Alternatives to Uber/Lyft in Austin

Alternatives to Uber/Lyft in Austin

Looks like the drivers, riders, and convenience all lose in the latest battleground for Uber and Lyft in Austin, Texas. The City Council has been fighting with Uber and Lyft for years now but this latest battle could mean them pulling out of Austin for good. They proposed a change to regulations regarding ridesharing which was overturned by the public signing petitions on behalf of Uber and Lyft. Because the City Council wouldn’t agree they figured if they had a public vote on ridesharing in Austin with LOW turnout they would win and they did while riders and ridesharing lost. The existing regulations call for fingerprinting of drivers which is an unnecessary thing to do when you already have background checks. The main reason the ridesharing companies dislike it is because it discourages part-time drivers which is the entire model of rideshare. If people do not feel safe in an Uber or Lyft then take a taxi and let the rest of us enjoy the convenience of rideshare.

While this battle is going on in Austin we have put together some alternatives to Lyft and Uber:
Curb – We highly recommend this app if hailing a taxi. This basically calls a taxi for you but does it without cash being used.

get-me-emailGetMe has been a topic in the City Council debate as they are a new rideshare company based out of Dallas who have agreed to the city’s demands. GetMe is a pretty sketchy company as the CEO of GetMe has been kept anonymous and the prices being charged by GetMe also appear to be higher than Taxi companies. Some even believe GetMe is actually run by the Taxi companies and is just out to sabotage ridesharing in Austin. In today’s latest scandal from GetMe they sent out a carbon copy email to over 500 Austin TX drivers without hiding any of the email addresses. We also read about a driver asking to meet outside the airport at a Shell gas station. I think they may need more than fingerprints if all of this is true with this app. They may need a police officer riding with these drivers.

For airport rides we recommend Wingz rides which do not have surge pricing but only do airport drop offs and pick ups. If you want a fairly cheap, luxurious car rental to get around the spread-out city of Austin then Silvercar rentals are the best option. Wingz is offering a $1 promotion to first-time customers in Austin, TX, through July 1, 2016. The cost for qualified rides during this promotional period will be $1 for the first 20 miles; rides longer than 20 miles will cost an additional $2/mile. For every ride booked by first-time users during the promotion.


NEW Car Service for Austin

The departure of well known on-demand, ride-sharing services left a ton of Austin riders stranded and a lot of drivers out of work. To help out, Wingz has expedited an Austin beta launch of WingzAround, the private car service for around town and beyond. WingzAround takes the stress out of getting to and from wherever you need to go—a concert, business meeting, sporting event, doctor’s appointment, or special event. With advanced booking, flat-rate pricing, and trusted drivers, you can rest easy knowing a friendly driver will be waiting for you… not the other way around. And, once you ride with Wingz, you can request your favorite driver for a more personal experience. You can also get a $5 credit by signing up here for an account.

3 Easy steps to book your WingzAround ride during the Beta Stage:
In a few weeks, you’ll be able to book directly in our app.
1. Sign up for a new Wingz account and get a $5 instant credit using our link.
2. Send Wingz a ride request message by clicking on “Book now” the Wingz team will ask you for all the ride details.
3. You’ll receive confirmation along with a set price quote for your approval. Make sure to book as far in advance as possible (at least 2 hours before pickup time. 24 – 48 hours in advance is even better). WingzAround does have a $20 minimum.

Metro Bus over at Capmetro.org has a route that can take you from the airport to downtown and up to the UT campus. Not many people like or want to ride the bus and it does not run late at night to avoid drinking and driving. Austin is notorious for the worst DWI’s in the country for having one drink in your system.

The tech community in Austin has also been extremely fast to respond to alternatives to Uber and Lyft. Including a Nonprofit Uber alternative that springs from Austin tech minds. RideAustin said it will comply with Austin’s requirement that TNC drivers pass a fingerprint-based background check. That was a major reason why Uber and Lyft left Austin, arguing that fingerprinting slowed the precious on-boarding process of drivers. Ride Austin is in the hiring phase and already has an app out that looks IDENTICAL to Uber. You have to wonder how Uber is not suing RideAustin to keep it from coming to market.

postmatesaustinWhile you cannot hail an Uber or Lyft to drive you somewhere UberEats is available seven days a week from 8 am to midnight. Delivery fees range from $3 to $5 per order, and a meal can take as little as 10 minutes to arrive. So while rides from Uber and Lyft are a thing of the past, a quick meal is still on the table. You can also get drivers to bring you a Postmates free pizza this week.

Keep in mind it may not last too much longer before Uber comes back as they threw the same fit in Houston but Lyft has still not returned to Houston. It also happened in San Antonio and Ft. Lauderdale (Broward Country) where they have the worst taxi drivers in America. In San Antonio, a similar situation took place with ridesharing companies last year where city adopted regulations calling for mandatory fingerprint background checks for drivers and both Uber and Lyft ceased operating in San Antonio. Then a grassroots organization called Tech Bloc formed and garnered signatures on a petition and advocated for the return of ridesharing to San Antonio. Mayor Ivy Taylor and the city council reached an agreement with Lyft and Uber to bring ridesharing back last summer. (more…)

Earn Rewards Making Food Deliveries

Most people think you just make tip money and paid part of the delivery fees when driving for Postmates, Door Dash, and other delivery on-demand services. If you handle some of these orders right you can also earn yourself free rewards and offers and find yourself earning tax-free rewards on these trips. You just have to take the steps of signing up for these programs. Here are some of the programs you want to sign up for when doing deliveries.

