Most people have heard of Uber at this point in time, but when it was founded in 2009, no one thought it would have grown to this size. Just think of a way to make transportation easier and safer, while creating jobs. Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp help build this idea into a $1.5 billion company, as of last year. What a simple idea to have a driver pick you up where you want and drop you off exactly where you need to be. This alone differentiated Uber from the traditional taxi service in large cities. No you can get someone to Uber you home from work or the store.
Pushing the technological boundaries has also played a part in Uber’s growth. They have partnered with both Volvo and Ford on using autonomous vehicles. This testing as some of you may know is currently going on in the Pittsburgh area. We are so close to this which is amazing. Although I have never been in an autonomous Uber car, I have seen quite a few in Pittsburgh. It is great that Uber is helping to push the forefront of what is possible and not just focusing on their taxi service. Who knows, in the near future we might be getting picked up by a driverless care and be chauffeured to any destination.
I remember the first time I used Uber I was a little skeptical not knowing how much I actually trusted the system. My experiences, however, with Uber have been really good. It really is a safe way to get from one place to the next and it is easier than a taxi. You request a car so you don’t have to wait and try to flag down a taxi and then the driver already knows where you’re going when you get in. I think Uber is a great form of transportation that has provided more driving safety in big cities.
Uber is an ingenious idea. Although I’ve never rode in an Uber, I hope to someday. Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp definitely found a niche in the market. They had a great idea and made a business out of it.