Uber?

[EER2Eternity]

Has anyone heard when Uber might be making it's way into Charleston/Huntington? Rumors or speculation are fine with me. Is this something that might not happen any time soon?

 

[MikeRafone]

In Charleston, Uber was in the process of being set up a couple of weeks back, but I understand they're not up and running yet, that could have changed. As for Huntington, I'm not sure

 

[dave]

They delayed rolling out their opening due to the flooding.

 

[MikeRafone]

Ahh, that makes sense.

 

[WVUCOOPER]

Has anyone heard when Uber might be making it's way into Charleston/Huntington? Rumors or speculation are fine with me. Is this something that might not happen any time soon?

Just wild speculation, but I think we're quite a bit away from having Uber. They delayed a simple workshop for interested potential drivers, due to the floods. How many steps are there from the workshop to hailing an Uber? No idea, but I guess it's months, not weeks.

 

[WVUCOOPER]

Has anyone heard when Uber might be making it's way into Charleston/Huntington? Rumors or speculation are fine with me. Is this something that might not happen any time soon?

BTW, this Gazette article seems way more upbeat than I:

West Virginia residents hoping to catch a ride in an Uber on Friday will have to wait a little longer.

The company, which can legally begin operating in the state July 1, said they’re delaying their launch in an act of sensitivity as the state recoups from last week’s destructive flooding.

While the ride-hailing service has yet to declare a launch date, Bill Gibbons, a spokesman for Uber, wrote in an email that the company hopes “to bring Uber to the first West Virginia communities in the coming weeks.”

The service initially will launch in Charleston and Morgantown. Uber wants to see how operations grow in these areas, a spokesperson from the company said, before expanding operations elsewhere.

Uber had originally scheduled an informational session at the Hampton Inn in Charleston earlier this week. The session aimed to let prospective drivers ask questions and receive assistance with setting up their driver’s accounts. The event was canceled, however, because of last week’s flooding.

The company said that the sessions will be rescheduled in the next week or two, but a date has yet to be finalized.

Uber is a service that allows everyday people to turn their own cars into taxis. Patrons call Ubers from the company’s app and are usually picked up within minutes. Users don’t pay for Ubers like a traditional taxi, but instead with a connected credit card through the app.

Uber does have a serious vetting process before allowing drivers behind the wheel. The company requires that drivers be at least 21 years of age, pass a background check and have a commercial driver’s license. The drivers must also have an iPhone or Android device capable of running the Uber app.

While it varies from city to city, Uber has the potential to be lucrative for drivers. SherpaShare, a service that tracks income and expenses associated with ride-hailing services, reported that Uber drivers make, on average, $15.97 per ride.

For more information on what it takes to become an Uber driver, visit https://www.uber.com/driver-jobs.

February’s legislation opens the door for other ride-hailing services as well, though there have yet to be reports of other companies making their way to West Virginia.

A representative from Lyft, the second most-used ride-hailing service and Uber’s closest competitor, commended the state Legislature’s decision to allow them to operate within the state. At this time, though, they have yet to develop any launch plans for West Virginia.

Gibbons said that Uber has been met with enthusiasm from the West Virginia community and that they look forward to servicing the state in the coming days.

Reach Jared Casto at [email protected], 304-348-4832 or follow @JaredCasto on Twitter.

- See more at: http://www.wvgazettemail.com/article/20160629/GZ03/160629520#sthash.HQh8KbZy.dpuf

 

[JLW71073]

I've used it a few times in DC when I'm up there for business. It works great, the cars are always clean. Plus features of dropping in your address so it's already plotted by the driver, you can also pipe in your own music.

 

[EER2Eternity]

BTW, this Gazette article seems way more upbeat than I:

Thank you.

 

[CAJUNEER_rivals]

Has anyone heard when Uber might be making it's way into Charleston/Huntington? Rumors or speculation are fine with me. Is this something that might not happen any time soon?

My son asked me how he could make extra money. I told him he could use his car to taxi people and focus on locations where Uber wouldn't go--like rural areas. I said he should call it Goober. He didn't find my suggestion helpful.

 

[MikeRafone]

These kids today. You try to help them and they give you blank looks.