Pei Wei is one example of a rewards program where you can earn free food. You can sign-up for their program when you make your online pick-up requests for delivery pick up the food and earn points each time towards a free meal. Not only are you earning free food but you are making it easier than having to call in each time.

One of the more popular rewards programs is with Starbucks. If you’re picking up orders for the monster coffee company then why are you not claiming these rewards stars for yourself? The person on the other end of the delivery doesn’t have the option and it would be wasted reward points if it is not used.

Jason’s Deli also has a points program when you order online for pick-ups. Cowboy Chicken in Dallas has Cowboy Cash where you can earn free food.

Taking that extra step when booking deliveries really pays off.

Uber Ride to Mexico from San Diego

Uber Ride to Mexico from San Diego


You can now use go party in Tijuana or dine in Rosarito without renting a car or driving. You can use
UberPASSPORT to arrange one seamless trip from San Diego to Tijuana. Whether it’s a business trip or a beach getaway, Uber can help make your journey into Mexico safe and hassle-free.

UberPASSPORT vehicles seat up the 4 passengers. Letting you grab a few friends, and head down to Tijuana or Rosarito for some authentic Mexican cuisine. 

HOW IT WORKS:

  • Download the Uber App (plus $10 off) if not already an Uber rider.
  • Open your app and select the PASSPORT option within the vehicle menu
  • Request a ride and remember to bring all of the required documentation
  • Hop in your UberPASSPORT and cross into Mexico in one seamless trip*
  • *UberPASSPORT is a one-way experience. Refer to the instructions on how to travel from Mexico to the U.S.

Sample Fares to Mexico From San Diego, CA Area

Start 

End 

UberPASSPORT

North Park

Zona Centro

$90

Split Fare =$22.50 per person

Downtown San Diego

TIJ Airport

$100

Split Fare = $25 per person

Pacific Beach

Rosarito

$160

Split Fare = $40 per person

While this looks tempting it is quite more expensive than taking a bus or perhaps just getting Uber to drop you off at the border and walking across. It will be safer getting a ride to a specific destination. While this is a one-way ride you have to hope that you will be able to get a ride back to San Diego at 3am or whenever you want to return from a wild last-minute trip to Mexico.

How to get Uber VIP and is it worth it?

How to get Uber VIP and is it worth it?

A new rewards program came out from Uber this year for their top riders. This program for the most loyal riders gives you the best treatment possible when you take a ride. You should receive exclusive Uber experiences with top quality cars, high rated drivers, special giveaways, and more.

How to Make the VIP List:
1. Sign up for Uber
2. Take 10+ trips this month
3. Enjoy the VIP perks next month
4. Continue this trip trend monthly to keep VIP access (more…)

How to Get Free or Cheap Lyft and Uber Rides

When it comes to getting around town whether you are going out on the town for the night, drinking for happy hour, or traveling with your family the best ride is with ride sharing services such as Uber and Lyft. Uber and Lyft are part of a sharing economy that gets us normally a brand new car picking us up instead of a old run down taxi.  The best part is that we can call Uber or Lyft by pressing a button on our iPhone, Windows Mobile, or Android smart phone and it tells us when the driver will arrive.

Register here to get up to $50 in credits from Lyft towards your first 10 rides.  Lyft is similar to Uber but it’s a bit more personal where you can add more to your profile and know more about the person driving you.  They can sometimes be cheaper as their surge rate seems less than the competition most of the time.  A surge rate is when they do not have many drivers or they are busy on a big holiday such as Memorial Day Weekend at 10pm or 2am.

$5 Off Lyft in New Orleans
Never miss a jazz solo, beignet, or parade, because Lyft is now live in the Crescent City. Whether you’re partying your way down Frenchmen street or eating your weight in crawfish, Lyft will get you wherever you need to go. Get $5 off your first ride in New Orleans with CODE:GOODTIMESROLL. Valid for 1 ride with max $5 discount. Offer valid until 5/30.

Uber Promos
Register here to get a $15 credit for Uber towards a Free Ride. Make sure that Promo code ubervip4me is entered. Uber is an amazing on-demand car service that is replacing taxi’s and they have service in most cities across the country.

Bonus Cash Back and Starwood Points
If you have the Capital One Quicksilver card or the Capital One QuicksilverOne card, you’ll get 20% back on all Uber rides through April 30, 2016. This is an amazing discount off the popular Uber service. If you’re stayed at a Starwood hotel you can also get bonus points once you sync your Uber account. (more…)

Uber is Back in Las Vegas while resorts are now charging for parking

free uber dance poleThe comeback of UBER to Las Vegas was imminent and will be bigger than ever because they should be allowed to pick up passengers at McCarran International Airport. A place that until now has been sacred to only long taxi lines, limos and those ride share vans.

UBER is officially back in Las Vegas now that the Nevada Transportation Authority made its final approval for ride sharing companies. While it will not include airport pickup when it launches you can at least get around the city without being nickeled and dime’d by a cabbie.

Sign up and look for UBER Promos here and here. (more…)