Over the Christmas holidays, I went into a wild and
crazy technology frenzy and had the kids install both Instagram and Uber on my
iPhone. I’m not actually interested in posting photos on Instagram myself but
my daughter-in-law posts lots of adorable grandtot photos on hers which I was
eager to see. Of course, I tried to install it first and messed it up beyond
all belief. The kids used to encourage me to try software installs myself (teach
a person to fish) but they’ve come to realize that some people simply cannot be
taught to fish and will be a drain on society for life. I have many talents,
but technology is not one of them.
I confess that part of my motivation was that now
that I’ve had a smartphone for two years, I thought it was time to add an app.
I didn’t want to rush into anything. I know people who say they have maxed out
the number of apps their phone will allow. I’m agog. How do they even remember
what all of them do? Every icon on my phone came with the phone and fits on one
screen. Or did anyway. I felt bad for that Instagram app all by itself on the
second screen so I decided that as long as I had tech support available, I’d
add Uber as well. So now the Instagram app has a friend.
I truly think Uber is the best invention ever. As
one who has lived in San Diego for decades, my opinion of certain local taxi
services is withering at best. I don’t want to mention any names but the ones
I’m talking about are often associated with citrus colors. Ever since flat rate
transportation companies entered the field, these are the only ones Olof and I
will use to go to the airport, having been stood up by the citrus folks one too
many times. (Once, my lawn guys took me to the airport in their truck – my
suitcase and their mower rolling around in the back - when the citrus service
announced it would be an hour late.)
While taxis regularly circulate around the bars in
Pacific Beach, my son and friends, then college students, stood on Prospect
Street in downtown La Jolla late one night for an hour and a half for a citrus
cab that repeatedly said it was en route but never showed.
A friend who lives in University City waited endlessly
for a citrus cab after each of a series of oral surgery appointments in
downtown La Jolla. One time, a driver showed up after an hour announcing he was
taking pity on her because all the citrus drivers were hoping for airport runs
and were simply ignoring her call, despite insisting they were on their way. He
expected a generous tip for this.
Worst of all, I can’t even count the number of times
I gave rides home to elderly women supermarket patrons waiting with their
defrosting groceries for the cab that was called for them but which, 60 minutes
later, had still not arrived. Fortunately, I don’t look dangerous so these
women were willing to get in my car. Or, kidnapping sounded more appealing than
continuing to wait for the cab. I get that cab companies want longer hauls. But
saying you’re coming when you’re not? There should be a special place in
hackney hell for you guys.
Those ladies waiting outside the supermarket put the
Fear of Being a Non-Driving Senior in the Land of Crappy Public Transit
squarely in my heart. Buses, alas, aren’t reliable either and often don’t run
at night. But Uber happily does short hauls. And comes immediately! Any time! When
they say they’re coming, they actually come! On top of that, they’re half the
cost! And no I don’t have stock in Uber!
One teeny weeny problem with Uber, at least as far as senior citizens are concerned: You currently need a smartphone. Fortunately, once your techno savvy kids have installed it for you, the app is almost frightening easy to use. You push the Uber icon and the driver knows where you are because of the GPS on your phone, and comes and gets you. Your credit card is already on file with them so you don’t even have to have cash. Tip is included!
Truly, I think if we could get the smartphone thing worked out, Uber will be the biggest boon to seniors since knee replacements.
Sorry, citrus guys. It’s the juicer for you.
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