Uber’s launch in Cape Cod was a bit short on drivers
Although Uber and its on-demand driving services officially expanded to Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard this past Memorial Day weekend, you would have had to a hard time using the app to order a ride.
There just weren’t quite enough Uber drivers on the road.
Demand for the service at the Cape and Islands outpaced the supply of working drivers this past weekend, Uber spokesperson Craig Ewer said in an email.
“We saw enormous demand for UberX on the Cape & Islands this Memorial Day weekend,’’ Ewer said. “We’re continuing to bring more drivers onto the platform to help meet that demand throughout the summer.’’
Casey O’Donnell, who lives in Osterville, was at dinner in Dennis about 40 minutes away this weekend and opened the Uber app out of curiosity.
“However, when I looked on the app there was only one UberX guy driving around about 10 [minutes] from me,’’ she said.
She said she’s generally “very excited’’ for Uber’s arrival, largely because it would alleviate the need to get a designated driver for a night out.
“My one concern right now is that I’d be scared I’d get to Dennis, spend the night drinking, and then be stranded because there aren’t that many drivers,’’ she said.
That lack of drivers was evident in the early testing of Uber on the Islands before Memorial Day. Two weeks ago, Steve Myrick of local paper Vineyard Gazette wrote that he attempted to get an Uber around mid-day, but no drivers were available until 5 p.m.
“The relatively small number of drivers currently operating illustrates one of the initial criticisms of Uber,’’ he wrote.
On Wednesday between 2:20-2:25 p.m., no uberX cars were available on Cape Cod or Martha’s Vineyard, according to this reporter’s Uber app. One vehicle was available in Nantucket.
Ewer, the Uber spokesman, declined to say how many drivers specifically worked for Uber on the Cape Cod and Islands this weekend, but was hopeful there’d be more soon.
“We’re optimistic that Cape and Islands residents will take advantage of the flexible income opportunity that Uber provides,’’ he said.
Domenic, a Twitter user who works at a bar on Cape Cod, said in a series of tweets that he hasn’t used Uber on the Cape yet but did notice a group of people get out of an Uber car.
“Cape taxi service sucks and is over priced. Thank god ubers here,’’ he tweeted. “A lot more convenient then waiting 45 min for falmouth taxi.’’
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