I must admit, I'm an Uber user and have been for over a year.
A mate of mine teased us with his experience of having his own personal luxury car driver, until we found out it was available for anyone using an app.
The app is used to order and track a vehicle, whether it be a luxury sedan or partner taxi. The driver's identity is revealed on screen, credit card details are securely stored and fares automatically charged.
These days, I often use the Uber app to order a taxi, and on the very odd occasion use the luxury or black service if I'm going somewhere special and split the fare with my travelling mates, which the app allows me to do.
While I know there are many other apps on the market, as often is the case with new products, the one who gets the design, functionality and product right first; often becomes the market leader.
Uber's luxury, black and partner taxi services are legitimate, but questions are being asked about its low-cost UberX option.
UberX is the company's ride-sharing service which isn't operated by a licensed taxi driver, but a regular license holder, using their own personal car and often offering cheaper rates than taxis.
NSW Taxi Council has been fighting the service aggressively, attacking it on all media platforms.
NSW Taxi Council CEO Roy Wakelin-King said the service provides an unfair playing field because UberX drivers don't meet the same regulations and obligations as its members.
"You just need to see the light on the roof, the cameras in the car, to see the proper dispatch system, the livery on the side of the vehicle, and you go deeper into that, you've got training for drivers and you've got detailed checks for drivers," he said.
Uber said it conducts extensive background checks on both the drivers and the vehicles used in its low cost option.
While Uber argues there is a grey area around ride-sharing activities, a spokesman for Transport for NSW told SBS World News:
“It is illegal for drivers in NSW to participate in ‘ride-sharing’ activities like Uber X.
“While Uber Pty Ltd does not breach the Passenger Transport Act 1990 by offering the service, drivers transporting passengers for a fare do.
“Any driver operating in these circumstances is potentially committing a number of offences, including driving without authority and offering a service without accreditation.
“Several fines of thousands of dollars have already been issued for those breaking the law and enforcement operations and prosecutions are progressing.
“Taxi and hire car services in NSW must be provided by an accredited operator authorised by Roads and Maritime Services. Authorised drivers undergo relevant criminal history and medical checks. This is to ensure the safety of customers and drivers.
“Compliance activities will continue, to ensure the safety of passengers.”
Still, the NSW government's June submission to the Competition Policy Review, implies some changes ahead.
"Transport for NSW stated that the UberX service does not comply with the current NSW Passenger Transport Act 1990. The NSW Government has, however, acknowledged that it needs to consider how it adapts to new
opportunities in the market and is considering its position in response to ride-sharing activities to ensure it considers the benefits to consumers and the impact on the industry."
Uber Australia's David Rohrsheim is therefore urging for changes to be made quickly.
"We're calling on the government to establish some policies around ride-sharing," he said.
"We're calling on the government to remove the ambiguity around what people can do in their own private cars. We're confident when they do that that they're going to put the best interest of riders and drivers at heart and not just try to protect the establishments."
The issue of personal passenger insurance has also been raised, but David Rohrsheim has tried to put that to bed.
"We have a $5 million liability policy in place, for every UberX ride arranged on the Uber platform to ensure every trip is covered."
My UberX experience
I used UberX for the first time on Friday.
The silly season brings upon many parties and a severe shortage of taxis in the Sydney CBD.
So given my need to get from A to B, and my desire to know more for this story, I ordered an UberX.
The driver came within 5 minutes to my home in a clean Kia, and dropped me off at my Christmas party venue. When ordering on the app, you can type in the destination so the driver knows where you want to go to. Simple and efficient.
When the party ended at 11pm, there were no taxis in the vicinity, nor on the Uber app. After trying unsuccessfully to order an UberX two times, an UberX driver then accepted my request and picked us up to take us to our next venue about 5 minutes away.
The high level of demand meant UberX drivers charged more for the service, and the rate was clearly displayed before accepting the ride. Forty dollars, 2 kilometres and a ride in a clean Honda Civic Sport later, we arrived at the next venue.
Getting home was a bit more challenging, and after a bit of a walk, I managed to track down an UberX driver. However, upon accepting, the driver had accidentally ended the trip on his app as I got in, which meant I was charged the minimum amount even before we had left. He did explain that it was his mistake and was trying to figure out how to cancel the transaction unsuccessfully and offered to take me home anyway.
Whilst I didn't have to battle the elements to find a regular taxi on the street, nor did I have to tell a licensed taxi driver where I wanted to go before he or she decided whether I'd be let into the vehicle; I must admit that final UberX experience did make me a little wary of the service, despite the driver's apologies.
