General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Where do people here come down on Uber et. al.? [View all]former9thward
(32,217 posts)is solving the problem of 'Hailing while Black' in Chicago.
I flinch every time I get into a taxi. I have been dissed, ignored, waylaid, and mistreated every which way by taxi drivers. If you are African American or live on Chicagos South or West Side, you know the story. My biggest taxi meltdown came when I hailed a Yellow downtown, late for a meeting. I gave him directions. He drove the other way. An argument ensued. He sneered, thats why I dont like picking up you people.
No more hailing while black: 54 percent of UberX trips in the city of Chicago begin or end in an area deemed as underserved by taxis and public transportation, the company says. In June, UberX drivers connected more than 500,000 trips on the citys South and West Sides, according to spokesperson Brooke Anderson.The service is blasting through Chicagos job deserts. There are currently 8,000 UberX drivers from the citys South and West Sides. Last month Uber teamed up with the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership to recruit 10,000 new drivers. Local organizations are hosting recruitment fairs in neighborhoods like Austin, Garfield Park and Auburn Gresham over the next year.
UberX changed her life, says Austin resident Bree Rodriguez. A year ago, she had lost her job. The African-American single mom had dropped out of college. She and her baby were living with her mother, A friend suggested she drive for UberX. Now Rodriguez, 25, is driving 30 to 40 hours a week, when and where she wants. UberX gives her flexibility and time. Time to spend with her son, who will be 2 in November. Its like school he even has homework! Rodriguez told me the other day. I can handle all my running, spend time with my son, pick him up from school. The money is good, she said. In my previous job I was pretty much living from paycheck to paycheck. In Chicago, UberX drivers have earned $200 million since the service was launched two years ago, Anderson says. In the first three months of 2015 alone, UberX drivers in Chicago have earned more than $50 million.
http://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/7/71/780975/laura-washington-uber-upends-problem-hailing-black