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Uber Begins Testing Color-Coded Rider Pickup System 'SPOT' in Seattle

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Apr 12, 2001
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Uber yesterday announced SPOT, a new initiative to make sure drivers and riders experience less hassle finding one another in dark or crowded areas. The technology will allow someone calling for an Uber to designate a specific color so that their driver can easily spot them when arriving at the pickup location.

uber-spot.jpg
SPOT is the latest experiment in our ongoing effort to make Uber pickups as seamless as possible. When riders and drivers can easily find each other, we're able to trim down wait times, which is a win for everyone. We hope you'll have a chance to experience SPOT in the coming weeks.
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Beginning exclusively in Seattle, the new program will give Uber drivers a small "SPOT Device," attached to their windshield. When a user requests a SPOT-enabled vehicle, they're asked to pick a specific color within the app while waiting. When the app prompts the rider that the vehicle is driving up, they can take the app out and display their color to the driver, or simply look for their chosen color in the windshield of the car.

The company didn't give any mention if, or when, SPOT would make it to other cities after its test run in Seattle. Those that have yet to do so can download Uber from the App Store for free [Direct Link].

Article Link: Uber Begins Testing Color-Coded Rider Pickup System 'SPOT' in Seattle
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2015/12/03/uber-begins-testing-color-coded/
This is essential in places like SF where ever car is an uber and every uber is a white or silver Prius. I've personally stepped in the wrong uber a bunch of times
 
Pretty cool. Last year a girl got in a car she thought was her uber here at Indiana university. She ended up dead and her body was thrown by the lake. This could have prevented that. Good to see uber taking safety precautions
 
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Still not interested in Uber. Too much to worry about for too little savings. My life, safety, and security is worth more than saving 2 to 3 bucks for a ride to the airport.

At least if something happens, I can go after the cab company.
 
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ZacNicholson said:
Pretty cool. Last year a girl got in a car she thought was her uber here at Indiana university. She ended up dead and her body was thrown by the lake. This could have prevented that. Good to see uber taking safety precautions
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That wasn't actually what happened. Re-read all the articles. NOWHERE was UBER involved in her disappearance.
 
unplugme71 said:
Still not interested in Uber. Too much to worry about for too little savings. My life, safety, and security is worth more than saving 2 to 3 bucks for a ride to the airport.

At least if something happens, I can go after the cab company.
Click to expand...
Guess you've never experienced the terrible taxi service in Mexico. Uber is a blessing here—at least they return your forgotten belongings.
 
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ZacNicholson said:
Pretty cool. Last year a girl got in a car she thought was her uber here at Indiana university. She ended up dead and her body was thrown by the lake. This could have prevented that. Good to see uber taking safety precautions
Click to expand...
Yeah, this will make it way easier--with only 6 colors--for nefarious people to stick a similar light in their car and just put up one of the 6 colors. Go cruise down a popular bar area in a major city and just wait for a drunk chick to flag their car down.
 
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BrentD said:
Yeah, this will make it way easier--with only 6 colors--for nefarious people to stick a similar light in their car and just put up one of the 6 colors. Go cruise down a popular bar area in a major city and just wait for a drunk chick to flag their car down.
Click to expand...

Congratulations! If this actually happens, you can take full credit for coming up with the idea first!
 
unplugme71 said:
Still not interested in Uber. Too much to worry about for too little savings. My life, safety, and security is worth more than saving 2 to 3 bucks for a ride to the airport.

At least if something happens, I can go after the cab company.
Click to expand...

Yeah because every cab company tells you the license plate of the car, type/color or the car picking you up, the drivers name and picture as well. Not to mention that every driver has had a background check.

Yup, cabs are WAAAY safer. :rolleyes:

I drover for Uber for a year. It was fun and never had an issue. I have taken about 120 Ubers as well. Never had an issue. I have had many issues with cabs though. Late, don't speak english, no change for my $20, taking long routes, going soooooooo sloooooow. Etc.

If you're worried about safety, you probably shouldn't take either.

Uber is much safer than a cab. Cheaper too in most areas. Although when I am in NYC, taxis are cheaper and quicker.
 
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I'm sure licensed cab drivers will love this because they'll know who to harass for being an Uber driver.
 
