re: First Time Using Uber: It's basically a taxi service with a cool app

Here in Dallas Lyft is like 50 cents cheaper than Uber but more with tip. So not sure if the drivers can rate you like in Uber.

4.94 with 89 rides.

Austin didn't even have Uber for a year.

I've had plenty of so-so experiences, but never truly bad ones.

It's not as great as it was a couple of years ago (particularly with the quality of vehicles), but it still serves my needs.

Never tried Lyft, but I assume I eventually will. Uber is going to in-app tipping, so they'll be the same in that regard (everyone will feel pressured to tip).

I wish Uber would orchestrate tipping so that drivers have to rate riders prior to seeing if they were tipped with the app. I will probably tip regularly, but it's still lame that whether you tip or not (and how much) will now dominate the ratings.

Yeah when Lyft first launched in Atlanta (several years ago, before the more recent push and reboot of the last 18 months or so), the cars were piles of absolute shite. Back then every Uber car I rode in was pretty recent and pretty immaculate.

Lately about 80% of my Ubers are still in that condition, but have probably had more shitty Uber vehicles in the last 2-3 months than in the prior 3-4 years combined.

Well at least that is happening. One of the driving factors for Uber (I think) was avoiding the shenanigans of taxis who may or may not take cards. Often we'd get ones with a machine, but they'd give you a hard time about it. Thus, we never have cash, so we can't tip in Uber. Now that will change.

But of course, it'll just end up as an essentially mandatory surcharge on rides of 2-3 bucks now, which sucks.