Taxis have been around for decades, helping people commute conveniently. Most people prefer them because taxis are a bit more private compared to other means of transport. Unfortunately, ordering and boarding a taxi hasn’t always been this straightforward. In the past, ordering a cab was an extreme sport, especially in busy urban settings. People had to whistle or wave at one and hope the driver sees them. Fortunately, with time, online taxi companies such as Uber were invented. Today, Uber has become the most popular online taxi company as almost everyone uses the Uber app. Here, we discuss some facts about Uber you may have never known.
1. Uber was Founded in Paris
The concept of creating an online taxi company was conceived in Paris by Garett Camp and Travis Kalanick, who are the co-founders. These two were stuck in Paris on a snowy evening and had challenges getting a taxi. It’s then that they thought about how convenient it would be to order such services from their phones. One thing led to another, and the Uber app was launched in 2009.
2. Uber is Available in More Than 65 Countries
Despite being an American-based company, Uber is available in over 65 countries. So far, clients can access the Uber app in over 10,000 major cities worldwide. Uber primarily targets busy urban areas. As such, the app may not work in rural settings with minimal traffic.
3. Uber is Incorporating Self Driving Technology
Last year, Uber released a statement indicating that clients in Phoenix can order a ride in fully autonomous vehicles. As of 2024, Uber has partnered with several self-driving car companies that utilize artificial intelligence. Looking at the trends, it’s only a matter of time before people can order self-driving Uber cars worldwide.
4. Uber Eats is One of the Most Popular Food Delivery Services
Apart from transporting people across various destinations, Uber founded a food delivery service called Uber Eats in 2014. This platform allows clients to order food and deliver it to their doorstep via cars, bikes, or scooters.
Uber Eats is available in more than 45 countries, and it’s one of the most popular food delivery services alongside DoorDash and GrubHub. People prefer it because it is convenient and fast.
5. The Longest Uber Ride is 2,256 Miles
Mr Beast (a popular YouTuber) and his crew broke the record for the longest Uber ride; they set it at 2,256 miles (about 3,600 kilometers). Anthony, the Uber driver, took Mr Beast and his team from North Carolina all the way to California.
The ride cost $5,500, which Mr Beast paid and tipped the driver another $5,000. The second longest Uber ride record is held by Brent Pfieffer and his friends, who drove from Dallas to Nashville in Tenessee in 2018. This trip was 680 miles (about 1,100 kilometers).
6. Uber Has Been in a Constant Battle with Black Taxi Cabs in London
Black Taxi Cabs have dominated the private transportation industry for years in London. However, the advent of Uber has significantly threatened their business. Even though Uber has invited Black Taxi Cabs to sign up their services on the app, most drivers have declined this offer.
In May 2024, Black Taxi Cabs filed a £250m legal case disputing the entry of Uber in the London taxi market. However, this wasn’t the first time the two have been at loggerheads. One time, Black Cab drivers protested in Central London, bringing the transportation system to a standstill. Interestingly, this move resulted in a counter-effect, leading to a massive increase in Uber app installations and a decline in Black Cab orders.
7. Uber Has Reduced Drunk Driving Deaths in the US
Research conducted in 2019 showed that Uber has reduced drunk driving deaths in the US by 6%. That is the equivalent of around 200 lives saved. With online taxi platforms like Uber increasing in popularity, most people prefer ordering a cab instead of driving themselves home after a night out. More studies have also shown that drunk driving arrests have reduced significantly.
8. China Uber Drivers Once Used Pictures of Ghosts as Profile Pictures to Scare Clients
One of China’s most common Uber scams entailed using ghost pictures as drivers’ profile pictures. This would scare the clients, making them cancel the rides and pay cancellation fees. While this was a popular trend before 2016, Uber found a way to deal with it, and it’s no longer an issue.
9. Uber was Once Banned in Finland
Finland has one of the strictest transportation laws in the world. To put this into perspective, the country’s authorities once banned Uber from operating there for a while. The law’s implementation was so serious that motorists caught working with Uber would be fined. To evade police detection, they would ask passengers to sit at the front and pretend they are friends. Fortunately, the Uber service was relaunched in 2018.
10. The First CEO of Uber was an Unpaid Intern
Ryan Graves is one of the few to ever transition from intern to CEO without climbing a long corporate ladder. Before joining Uber, Ryan worked as an unpaid intern at Foursquare. He got the job by simply replying to a tweet uploaded by the co-founder Travis Kalanick, who was looking for a product manager.
11. Uber Increases Traffic Congestion
In both developed and developing countries, many people are signing up as Uber drivers to make an extra buck. Even though this creates employment opportunities, it has a ripple effect in increasing traffic congestion. The more Uber drivers on the roads, the longer the traffic lines are.
12. Uber is Just a Middleman
Uber doesn’t own any cars. Instead, it acts as a middleman between people who need rides and commercial drivers who offer private transportation. However, to be part of the drivers in Uber’s system, one must undergo several checks to ascertain their legitimacy.