Uber users: Have a plan, stay safe and don’t call your mom

Spring break is this week, and that means time to party for many UHCL students. If planning on getting wild like it’s the year 1999, consider using an alternative driver for the ride home. Assign a designated driver, call a taxi service or request a driver from Uber.

Out of the three options listed above, studies show that Uber tends to be the most popular choice made by students under the age of 35.

Founded in 2012, Uber is a digital ride-sharing app that connects a rider with a driver. The app uses a mobile phone’s GPS to arrange for a rider to get picked up from his or her exact location by an approved Uber driver.

“It’s pretty much an easier taxi service,” said Jose Martinez, biology major. “Instead of calling a taxi line, you can do it over a phone app which contains information like your address, destination, payment information and information about the driver, which in my opinion makes it a relatively easier option than calling for a taxi.”

Through the Uber app, passengers select their pickup location, destination and size/class of vehicle preferred. After all of the required information is submitted, Uber provides the driver’s name, license plate number and a description of the vehicle. Then the app will give an estimated wait time and riders can track the vehicle to know when it has arrived for pickup.

“If you’re looking for a convenient ride that’s affordable, I definitely recommend using the app,” said Bailey Reber, Uber driver. “It’s available anytime of the day or night, for the most part.”

Uber Houston offers five different service options for users. UberX is the lowest cost option that provides the rider with an everyday car such as a Toyota Prius. UberXL is the low-cost service for big groups. UberSELECT, the third most expensive option, offers luxury vehicles such Audi, BMW or Lexus. UberBLACK provides the rider with a luxurious vehicle as well, but what makes this more expensive than the Select option is that the vehicle will always be black. UberBLACK partners with limousine companies to provide luxury vehicles and uses certified chauffeurs. UberSUV, the most expensive, provides the rider with the biggest available luxury SUV for large groups.

As with any situation involving assistance from strangers, there is always a risk and a concern in regards to safety. Before getting in an Uber vehicle, make sure the description of the car and driver matches the information on the app.

“It’s easy to identify your driver because the app tells you the name of your driver, plus the make, model and color of the car that they’ll be picking you up in,” Reber said. “Also, each driver has an official Uber sticker that’s put on the front windshield to also help identify them. The city of Houston requires each Uber driver to obtain their TNC license to be eligible to pick up riders. The license requires background checks, warrant checks, drug testing and even a physical.”

Uber’s spokesperson, Debbee Hancock, said Uber is continuously improving their safety technologies on the app. One safety measure is the app’s feature that allows riders to share their location and ETA with family and friends.

“The ‘Share Your ETA’ feature allows riders to share their trip information including the specific route and estimated time of arrival with select friends and family at the touch of a button,” Hancock said. “The way it works is you enter in your destination and the app creates a map of the preferred route. At the tap of a button you can share this map with friends and family and they can follow along. You can share it with anyone, the other person does not have to have Uber downloaded on their phone.”

One safety tip Martinez recommended was choosing a higher rated driver. The user can do this by going through a list of drivers available when requesting a ride through the app. After being dropped off, the user is able to rate the driver out of five stars and provide anonymous feedback in order to help out future users choose a driver.

Another tip Martinez gave was not making the first ride a long one in order to not be surprised by the prices. Uber drivers are their own bosses, and during ‘surge’ hours, such as rush hour, bad weather or major holidays, the drivers will raise the service fees. However, on days with no major holidays, fees tend to be more affordable. The estimated cost of a ride will appear once the information is submitted, so as long as the rider is paying attention, he or she should have no surprises when they hear the price.

“When it’s not during rush hour or ‘surging’ hours, Uber is super cheap,” Reber said. “All of the payments are taken care of with your credit card through the app and riders are not required to tip. In fact, Uber discourages drivers from accepting cash tips from riders.”

Whether it be choosing a designated driver, calling a taxi service or using Uber, getting home safely should be the top priority at the end of the night.

“Ubers are a good source for people who need a ride after a night of drinking which, in my opinion, is great for colleges-aged students,” Martinez said.

Video by: Devon Hughes, Casey Corbell