Uber will soon offer taxi rides in San Francisco
Uber customers in San Francisco might soon find a traditional taxi waiting for them when they use the app to summon a ride. According to, the ride-hailing giant has inked a deal with Yellow Cab SF and Flywheel, the company that operates an Uber-like app used by taxi drivers across companies in the city. The agreement will give 1,075 taxi drivers in the area access to Uber customers in the coming months.
Uber's rates are typically lower than metered fares, though they could be higher during surge times. Kate Toran, SFMTA's director of taxis, said during the board meeting that Uber and Lyft fares are about 80 to 85 percent of metered rates. While drivers could earn less than usual for Uber rides, their participation is completely optional. They can accept Uber rides whenever they want, and there are no consequences for rejecting them.
Flywheel and Yellow believe the deal would benefit drivers, who could accept Uber rides to fill in gaps for dead hours."[H]aving some revenue come in versus no revenue is a much better situation in the end, even if it is lower than the taxi rate," Yellow Cab CEO Chris Sweis said. Still, not all SF cab drivers are thrilled about the development.
If Uber gets its way, though, there'll be no taxi left that isn't part of its network. Uber exec Andrew Macdonald recently said during an that that the company aims to put every taxi on Uber by 2025. Doing so wouldn't only increase its driver supply, it could also unlock new markets where people don't have their own cars to use for the service.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Uber and Taxi Teaming Up in San FranciscoOnce rivals, now allies! Uber and taxis are close to solidifying a new partnership in San Francisco that will allow riders to order either one on the same app.
Read more »
COVID Classroom Mask Requirements Lifted For San Francisco Elementary SchoolsThousands of San Francisco elementary school students returned from Spring Break Monday, finally free from being required to wear masks in their classrooms to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Read more »
2 people rescued in San Francisco apartment fire that has been contained, no injuriesFirefighters have contained a two-alarm apartment building fire in the Corona Heights-Ashbury Heights area of San Francisco Monday evening.
Read more »
Female Suspect Carjacks Driver In San Francisco Sunset DistrictA man had his car stolen at gunpoint in San Francisco's Inner Sunset neighborhood on Monday morning, according to police.
Read more »