Elizabeth Ladzinski
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — For every city-dweller who has felt the frustration of getting left on the curb by taxi cab drivers during shift changes, bad weather and big events, a new car dispatch service is looking to help.
Uber, co-founded by Garrett Camp — a part-time New York resident — and Travis Kalanick, lets any user with a text message-enabled phone hail, track, and pay for a ride in a livery cab.
Users first register their mobile phone number and credit card with Uber online. Then, they text their address to Uber (827-222), or use the free application for iPhone or Android to choose a pick-up location on a map.
The company, which partners with independent livery drivers, then sends the nearest cab to pick them up, texting the user an estimated arrival time.
Meanwhile, if the user has the application, they can watch the car arrive on the map.
Finally, the user receives a text message when the driver arrives and the fare is automatically charged to the credit card on file — including tip.
While the start-up began in San Francisco last summer, on Wednesday, Uber picked up its first New York customer. At the time of its launch, it had 100 cars available for travel throughout the city.
The regular base fare is $7, but the minimum for a trip is $15. Uber takes GPS data from the ride and charges either $3.90 per mile if traveling over 11 mph, or 95 cents per minute if below 11 mph. The tip is included in the fare.
While the company seems to have garnered quite a following in San Francisco — an area much less saturated with reliable rides — the real challenge will be here in New York, where they will have to compete with public transit, cabs and other mobile taxi hailing services like Taxi Magic.
And with the minimum ride placed at $15, the service may be prohibitively expensive for some cab riders.
"Was it lost somewhere that @uber in NYC is expensive? Base Fare $7.00 Distance $13.12 Time $11.89. Three separate charges??" tweeted Rafat Ali.
"Had my first ride in an @Uber_NYC car today! It was nice, but I'm not sure it's worth it when you know a good Brooklyn car service or two," tweeted Dannel Jurado.
But others seem pleased with the service so far.
“Have a feeling @uber will be a new addiction. Esp living on the far far west side," tweeted Colin James Nagy.
Another New Yorker, Matthew Orley, used the service to beat the rush of after-show cab riders at Roseland Ballroom.
“Fought thru crowd of 4000 at Roseland Ballroom. Killed it by having an @Uber_NYC car waiting outside @Uber is gonna be huge.”
