The app-based transportation network, Uber, gave its patrons a ride of their lives during "President's Day." The company gave commuters riding in Washington, DC a tour of the historic capital on their "full-size luxury cars."
The fantastic "Ubercade" could be ordered using the app. The package would include a ride on a Cadillac STS around scenic locations enveloped withing the Capital Beltway. The ride would be escorted by two Suburbans posing as "Secret Service." Its rate would be nearest to the cheapest option in Uber.
Uber shared in a press statement that this would be their third year celebrating "President's Day" in a luxury ride fit for a commander-in-chief. The campaign was designed to blow off some steam from commuters who would be stuck at their offices during the day's celebration.
However, not everybody was happy about Uber's antics. In fact, one group had been at odds with the continuously growing transportation network, this would be the taxi community.
Taxi companies have been battling Uber since its conception. The app-based transportation network was literally killing the industry. In fact, even the medallions (taxi licenses) that once were allegedly bought at auctions for US$1 million had drastically dropped prices. The medallions were a sort of badge for taxis that have been in mega-metropolises since the days of old; these taxi companies have already established themselves (as monopolies) in their communities. With the declining passenger volume of taxis, there had been an increase of unused taxi medallions in the market, which reduced their value.
Uber broke away from conformity by establishing a transport service that, based from its commuters, was cheap, clean and efficient. Some commuters even commended Uber drivers as a bit more politely compared to the regular taxi driver. This would be due to the fact that Uber employed a person with a car and a GPS device. But, these aren't your usual drivers and their rides aren't your ordinary cars. Uber killed competition by putting premium on quality versus quantity.
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