Uber Calls Woman's 20-Mile Nightmare Abduction an "Inefficient Route"

[PeaceNikki]

http://valleywag.gawker.com/uber-calls-womans-20-mile-nightmare-abduction-an-ineff-1645819700

Several days ago, a Los Angeles Uber customer decided to leave a party for home early via UberX, the company's affordable taxi replacement. Instead of taking her home, the driver took her on a nightmare ride to an abandoned lot—and Uber doesn't seem to care.

The passenger—who asked that I not use her name out of fear for her own safety—entered her home address in the Uber app before her ride arrived. Uber touts this smartphone feature as a time-saving mechanism. But as seen in the screenshot above, provided by the passenger, she was taken almost 20 miles out of her way, while the driver ignored her questions and directions. They finally arrived in a dark, empty parking lot in the middle of the night, despite her repeated protests. When she tried to exit the car, her driver locked the doors, trapping her inside. Only when she caused a commotion and screamed did he finally return her home. What should have been a quick ride took over two hours.

The next day, shaken, the passenger detailed her story to Uber. In response, she received only an "automated" email reply apologizing for the "inefficient route." The passenger's fare was partially refunded, with no acknowledgement of the fact that she was basically briefly kidnapped (she's now dealing with the LAPD and an attorney). A day later, the remainder of her fare was reimbursed. That's the extent of Uber's response. They seem sorry!

Let's get some things out of the way:

Yes, there are dangerous people in any industry.

Yes, there are dangerous taxi drivers.

No, Uber isn't actively recruiting criminals and creeps.

But the company demonstrates, again, and again, and again, that it cares more about beating back regulations and destroying organized taxi services than it does about you, your happiness, or your wellbeing. Uber is one of the only startups that's skipped straight to the large, unfeeling, contemptuous phase of any corporation—dismissing a kidnapping attempt as an "inefficient route" is so horrifically perfect for Uber that it comes off as a bad joke. But it's not a joke, and now a dangerous person—who Uber will of course remind you is not technically an Uber employee, but instead a mere independent contractor!—has this woman's home address. For now, she explained to me via telephone, audibly shaken, she's staying in a hotel.

People suck. Just suck. It's all good information to know before you try these services.

[pnwmom]

1. We have regulations for a reason, and taxi drivers SHOULD be regulated.

Thank you. I'm going to pass this on to my daughter and other women I know.

[PeaceNikki]

2. It's so disheartening that the world is so fucked up. I had high hopes for services like this.

Taxi service in the Milwaukee metro area is horrific at best. And this appears to be a potentially risky option, especially if they refuse to take safety seriously.

ugh

[FSogol]

3. Uber is a libertarian con game. Taxi regulations exist for a reason. n/t

[tkmorris]

4. Hold on a sec

She claims she was basically kidnapped and taken to an empty lot somewhere and LOCKED INSIDE THE CAR. According to her story she then screamed and "caused a commotion". After which the driver... took her home?

I am having a really hard time believing that she stayed in the car and let him drive her home given her description of events up to that point. Seriously, who would do that?

[Beaverhausen]

5. I know, right?

I mean, she must have been asking for it? She might have had a few drinks, worn a short skirt...who wouldn't kidnap that?

[tkmorris]

12. Yeah, that's EXACTLY what I said

[PeaceNikki]

6. K.

[pnwmom]

9. Uber isn't disputing this, despite the bad publicity. And they know the route the driver took. n/t

[tkmorris]

13. Sure. The driver obviously went completely the wrong way

Not arguing that point at all. I just don't see the whole "kidnapping" thing, or her deciding afterward to say "Oh NOW you'll drive me home? Cool." That doesn't add up at all, and she doesn't get a free pass on credibility just because she's a woman either.

[PeaceNikki]

14. I don't understand what you don't find credible. What should she have done?

She was alone in his locked car at 5:00 am. If he took her that far out of the way, ignored her questions and then stopped in an empty lot, she was probably terrified something very bad would happen. She couldn't exit the car.

Also, Uber has a shit reputation for background checks and safety: http://valleywag.gawker.com/why-is-uber-charging-you-extra-to-not-get-assaulted-1567825107

[Initech]

7. I've taken Uber dozens of times with no problem.

The sad thing is there's a lot of people that suck like this driver that ruin it for the rest of us.

[Spider Jerusalem]

8. This is one of many arguments in favour of licensed taxi services, honestly (and against Uber)

Yes, some licensed cabdrivers are kidnappers and rapists, but the licensing process and background checks seem somewhat more stringent. And Uber and Lyft et al are essentially libertarian "we don't need no regulation" methods of undercutting taxi licensing (and thus if they're successful enough driving licensed taxi firms out of business, one imagines). It's bleakly amusing in a way to behold the hypocrisy of people in a supposedly liberal forum who are all for union labour praising things like Uber--taxi drivers in a lot of major metro areas? Union members.

[pnwmom]

10. There are a lot of libertarians peddling their wares here. n/t

[PeaceNikki]

11. It's a hot topic here. the city of Milwaukee has historically only issued a couple hundred

Taxi licenses, making service here a literal joke. They upped the cap from 320 to 420 this year and are requiring Uber and Lyft drivers be licensed.

http://m.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/council-lifts-cap-on-taxi-permits-b99315839z1-268118062.html

Lawsuits are flying on both sides now. http://www.courthousenews.com/2014/10/10/72354.htm