. I guess I shouldn’t be shocked since Ola is the dominant force here but it did catch me off guard. Instead of being told I’d need to wait 3-7 minutes for a car I was told I’d need to wait I’ve mostly seen estimates in the 13-15 minute range.
While we’re on the subject, the ETA for drivers is terrible. Just double the number you’re given and you might be in the right range. What’s worse is I regularly have to text the driver to tell them where I am. I’ve had similar experiences in the US where a driver would go to the apartment building across the street or something like that but here I’ve had drivers park somewhere nearby and wait for me to text them my exact location.
Uber is still cheaper than taxis in India (with one exception, UberIntercity, but I’ll get to that later). For example, a regular UberX drive from my hotel to the Pune airport (9.6km or 6 mi) is estimated to cost Rs. 134 – 167 ($2.11 – 2.63) or about Rs. 14 per km (35 cents/mi). UberGo – the supposedly super cheap version of Uber – is Rs. 125 – 157 ($1.97 – 2.47). UberBlack is about double at Rs. 278 – 335 ($4.38 – 5.27). However, even UberBlack is cheap relative to the hotel’s cab estimate at Rs. 500 ($7.87) and certainly cheaper than the hotel’s shuttle option at Rs. 800 ($12.59).
UberBlack is not swanky like in the US. This is something I really didn’t expect given the sheer volume of rich people in a city like Mumbai. However, my post hoc explanation of it is that many people have their own personal driver.
Drivers don’t always turn on the app/say they’ve picked up the rider. The first time this happened I was really surprised. Not only did the driver not have the directions in the app (which meant I got to play navigator) but if the cost of the ride was more than the minimum fare he didn’t get the right amount. Maybe Uber should let riders initiate the drive or have some way of reminding the driver. At any rate, the rider may want some record of where they were with this person and the driver surely wants the distance and time payment.
Despite some of the troubles I must say it’s nice to not pay the foreigner tax. So far I’ve only had to do that once. I paid Rs. 100 for an auto rickshaw. This price was negotiated by the guy at the hotel before I got in and the meter said Rs. 65 when I got where I was going. Not a big deal but nice to know that I’m paying exactly what everyone else does.
UberIntercity is a great addition to the lineup. I’ve been asking drivers in DC what they would say if someone got in their car and said “We’re going to State College, PA!”. Most of them, surprisingly, have said they’d be ok with it. A few have said they wouldn’t take the fare. I haven’t put any driver in the position to make the decision for real because it’s estimated to cost $250 – 300. Anyway, UberIntercity takes the risk of getting a driver that doesn’t want to drive you 3.5 hours away just to make the drive home without a paying rider and Uber makes you pay for it. An UberIntercity from Mumbai to Pune will cost Rs. 3999 ($62.95). ECabs quotes Rs. 2750 ($43.29). An UberX (if you could get one to take you) would cost Rs 1,624 – 2,210 ($25.56 – 34.79).
UberAuto-rickshaw needs to get going in more places than just Delhi. I’ve yet to test this out but hopefully Sunday or Monday I will.
Finally, where in the world is UberMotorcycle? Yes, jumping on the back of a motorcycle in India’s chaotic traffic is probably a bit suicidal but it’s so much fun!