This is going to be pretty handy. 1/2 the cars in Portland are a Prius so it's pretty hard to figure out which one is the Uber sometimes.
 
jmh600cbr said:
This is essential in places like SF where ever car is an uber and every uber is a white or silver Prius. I've personally stepped in the wrong uber a bunch of times
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It happens to me here in New York ALL THE TIME. I once left my apartment and got into the wrong Uber twice, before getting into the right one.
 
unplugme71 said:
Still not interested in Uber. Too much to worry about for too little savings. My life, safety, and security is worth more than saving 2 to 3 bucks for a ride to the airport.

At least if something happens, I can go after the cab company.
Click to expand...
Really? Everything that happens in an uber is traceable and drivers are rated, that is not the case in a taxi. Also, ubers are held to certain standards (newer cars, drivers must maintain high scores), which taxis are not. Lastly, I have never hailed an uber and had it not pick me up- I have sat on hold with a cab company for 20 minutes only to have it not show up.
 
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mbh1976 said:
Really? Everything that happens in an uber is traceable and drivers are rated, that is not the case in a taxi. Also, ubers are held to certain standards (newer cars, drivers must maintain high scores), which taxis are not. Lastly, I have never hailed an uber and had it not pick me up- I have sat on hold with a cab company for 20 minutes only to have it not show up.
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Uber isn't required to carry additional insurance and most insurance companies will NOT cover passengers if they're using their vehicle to do business. Cab companies are required to carry a minimum of a $1 million policy which will cover you.

Cab companies also do much deeper searches into the background and driving history of their drivers. They're also generally much more knowledgeable of the area and how to get around. Taxi drivers have to be able to get around without a map. Uber drivers aren't and are often distracted by their little GPS which can lead to more close calls and accidents.

I use Uber frequently but there are legitimate reasons to be cautious. If you're hurt while riding with them, I hope you have good insurance because you won't likely be covered as you would traveling in a traditional taxi. Really something to be aware of.
 
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mbh1976 said:
Really? Everything that happens in an uber is traceable and drivers are rated, that is not the case in a taxi. Also, ubers are held to certain standards (newer cars, drivers must maintain high scores), which taxis are not. Lastly, I have never hailed an uber and had it not pick me up- I have sat on hold with a cab company for 20 minutes only to have it not show up.
Click to expand...

No, nothing is traceable in an Uber other then where you were picked up and where you were dropped off. And Uber's only standard is a car that's 10 years or newer and that you haven't murdered/raped anyone. Literally, felons have been approved on Uber with no biometric or drug tests completed.
 
Flipstar said:
I'm sure licensed cab drivers will love this because they'll know who to harass for being an Uber driver.
Click to expand...

Where I live they all say Uber on both sides of the car. Doesn't seem to be a problem.

BrentD said:
Yeah, this will make it way easier--with only 6 colors--for nefarious people to stick a similar light in their car and just put up one of the 6 colors. Go cruise down a popular bar area in a major city and just wait for a drunk chick to flag their car down.
Click to expand...

You could do all this right now without the light, but few people do. I can't see the necessity for an attention grabbing light and turning away 5 out of 6 potential victims making it any easier. And of course it's so easy to spot a fake Uber you risk going straight to jail on your first outing.
 
CarlosQG said:
Guess you've never experienced the terrible taxi service in Mexico. Uber is a blessing here—at least they return your forgotten belongings.
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Sorry, I haven't had the pleasure to experience it. However, I have traveled to other countries - Germany, Poland, Portugal as well as many cities in the US and never experienced a taxi service problem relating to fearing for my life.
 
AbSoluTc said:
Yeah because every cab company tells you the license plate of the car, type/color or the car picking you up, the drivers name and picture as well. Not to mention that every driver has had a background check.

Yup, cabs are WAAAY safer. :rolleyes:

I drover for Uber for a year. It was fun and never had an issue. I have taken about 120 Ubers as well. Never had an issue. I have had many issues with cabs though. Late, don't speak english, no change for my $20, taking long routes, going soooooooo sloooooow. Etc.

If you're worried about safety, you probably shouldn't take either.

Uber is much safer than a cab. Cheaper too in most areas. Although when I am in NYC, taxis are cheaper and quicker.
Click to expand...

You are completely missing the point. The risk associated with Uber is higher than that of a cab company, especially a NYC, Boston, LA, or whatever major city you live near.

When I walk into a NYC cab, I know it is operated by a taxi company. I also have a photo ID of the driver posted in the cab that I can reference/complain/whatever if needed. There's also a company that STANDS behind their vehicle and driver for any litigation, if it comes down to it.

Uber simply wipes there hands clean if a driver does anything stupid.

And you even admitted it to, NYC cabs are easier to come by and cheaper than Uber. So why add more risk for less reward?
 
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