Uber Charged $100 Minimum Fare To Flee Sydney Hostage Crisis Area [View all]
Source: TPM
Uber was offering refunds to riders in Sydney, Australia after the personal taxi service charged customers up to four times its normal rate to leave the area where a hostage situation was unfolding.
Authorities on Monday warned the public to stay away from Sydney's central business district and evacuated buildings there after a gunman took an unknown number of hostages inside a Lindt Chocolat Cafe. Mashable reported that some Uber users trying to leave that area saw surge pricing was in effect at four times the service's normal rate, with a minimum fare of AU$100, or $82.
We are all concerned with events in CBD. Fares have increased to encourage more drivers to come online & pick up passengers in the area.
Uber Sydney (@Uber_Sydney) December 15, 2014
Uber employs price surging when demand for the service is high -- on New Year's Eve, for example -- so that more drivers are motivated to get on the road and pick up passengers.
Read more:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/uber-price-surging-sydney-hostage-crisis