The ride hailing service that opened the doors to disruptive technology services has to go to Uber, a novel idea of picking up wanting commuters who were headed the same direction without the need of using a cab or adding more cars on the streets.

Turning every potential vehicle on the roads as taxi’s, Uber set out to ease congestion, minimise carbon footprint and at the same time put extra money in drivers pockets. Having started in 2010, the company reached the billion trip mark in 2015 and within the next six months in 2016 the numbers doubled. Today the company has reached another feat by surpassing 5 billion trips across 24 countries the app is offered including Malaysia. The longest ride used via the service was in Singapore over 27 kilometers  and the shortest was in San Francisco for 470 metres.

While the regulators have mixed reaction to this new sharing economy concept, there are cities which embrace the idea and there are those who are grappling with the whole notion. In Malaysia, SPAD has yet to finalise its policy on ride hailing service although they are not banned, incidents of robbery and molestation is not helping the service providers any bit.

Nevertheless as all new form of innovation, there is bound to be teething issues however we can come to an agreement that services like Uber is needed in a country like us to equate the playing field and give the public the option of choosing their desired ride providers. In a way this will improve public transport efficiency and dislodge complacency currently plaguing the sector.