Are You Afraid to Take an Uber at Night?

what's the difference between a Taxi and Uber? You NEVER know who you are going to get. You NEVER know what the cab/taxi driver is going to be like.

There's the subway for you since you're in NYC. Feel safe there?

There's Lyft too.

Bottom line? No. I don't worry about it. Nor do I feel unsafe. I've allowed my 14 year old to use it at night.

I have felt comfortable taking Uber at any time, but if I'm in an area with easy access to regular taxis I would probably just grab a regular taxi instead of taking the time to order and wait for an Uber (if it's already late, waiting for an Uber just makes the night longer!). I take the subway whenever it is convenient though. I also tried UberPool a few days ago, which meant sharing the back seat of the car with a stranger. It was fine, glad I tried it so now I know how it is, but I prefer regular Uber.

I love Uber. We use it frequently when traveling. I have used it in large cities at night (Boston, Orlando, New York) and never felt unsafe. One thing I will do though is forward the info to my husband.
That way he has the driver info, license plate and description of the car. Because we travel a lot in cities we're not necessarily familiar with, I always let at least one other person know my plans. That way if there's an emergency (car accident or health emergency) at least they have an idea of the area I was in and what my plans were if they need to start looking for me.

I've worked in law enforcement environments and have dear friends and family that are in that line of work. Their mantra is be aware of your surroundings. If something doesn't look or feel right trust your instinct. When I was single I didn't think twice to ask security to walk me to my car if I was uncomfortable. I would drive by my house to make sure everything looked in order before pulling into the driveway.

Bottom line...if it makes you uncomfortable, don't do it. New York has multiple traveling options. Be safe and enjoy being there. We love visiting there. 😊

No hesitation here.

I have no fear of Uber and I'm a fairly regular customer. I'm in the Dallas area.

What are you afraid of?

When I book my ride, the uber app sends me a picture with name of the driver as well as make of the car and tag #.

Every time I've booked the driver confirms my name before I get in the car.

It pays to always be aware but I don't fear. Quite honestly, there's more to the unknown with a random taxi driver.

My son drives for Lyft about once a week for extra money. He likes getting to know the streets of Boston and surroundings, and talking to people. The drivers go through criminal background checks, and their location is tracked by GPS. I don't see why an Uber/Lyft driver would be any riskier than a cab driver, or why it would be safer to be on the streets at night than in a car. If you're in NYC, you have access to subways and buses too - are those more protected? You have your cell phone with you, and if you're uncomfortable, sit in the back seat instead of up front.

I don't know every taxi driver either, but I still take a taxi in a city at night when needed. So no, I don't feel this way.

No. I am not. Should I be?

if i ever needed a ride at noght, and there was no one i knew avalable, i would call an uber. but we live in the cornfields, and taxis as well as uber and lyft are rare. we usually rely on friends and family.

No, but I am not generally fearful for my security/safety where I live.

If you use a taxi service do you know the driver that's picking you up? Are you sure it's the driver they messaged to pick you up? How do you know it wasn't someone listening in on their radio messages or something that's got there just a few minutes before the actual driver?

I would hate to live like that. I have to have my own transportation. I wouldn't ever want to live in New York due to not being able to have my independence. I live in a city area and if I don't have my car I can take a bus or call a friend.

I know very little about uber. Are the drivers screened? Do they put identification in the window? Who would you complain to and how would it be handled?

I live in Portland, OR, a much smaller city than NY. I personally know 2 men who drive for Uber. I might try it if I felt comfortable with those answers. I probably wouldn't in NY city.

I suggest you'll get more helpful answers if you confine your questions to your locality.

Taking Uber is safer than taking a taxi. When you request an Uber through the app, Uber dispatches the closest driver to your location. It also sends you a picture of the person who will pick you up along with the car they will be driving. All Uber cars are tracked through a GPS so Uber knows each car's location at all times. I like the fact that everything is done through the app (requests, payments).

There are various small business startups trying to address this kind of discomfort with female-only drivers who pick up only women, or women with young children. I'm not sure if any are widespread yet.

i've never taken uber, but is it more unsafe than any other conveyance?
can you just take a cab if you're worried?
khairete
S.

I'm old fashioned. I still take taxis because I rarely need a lift anyway. But, I think it may be the newness of it that may bother you.