网易100天---35、How Uber Was Made

How Uber Was Made
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Passage 1
改变生活方式
How Uber Works
From Free Code Camp · 180 words · 2 mins
Uber has transformed the world. Indeed, it’s inconceivable to think of a world without the convenience of the innovative ride sharing service. Tracing its origins in a market which is constantly being deregulated, Uber has emerged triumphant. Operating in over 58 countries and valued roughly at US$ 66 billion, Uber has rapidly expanded to established branches in over 581 cities in over 82 countries with the United States, Brazil, China, Mexico and India being Uber’s most active countries.

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If that wasn’t impressive enough, in 2016 the company completed a total of 2 billion rides in one week. When you consider the fact that the first billion rides took Uber 6 years, and the second billion was garnered in a mere 6 months, it’s not surprising to see Uber emerge as a global business leader. This worldwide phenomenon is built on a simple idea, seductive in its premise – the ability to hail a car with nothing but your smartphone. It took the problem of hailing a taxi and gave everyone an equitable solution while further capitalizing on the emerging market.
Passage 2
是什么让Uber如此受欢迎
Why People Love Uber
From lifewire.com · 300 words · 3 mins
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Uber’s appeal revolves around the trifecta of price, quality standards, and convenience.

Price

Taxi cab drivers hate Uber because Uber undercuts their fees by up to 50 percent — but this, of course, is a main reason riders love using Uber. Plus, Uber drivers don’t require tips and can’t pressure you for them; as mentioned, you can add them later in the app. Taxi drivers, on the other hand, typically expect at least 15 percent tips at the time of payment inside the taxi.

Quality

Uber cars tend to be cleaner, newer, and better-smelling than many taxis. The accountability built into the Uber app motivates drivers to keep their cars in good shape.

Convenience

The payment process is easy and stress-free. Likewise, the app frees you from the frustrating process of hailing a cab. The ability to handle all these details right from your phone saves time and aggravation (and keeps company and driver overhead low).

Lower Fares

While rates vary by city and time of day, substantial public data shows that using UberX can cost 25 percent to 50 percent less than taking a local taxi cab. Bear in mind, however, that Uber does impose surge pricing for peak events like major sporting matches and New Year’s Eve when ride fees can climb significantly for a few hours. As a rule, though, Uber rides are cheaper than taxi cabs.

Fast Service

Because Uber is attractive for drivers to join, the number of available drivers usually results in very fast response times. While this certainly does vary, the typical Uber rider gets a pickup within three to 10 minutes of hailing, while taxis can take 30 to 45 minutes after being called. Because Uber drivers are rated by every passenger every day, there is the incentive to be both prompt and safe.
Passage 3
Uber司机体验
How did my first weekend go as a Uber driver?
From studenomics.com · 254 words · 3 mins

My life is on-the-job-training. This is my adventure with working as a Uber driver. I started off on Friday evening. I was training my buddy at the gym (always hustling to make a buck) and we had finished the workout. I decided to turn my phone on since the gym was located in a prime area for such a program. Boom. Within a few minutes I had my first call. I jumped up and down. I ran to go pick up the passenger. I brought my buddy alone for the ride (big mistake). By the third call, a gentleman freaked out on me for having an extra passenger. I went on to drive until 2am because the requests wouldn’t stop pouring in.

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On Saturday I went for the night rush. I wasn’t free until later in the evening. I started at about 11 and then calls went on all night again. There was just one problem. My phone died. I didn’t have a car charger. With 1% left, I picked up my brother and his buddy who were wasted at a night club to drive them home. I got home, charged my phone for a bit, and went back on the road. I did a huge call. Well, I thought I did. I forgot to press “begin ride.”

Sunday was random for me. I turned it on during the afternoon and took a few calls. Then I took a bunch of calls at night time again. I was surprised by the demand on a Sunday.