Poll : 23 September - 06 October 2015

Analysis

A great response, with some interesting and valid points made/raised by the many who emailed feedback, so we'll just let you speak for yourselves:

• "I do not want to rely on Lyft or Uber's drivers being properly insured in case something really bad occurs. It's just my preference. I have several friends that love using Uber, but some have complained about the quality and price. Why screw with it? There are so many cabs in LV, I will use them, the bus, or monorail to move me when my feet can't!"
  
  
• "How safe is Uber? Do the drivers have insurance for bodily injury (and, for that matter, do Vegas taxis?) Are their drivers certified or tested for driving skills? Has anyone (Vegas or elsewhere) been injured in an Uber accident?" [Ed: This actually feels more like 'Question of the Day' fodder, so we'll add it to the pile!"
  
  
• "In late Sept 2015, I had the chance to use Uber several times. I must say I was extremely pleased with their service. It is about time that the cab companies face some competition. During our vacation, our group had ventured away from the Strip and we were able to obtain a ride within minutes of logging into the app. Good luck getting a cab to pick you up from there. Hey cabbies..... Quit blaming the Uber drivers. The only people you should be blaming are yourselves. Maybe if you didn't try to take advantage of your customers, or offer questionable service, you wouldn't face this predicament."
  
  
• "Can't wait to be able to use Uber in Vegas. I'm dying for an alternative to cabs when I'm somewhere other than a taxi stand. Calling for a cab in Vegas is a hit-or-miss proposition."
  
  
• "I've used Uber in areas where cabs are unreliable to essentially non-existent (Greenville SC, for one). When in Vegas if I don't have a rental car or my own, I use cabs and never get long hauled or miss something because the cab didn't' show. I do this using the cabbies I know on Twitter (and more and more, Real Life). Tweet to them when I'm arriving at LAS and one of them will meet me - no cab line. Let them know when I need to be back at LAS and one of them will be waiting for me at the designated time - no cab line. If I want to go somewhere during my visit, I tweet them and if no one is on shift, one of them will get someone who is on shift to pick me up - no cab line. OFfcourse, I always tip them well. They are becoming friends, but it's still their livelihood."
  
  
• "I greatly value the service that cab drivers provide for me when I am in Las Vegas. I love being able to walk outside of almost any hotel on the Strip and have a line of taxis waiting. I have been to Vegas many times and used the service of at least a hundred taxis. Almost all of the drivers have been friendly and provided a good service. My trip would not be the same without them. Even when I rent a car I still use taxis some for convenience. I do not want to see amateur competition hurt their business and change a good thing."
  
  
• "The first time we went to Vegas back in 2009, we got long-hauled on our way from the airport to the old Hilton. The buses were always crowded and one time trying to get from Sahara to Fremont St., three buses passed us because they were full. On our next trip to Vegas, we rented a car. It was very easy to get around and we were able to go places out of town. From this point forward, we've always rent a car and I don't have to deal with cabs, buses, or Uber."
  
  
• "I would never consider using Uber or another ride-sharing program in Las Vegas. While many others have had good experiences, I think that there are too many unknowns with and some well published 'horror stories' about Uber drivers (admittedly, a very small percentage). I almost always rent a car in Vegas since I go to the outlying casinos like Rampart, South Point, etc. The rental car is relatively inexpensive -- may only cost $20 - $25/day, plus fees -- and I am in total control of my time."
  
  
• "As an LV local who doesn't drive, I would prefer Uber/Lyft over a taxi anytime IF their service is reliable, i.e no 1 1/2 hour waits or no-shows, as is all too common with taxis here. If you're not on the Strip (and potentially a very big tipper), the cab companies here treat you like a second-class citizen! Hope Uber/Lyft force the cabs to pull up their socks!"
  
  
• "Long hauling. Yes, it happens and it has happened to me but if you are long hauled by a non regulated taxi driver, who do you complain to - twitterverse? Not that complaining to the taxi commission would get you anywhere but at least that is a regulatory body of a sort." [Ed: Another interesting question worth investigating when time permits...]
  
  
• "I use a mobility scooter and I highly doubt that any of the Uber or Lyft vehicles are capable of transporting a scooter." [Ed: See below]
  
  
• "I use a scooter. It fits in most trunks. While I understand that Uber is suppose to pick me up, there have been many instances where the drivers "rate" the passengers (as they are allowed to do internally) as unsatisfactory in some fashion, basically blackballing handicap passengers. Also once you state you are HC, you find less rides available. Dependability is a must for me, and I just don't see it with UBER."
  
  
• "Really? A poll about uber? Is that all that's currently of interest in Vegas?" [Ed: Not all, but of interest, evidently yes, judging by the response and the thoughtful feedback. We ourselves were blown away a) by the fact that Uber 'secretly' (actually, no quotes needed - it was ABSOLUTELY a cloak-and-dagger affair!) took over half the city's nightlife venues, at the cost of multi-millions, let alone what it cost to transport almost 5,000 employees from all over the world for an all-expenses-paid week-long shindig and b) that there was practically zero media coverage of any of it, outside of this site and the odd paragraph from the likes of TMZ, MTV, and Perez Hilton.]
  
  
• "As a female, and retired law enforcement officer, I have never (and would not consider) getting into someone's private vehicle that I have arranged for by using a phone app."
  
  
• "The whole Uber thing makes me nervous. I know people who use it and absolutely love it but for me, I don't feel comfortable. It could just be that I don't understand it yet. I don't feel it's regulated, I don't know who this is, they can come and go as they please, they aren't tied to a job like a cab company. It just feels risky to me, more so than a cab. It's almost like E-Hitchhiking."
  
  
• "Uber's continuing disregard for the laws and rules governing operating in Las Vegas is appalling. They don't get their business license when they want it, so they start operating anyway. They blatantly violate the mandate of no pick up at MacCarren airport. They claim to not be a business but a ride-sharing app: PLEASE. If it smells like crap, looks like crap, and feels like crap, I don't need to take a big bite to know it's crap. Ask the screwed-over people if their 'surge-pricing' trip was so great. If they are this dishonest about their operation, has anyone inspected their insurance policies? Or will that be another 'uh-oh' moment?"