‘APPS MUST FIND WAYS TO MAKE THE EXPERIENCE SAFER AND BETTER FOR THE RIDERS’

KRISHNA KUMAR, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, GREENPEPPER CONSULTING INDIA PVT LTD

Having used Uber for so long, it has been the safest and affordable option, next to using our own vehicles. The risks of public transportation and its inconvenience in Indian cities have made Uber/Ola an instant hit, even for those who own their own cars. You get to know driver profile, what his ratings are and his vehicle model and number, which is verified and tracked by the company, and the details can be shared with your close ones if needed. And even after the trip, we are able to contact the driver if we left something behind. We can give anonymous feedback about the ride experience and rapid response teams are there to deal with urgent issues. You can also keep your personal information private and the drivers cannot contact you directly. And the GPS tracks each ride to ensure the drivers are taking the best route every time. Banning Uber is like banning the Internet for people, in order to get them to use libraries. When each city has millions of Uber riders and thousands of drivers, it is natural that untoward incidents might occur, but it all can be tracked and the offenders immediately found and punished. I remember standing in long taxi queues in front of airports and railways stations before Uber, and paying exorbitantly. Security concerns about apps, and surrounding rape news is like victimising a brand for no fault of theirs. Uber must find ways to make the experience safer and better for the riders and at the same time make the drivers have a decent life. It can be by complying with laws and regulations of each country and using technology to verify drivers stringently.