UBER is a venture-funded startup and transportation network company based in San Francisco, California, that makes mobile apps that connect passengers with drivers of vehicles for hire and ridesharing services.
The company arranges pickups in dozens of cities around the world. Cars are reserved by sending a text message or by using a mobile app—the latter can also be used by customers to track their reserved car's location.
Initially, UBER drivers used cars such as Lincoln Town Cars, Cadillac Escalades, BMW 7 Series, and Mercedes-Benz S550 sedans. After 2012, UBER launched UberX, following the addition of a wider selection of cars to appeal to a broader cross-section of the market.
In 2012, UBER announced a plan to expand its operations to include ridesharing in non-taxi vehicles.
Have you ever used UBER? It is simple and it is pretty awesome.
You sign up for the App, and when you register and put in your information, you also provide information for a credit card.
When you are ready to use UBER, you just tap the App; you see all cars in your area, and you tap to request one. It is dispatched to the GPS location on your phone and you can track the path of the vehicle on its way to you via the driver’s phone GPS.
When it arrives, you tell the driver where you want to go. Upon delivery, you get out of the car and go on your way. No bill. No tip. Approximately 20 minutes after you get an emailed receipt.
A great service, right? Here’s the next suggestion:
This concern is compounded when they are going out with friends.
What will they really be doing?? Have you had the conversation with your teen about drinking and driving? You know, the “call me anytime and I will come get you if needed” conversation?
Are you worried that he/she will need you and won’t call, for fear of the backlash? (Of course you are). Is there a solution?
How about UBER? A click, a car and a ride home without needing a nickel in his/her pocket. Will there be a “discussion” after he/she safely arrives home?
You bet there will be. But, the point is that he/she WILL ARRIVE HOME SAFELY, and that “discussion” will take place.
(A friend suggested this idea at a coffee meeting yesterday. He told me that his teen has already used UBERtwice. He has had the “after discussion”, and is thrilled with his and his teen’s decision-making on this subject.)
We will never encourage our teens to get into a situation where they need UBER,but should it occur (we are not so naïve to think it cannot happen), if using UBER is the only alternative to making a dreaded phone call to mom and dad, then we are happy to have it.
Arizona is among one of 30 states that allow operators of a certain age to leave their helmets at home, according to consumerreports.org. (Note: Arizona is not the state with the most lenient law)
In Arizona and 19 other states, motorcycle operators 17 years and younger are legally required to wear the head gear. Florida and Kentucky are among the seven states states that mandate helmets for those 20 and younger.
Illinois and New Hampshire have no helmet laws at all, according to Consumerreports.org.
"Besides getting a ticket for not wearing a helmet in certain states, there is even more incentive—not properly protecting yourself could increase your risk of injury or even death," consumerreports.org said. "They are about 37 percent effective in preventing deaths and about 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries from motorcycle crashes ...
"Rider fatalities have grown even more rapidly, especially compared to cars. In 2012, over 4,900 motorcyclists died on the roads -- that is, 15 percent of the total highway fatalities and an increase of 33 percent from 2003-2012."
While riding helmet-less may provide riders the sense of freedom they want, it also may well harm their chances for a recovery should an accident occur.
Most motorcycle accidents are not the fault of the motorcycle rider, but the driver of another vehicle who fails to see or notice the motorcyclist until it is too late.
Head injuries are common—more common for helmetless riders.
In Arizona, although the law does not require helmet use, given that it is a widely known fact that helmets save injuries and save lives, it is the law that the helmetless motorcycle rider may be found to be responsible for his/her own head injuries in failing to wear a helmet---even if the accident was not his/her fault. Does this change your mind?
Perhaps not, but it is a factor you should strongly consider before you decide to get on the bike and risk traffic.
