Our Desk | Alternatives to Uber, anybody?

Lynzy Valles

After Uber announced in a statement that it will halt its operations in the city from September 9 – citing hefty fines amounting to some MOP10 million – netizens took to social media, particularly on Facebook, to criticize the decision.
The decision, of course, had much to do with the government, which has not reached any agreement regarding the legalization of ride hailing apps, despite supposed negotiations with the relevant government bodies.
Just last month, Uber Macau appealed for service legalization by delivering numerous letters to the office of the Secretary of Transport and Public Works, Raimundo do Rosário, all written by members of the public who support Uber’s services.
The letters, which reporters had access to, strongly called for the secretary to deliberate “consumer-friendly regulations,” as there is no jurisdiction to regulate the car-sharing industry.
Obviously, the car hailing app did not receive the green light to operate its service in the peninsula, despite its continuing efforts in making the MSAR realize that their service could be, or already is, a solution to the citizens’ dilemma on the region’s taxi services. (Did I just imply that local cabs offer “services”?)
The government’s crackdown on the operator has rallied a substantial number of Uber supporters. Organizers behind a Facebook page called “撐Uber 澳門需要你 Support Uber Macau” launched a petition, calling for the public to back the continued operation of the “illegal” service.
The page has attracted some 11,700 likes as of writing, with netizens describing the service – that will soon exit the region – as “hope” for Macau’s transportation system.
“The issues of our terrible transportation system have never been resolved, yet this government is expelling Uber out of the city with unexpected efficiency. Our rights are being deprived, and we cannot just sit there like what we [have done] in the past when facing injustices!” organizers wrote on iPetitions.
Its thousands of supporters must have experienced the terrible service of cabs in Macau.
I rarely take a taxi because I refuse to be in an environment where drivers would argue and practice their arrogant behavior when I try to say, “Soi Hang Mei, si gei,” and they’d reply, “*insert loooong Cantonese sentences (in an angry manner) that I don’t understand as it surpasses my survival Cantonese.*”
Anyway, the Macao Community Development Initiative has also organized a protest against the halt of the service, calling for supporters of Uber to take to the streets on Sunday.
Surprisingly, as cited in the Times’ report yesterday, the president of the Legislative Assembly, Ho Iat Seng, said it “can think of changing the law to allow ride-hailing services,” when questioned by reporters about the ongoing issue.
Ho said that if the public is “favorable to that idea,” chances are the government could adjust the current law, so as to legalize such services.
Right after Uber announced its service suspension? Quite ironic, eh?
I’m not sure if it was a “coincidence” that such statements were made at this time, or if it was a hint that similar mobile applications could be introduced soon.
I reckon the public is fighting for more than just the convenience of getting from one place to another with a “proper service”. They are also fighting because there is a great absence of alternative ways for some to get to their destinations.
If authorities fail to solve these transportation issues, I assume the public will continually criticize the region’s overall conveyance system (not to mention the recent New Era bus that hit bamboo scaffolds) and will continually stress and put pressure on the fact that their “rights are being deprived” and “injustices” are prevailing.