From e-scooters to female chauffeurs: Five alternatives to Uber in London

In the recent months of lockdown lifting, Londoners have complained of higher fares and longer waiting times for app-based cab companies such as Uber.

Several possible factors have contributed to this which include a lack of drivers, surge pricing and drivers using rival apps.

LondonWorld recently spoke to several Londoners about their experiences of “extortionate” Uber fares.

Tony Pullen, a building services engineer from Mortlake, Richmond, was shocked to see a quote for £75 when requesting an Uber home from central London.

While Natasha Petrou, a musician from Tufnell Park, Camden, said she ends up spending all of her night’s earnings on getting home safely.

Uber says it has seen a huge spike in demand since the end of lockdown, with many cities now seeing 20% to 40% more trips than before the pandemic.

A spokesperson from the company said: “This does mean that at the moment some riders are waiting a little longer in busy areas at peak times, although 65% of rides still arrive in less than five minutes and 91% arrive in less than 10 minutes.

“There are around 70,000 drivers working on the app today in the UK, which is similar to the number before the pandemic.

“But due to the high demand for our service we are also actively recruiting 20,000 more drivers to help get the service back to normal.”

David Lawrie, from National Private Hire and Cab Association, saidthat the lack of financial support for cab drivers during the pandemic resulted in many leaving the industry and finding work elsewhere.

To make life easier, we have looked at a few alternative options to help get people home.

From e-scooters to Black cab apps, here are five other ways Londoners can get around the city.

Black cab apps

If you’re struggling to get an Uber, you could try a black cab with an easy-to-use app.

Taxiapp, Gett and Free Now are a few options to get a highly trained driver with the knowledge.

Taxiapp UK is a non-profit cooperative founded by black cab drivers themselves and all vehicles are wheelchair accessible.

Taxiapp also allows you to make an advance booking, to ensure peace of mind before you head out.

Gett is another black cab-hailing app, which gives passengers the option to book exclusively electric taxis.

The company has cited their average pick up time as three minutes and all Gett UK rides are carbon neutral.

Gett also ensures fixed pricing, so you won’t have to pay more even if stuck in traffic.

Formerly known as Halo and subsequently Mytaxi, Free Now is the first ride-hailing app in London to bring black cabs and private vehicles together on one app, so you can choose from a range of vehicles and prices that suit your needs.

London Lady Chauffeurs

Female safety in London has become a focal point of discussion lately and for those who feel safer having a female driver, London Lady Chauffeurs is the option for you.

The service was set up after several female passengers had expressed their worries over travelling with a male driver, especially at night.

London Lady Chauffeurs is run by women, with women drivers, exclusively for women (they actually get to turn men down).

The chauffeurs believe that their customers are “driven by professionally trained lady chauffeurs for their comfort and safety”.

E-Scooters

Not for the end of the night but for those looking to get around the city in a more sustainable way why not try renting an e-scooter.

A few options available in London include Dott, Lime and TIER.

Their e-scooters are now available to rent in Camden, City of London, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth (north of the borough only), Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Tower Hamlets (limited parking at Canary Wharf and some TfL stations) and Westminster.

Check out our full explainer about where and when you can use e-scooters in London.

Car pool apps

Not for using after a night out, but if you’re looking to get around London why not try a car sharing app.

Zipcar, Virtuo and Hiyacar are a few available options.

Often petrol is covered, and Zipcar also has a lot of electric cars to reduce emissions.

Zipcar vehicles are available to hire for £3 an hour, while Virtuo cars cost £50 a day.

Hiyacar is the cheapest option with cars available to rent for £28 a day.

Users can rents cars for an entire day, or pay by the minute for short journeys.

Night Tube and Overground Return

Transport for London (TfL) announced earlier this month that the night tube on the Victoria and Central lines is returning on November 27.

The Overground Night service is also back in action December 17.

The night service on the Overground runs from New Cross Gate to Highbury and Islington, via Canada Water, Shoreditch, and Dalston - calling at 13 stops in total.

TfL also announced the four other Night Tube lines – Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly – will reopen "as soon as practicable".