Bengaluru: Ride cancellations, drivers on the phone, peak hour surcharges and lack of cleanliness are the biggest issues faced by ride-hailing app consumers in Bengaluru, according to a survey conducted by community social media platform LocalCircles.
The survey, which covered around 3,500 frequent users of apps like Ola and Uber in Bengaluru, found that none of the ride-hailing services completely satisfied users, suggesting that newcomers like Namma Yatri and Rapido could seize the opportunity to lead the market.
It was found that about 85 percent of Uber customers and 93 percent of Ola customers encountered one or more issues in the last 12 months, causing concern among commuters.
Many commuters told DH They were open to switching to new apps that offer better services. “During peak hours, the charges are quite high and even if we agree to pay, drivers often refuse or cancel after asking about the pickup location,” said Sushma K, a technician. “If new apps can solve these problems, many of us would be happy to switch.”
In addition to cancellations and surcharges, about 69% of passengers expressed safety concerns because drivers were talking on the phone while driving. This is one of the biggest problems, as safety is the top priority. “Sometimes some drivers don’t even respond to our requests because they are busy on the phone. Even if we ask them to be more careful while driving or to slow down, they don’t comply with our request.
“This is worrying and I have raised the issue with both Ola and Uber, but I don’t know if they are communicating it to the driver,” said Vandana G, a resident of KR Puram.
Published 24 August 2024, 22:52 IS
