Uber claims that its ride-share service UberX is faster, cheaper and more convenient than taxis. At first glance the benefits seem obvious. Riders can sign up for the mobil eapp and instantly request a ride. You can see how far away the closest driver on your phone. Enter your credit card info once and no cash is ever exchanged.Company at a glance• Name: Uber• Founded: Started in 2009 as "UberCab" by Garrett Camp and Travis Kalanick• Headquarters: San Francisco• Locations: 200 cities in 45 countries, including 126 in North America• Service: Ride-sharing service using smartphone apps• What's next: "Onboarding" session today for drivers to learn about Uber Chattanooga
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Web-based ride-sharing phenomenon may be coming to Chattanooga
As the world's biggest ride-sharing service, Uber claims it "is evolving the way the world moves" by using smartphone applications to connect passengers and drivers of vehicles for hire.
Uber appears ready to bring its technology-based transport service to Chattanooga, which brags that it offers the fastest Internet service for such apps in the Western Hemisphere as America's first "Gig City."
But just how fast Uber will initiate its service to the Gig City -- and whether the city of Chattanooga will welcome the unregulated taxi-like service -- is still uncertain.
Uber has scheduled "onboarding" sessions today at the Courtyard Marriott near the Hamilton Place Mall for drivers who partner with Uber. The 2-hour sessions scheduled throughout the day are designed to let drivers learn more about the Uber, show their proper documentation and pick up their phones to connect with Uber passengers.
Kaitlin Durkosh, a spokeswoman for Uber, said Chattanooga is one of the markets where the company is looking to expand. But she declined to specify when, or even definitely if, the new service may expand into Chattanooga.
On its web site, Uber says it already serves Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis in Tennessee; Atlanta and Athens in Georgia, and Asheville and Charlotte in North Carolina.
"We have driver partner sign-up events in every city we're exploring as a way to gauge interest from local drivers who'd like to partner with us," Durkosh said in an emailed statement.
Uber has yet to approach Chattanooga's Transportation Authority, formerly the city taxi board, to obtain city licenses required by taxi carriers to service the city. Chattanooga Police Officer Charles Topping said the city has not talked with anyone from Uber, although the city attorney's office is still studying whether the ride-sharing program by Uber would be governed by the transportation authority.
Unlike taxi companies, Uber doesn't own any vehicles or employ any drivers. Uber claims it is a technology company that simply links drivers and passengers in a manner that offers quicker, cheaper and wider transport options among local travelers.
"We partner with vetted, insured independent contractors who use their personal vehicles for rides," Durkosh said.
Uber, which began in 2009 and has quickly spread to more than 200 cities around the world, has met with protests from taxi drivers and taxi companies who believe that ride-sharing companies are illegal taxicab operations that engage in unfair competition and compromise passenger safety. In Europe, Uber has faced protests from rival taxi carriers in Germany, France and England.
Contact Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com or at 757-6340.