Insight

Why Chicago’s Taxi System is Being Overhauled

For the longest time, taxis have been the backbone of the urban commuting industry. It came with its own share of advantages and disadvantages though. Before, complaints about reckless driving and rude drivers gave the taxi a notorious name. So notorious, in fact, that when ride sharing apps came into the picture, the preference of commuters quickly went to the newcomers. It was a mess after that, with taxi companies suing the city and ride sharing apps standing firm on their new-found market.

Taxi Overhaul
Even without the bickering, though, ride sharing apps sent a clear signal of dominance to taxi companies across Chicago. If traditional taxis wanted to compete on the same level, then it had to play the ride sharing app’s game. With this, Universal Taxi Dispatch has released its new app. This app is meant to make the advantages of using a taxi more felt by its users. It promises total convenience and all the safety regulations, from qualified drivers to safe cars, that government laws mandate.

App Features
The updated taxi system that now makes use of apps has plenty of neat features for you. You simply have to go to the Google Play Store or iTunes App Store to download the Universal Taxi Dispatch App. Almost all of the Android devices can handle this app. For iPhone users, the app is optimized for iPhone 5 use. IOS 6 or higher is needed to run this app. After logging in, you book a taxi that is in your area, and wait for your service to arrive. You can monitor where your ride is on the real-time map provided. In here, you can also get an estimate for your total fare based on your pickup point and destination. Safety is also ensured because all driver and car details will be displayed on your screen. You can also call the taxi driver directly for good measure. There are also a couple of novel app features available. One of them is that you can now specify the kind of vehicle you prefer. This comes in extra handy when you also want to use another feature which is specifying the number of passengers in the ride. Lastly, feedback options are available for your use. Taxis are bound by government rules with regard to safety. Any misconduct can result in penalties and fines (credit brittany). These kinds of restrictions, of course, help guarantee a safe and hassle-free ride with every use of the app.

Sources:
http://alternativeto.net/software/u-taxi-dispatch/ https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/universal-taxi/id941145239?mt=8 http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20141106/river-north/cab-drivers-friendlier-than-usual-uber-lyft-competition-could-be-why

Insight

Uber’s Destructive Tactics and Bullying

The Uber experience has changed our opinions on ride-sharing apps. Uber may have its own advantages but the rules governing the use and existence of these ride-sharing apps is now being seriously reviewed on the state level. For some, this means lessening the advantage of these apps over our local cab, limousine, and Universal Taxi service companies.

No Fines for Uber

We have been saying for a long time now that Uber should be subjected to stricter rules. It should be a basic requirement that companies like this provide insurance that passengers are traveling in safe vehicles, driven by qualified drivers, and covered by accident insurance. This bullying from ride-sharing apps is manifesting in a rather different way: much nicer cab drivers. Fines and suspension of licenses are the biggest reasons for the sudden changes in cab driver attitudes. By nature, Uber and similar apps are not required to be transparent in customer complaints against them. This means that they are not getting fined the same way we are.

Nicer Cab Drivers

Our non-emergency hotline 311 tracks and releases information on the number of complaints against cab companies and drivers. This is a check that ride-sharing apps do not need to be subjected to at the moment. And since jobs are much harder to come by nowadays, our universal taxi drivers here in Chicago are nicer than usual. According to data, there has been an 18% decrease in total complaints against cab drivers. The breakdown is as follows:

Year Number of complaints on reckless driving Credit card payment Rudeness
2014 4,244 448 647
2013 5,288 715 858
2014 4,491 682 891

 

Dangerous Tactics by Uber

 There have been many instances when Uber exposed itself to be the unethical company that it is. Sexism has been reported in the highly documented case of Lucy. The way Uber even threatens to expose the personal lives of its detractors is by no means inspiring. Digging up dirt to throw at opponents should have been enough to question the entire practice of Uber.

Another case involving an entrepreneur and his Uber SUV showed the unflinching disregard Uber has for its users. In front of journalists, Peter Sims’ exact location was shown in real time. Even though it was made to look like an innocent showcase of new technology, the mere fact that Peter’s activities were made public is enough to send shivers down my spine.

The so-called “surge pricing” of Uber is also under attack, as evidenced by the unanswered complaints on its website. This spike in fees is felt when there is a high volume of Uber cars requested, bad weather, and heavy weekend nights. Though Uber warns of the possibility in changing fees, the shock felt by its users can no longer be ignored.

Sweet talking can only get Uber so far. Our dissatisfaction with their unfair practices, both to competitors and users alike, has already gotten state-wide attention for regulation. We are all attentively waiting for the results of these investigations to see just how much more Uber can get away with.

Press Release

Universal Taxi Dispatch New iPhone / Android App

 

The new Universal Taxi Dispatch App is on the works and will be released at the end of November this year.

