Uber Cars: not so Uber after all

As a high school student, the day where I am able to get my license is one that I have always been looking forward to. However, it has been about 7 months since I could begin the process, and I still have not begun. With homework, extra curriculars and my naturally lethargic teenage nature, spending hours online or at a driving school is not something that seems particularly stimulating to my senses. So the task of receiving my license will continue to hang above my head, tempting me with its endless possibilities of freedom.  So where do I turn when it’s a Saturday night, and my desired destination is in North Hollywood? The bus schedule is confusing, my parents don’t want to “deal with traffic” and the idea of me walking is laughable. Fortunately, a new phenomenon has recently been taking the teens-without-drivers-licenses-of-LA by storm.The iPhone application “Uber” is an easily accessible taxi-like company with many features that put the normal “Yellow Cab” to shame. I'm not a huge fan of the taxi system in Los Angeles. It's virtually impossible to hail a cab on the street, unless you have a doorman with you at all times. And unless your destination is the airport, cabbies in L.A. never know where anything is by memory. But with Uber, you simply drop a pin on a virtual map, and in 7-10 minutes, your driver pulls up and you’re on your way. As opposed to your normal Yellow Cab, there is no struggle for payment with cash at the end of your trip. Your credit card has been saved on file and is charged automatically with tip for your driver included. However, there seems to always be trouble in paradise.As well as there being black town cars and SUV’s, there is an option that most teenage students are taking which is an “uberX.” These cars are the “downgrade” of the standard town cars. They consist of Hondas, Toyotas, and everyday vehicles. Because of this, the price of taking a ride in an uberX is much cheaper. Now I did some research into how exactly the Uber company hires their drivers, and the results were absolutely appalling.According to the company's website, the UberX cars that are in use are not licensed by the state, but are simply the property of the driver themselves. UberX drivers are also not licensed by the city but rather hired by the Uber company privately. Now, you may not care about these facts personally, but they probably should be considered when we’re discussing the issue of public safety.As a regular customer of UberX, it makes me pretty reluctant to hop back into one of the cars after reading that the drivers are not licensed. However, I have never had anything particularly peculiar happen to me while riding in these discount cabs. My drivers have always been kind and helpful, and never gave off a "kid-napper" vibe.But even if most UberX riding experiences have been smooth and harmless, the section of the company is categorized as a “ride-share service” which is in defiance of the city's cease-and-desist order. In my opinion, that’s enough to say that it should be shut down immediately. Despite the fact that it's currently banned in Los Angeles, UberX is defiantly still up and running.The Uber company comes so close to being the next big idea that could push America’s transportation system in a new and more efficient direction, but right now, there seems to be one too many loose ends with too much information being hidden from the public. At the moment, there is sparse to no information about the Uber company on their website or on the app itself which is raising questions from the most important part of the business, the customers.Uber customer and Samo student Ella Asher (’16) is concerned about the fact that there is no information available about the company.“After hearing that [the UberX] drivers aren't licensed, I'm a little freaked out. I mean. I’m driving in a car with someone who I don’t know, and the company that they’re working for is hiding information from me. That just doesn’t make me feel comfortable.” Asher said.In the end, it is the decision of the consumer if they want to put their trust in the hands of this unknown driver. In my case, I think I’ll be sticking to the bus schedule until the glorious day of receiving my very own license comes along.bross@thesamohi.com