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Comment by timparker | Hacker News Reader

Pay twice as much to be in a black cab? Defeating whole reason of using Uber.. luckily we have choices, thanks UberX.

Actually it follows the same fare rate as the taxis themselves, plus 5% extra to Uber for the convenience of the service.

Fare info: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/taxis-and-minicabs/taxi-fares?ci...

According to the announcement in OP, the 5% commission is paid by the driver, the rider still pays the exact same regulated fare right. At least that's how I read it, I think that's what "commission" usually means.

which is much more expensive than UberX. Black cabs in London are just ripoff. I love Uber and I hope it will continue to disrupt it with UberX and low prices, not support Black Cabs.

The training given to London cab drivers makes this especially ironic - UberTAXI should appear above UberX in their service list. It's a more premium service.

It takes an average London cabbie 34 months of preparation and 12 attempts to pass the test to get their license:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxicabs_of_the_United_Kingdom#...

There was a shortcut on a route that I used to regularly take in London, so i'd tell them "Don't go to the lights, just turn down here". I think I had fare meters stopped out of appreciation on 3 occasions after sharing that tip. Showing a London cabbie a new shortcut totally blows their minds.

My only reason for using Uber in this city is that it beats the hell out of black taxi rates, will definitely not be using this service.

Seems like they're just trying to mitigate the protests happening today.

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