Earlier this year we launched a new design for the Universal Taxi Dispatch website and a mobile version of it as well. Our customers loved it. We receveid tons of feeback. We are glad that we can provide our customers a tool to book with ease a taxi cab. In an effort to keep up with the big competitors, we are developing an app that will allow our customers to track their taxi cab at any time.

On top of being able to book a ride with a few taps on your phone,  using the GPS technology built-in on your phone, our app will show you a map with the location of your taxi cab. You will be able to see your taxi approach your location in real time.

taxi cab map

You will be able to pay via PayPal or Credit cards, Rate your ride and have a receipt emailed to you.

hail-utd

 

We would love to keep hearng from you. Please let us know how we can improve our service by sending us a comment here.

News

Competition Drives Complaints Drop Against Chicago Cabbies

Leave a comment

This must be an Uber effect. The charts below are from the  Department of Business Affairs and Consumer.

Complaints agaisnt Chicago Taxi Cab drivers has significantly deacresed. Some say it is driven  by the competition, making cabbies behave a better to keep from losing customer to Uber. Some say Uber drivers are actually the ones who are rude and some sketchy, after all they are just regular people driving their own cars, they are not professionally licensed or trained to drive passengers.

Taxi drivers are forced to operate under rules that ride-sharing companies don’t deal with. There is currently an unfair advantage for ride-sharing in Illinois, as companies like Uber and Lyft operate without the same kind of consumer protection laws that help ensure the safety of Illinois passengers. On top of this, there’s no real transparent way for the city to track ride-sharing complaints, except on Twitter and online. Bother companies privately manage the driver ratings, such data is not shared publicly.

What are your thoughts on this matter?

comp2

comp1

News

Former Lyft Exec Accused Of Stealing Confidential Data Before Joining Uber

Leave a comment

Former COO Travis VanderZanden is being taken to court for breach of his confidentiality agreement and fiduciary duty weeks after the executive joined Uber.

Cherry_D

A year-and-a-half, Lyft acquired VanderZanden’s Cherry venture, an on-demand car wash startup. Due to his previous operational experience, VanderZanden was installed as COO and helped lead the company’s strategic roadmap as it expanded into a number of new cities over the course of the following year.

VanderZanden left Lyft in August after reported tensions with company founders John Zimmer and Logan Green. Several months later VanderZanden landed at Uber, where he was hired to aid with the company’s international growth.

Before that, however, Lyft claims the former executive copied a treasure trove of confidential information on his way out the door. By doing so, Lyft alleges VanderZanden has breached the confidentiality agreement he signed at the time he joined the company.

“We are disappointed to have to take this step, but this unusual situation has left us no choice but to take the necessary legal action to protect our confidential information. We are incredibly proud of the dedicated and people-powered culture that we’ve fostered to support drivers, passengers and the entire Lyft community and we will not tolerate this type of behavior.” –  said a Lyft spokesperson.

While this two companies battle over data ownership, Universal Taxi is preparing to release its new Mobile Booking Application.

Here’s Lyft’s complaint against VanderZanden: 

Lyft Complaint Against VanderZanden

Stay tuned for more updates!

News

Hailo Taxi App To Leave Chicago on October 26th

Leave a comment

Hailo, the taxi app for black cars and taxis, is pulling out not only from Chicago, but from North America.  Tom Barr, co-chief executive and president, said Hailo would focus on European and Asian markets with enhanced products such as payment technology and a “concierge” service.

 

“We have therefore decided to end our operations in North America, where the astronomical marketing spend required to compete is making profitability for any one player almost impossible”, Tom Barr said.

We know Uber and Lyft  are not targetting suburban areas as much as cities, this is why Universal Taxi Dispatch is benchmarking their technology to provide Chicagoland’s suburban customers with a competive taxi service, as we have been doing for years.

hailo taxi app

 

News

Universal Taxi Dispatch Releases New Mobile User Interface

2 Comments

In an effort to keep up with the new techonolgy trends and more importantly to provide a better booking tool to our customers, we have rolled out a new mobile user interface compatible with iPhones, iPads, Tablets and most smartphone platforms.

With Uber raising the standards on ride share mobile booking applications, we have benchmarked certain features of its application interface and adapted it to meet our customers’ needs.

Screenshot_2014-10-20-13-22-39       Screenshot_2014-10-20-13-22-59

 

With just a few clicks (or taps), you can book a taxi online to be picked up as soon as possible or schedule a pickup in the future.  These last feature is not offered by Uber. On their website, they do not really explain the reason why, but we believe it is because Uber model is set up to work on highly populated cities, where is demand for ride share is high.

Another feature that we, at Universal Taxi Dispatach, are happy to provide to our customers are Flat Rates to O’Hare airport, Midway airport and the Chicago Loop. These rates are easy to access as well from our website and on our mobile site.

Screenshot_2014-10-20-13-23-15 Universal Taxi's Mobile site

Please follow us on our Facebook page, as we will frequently post updates about our services. You can also leave a comment or suggestion that you would like to see on our website.