CHICAGO - It could be the return of taxis.
Curb, a taxi-hailing app, has been redesigned by its developers to be as seamless as possible for passengers using rideshare apps such as Uber and Lyft.
In recent years, taxis have been beaten to death. One reason is that customers want to know what their ride will cost before they pay. Curb announced improvements to its platform that aim to level the playing field for taxis.
Faris Marogy has been operating a Chicago cab since 2013.
Margy predicts that the Curb platform will result in a huge taxi boom.
He stated that he believes Uber will be beaten within the next 4 to 6 months.
Jason Gross is the Head of Mobile for Curb.
Gross said, "It used to be with the Curb app or getting in a taxi on the streets, you would hail upfront, and the meter would run when you got in. At the end of your ride, you would pay whatever the meter came out to."
However, this is no longer the case. Curb now offers upfront pricing that is based on pick up location, destination, traffic, and more
Gross stated that "if it takes longer or goes further than you originally quoted, you will be charged the same price."
Gross claims that Curb fares are 5-10% cheaper than Uber or Lyft. Sometimes, the savings can be even greater because Curb doesn't have surge pricing. Margy said FOX 32 that a passenger recently told Margy that the fare via Curb from O'Hare was $150 less than Uber during an Uber surge pricing period.
Gross stated, "We have observed that taxis have become a more affordable alternative over the past several months, if not longer," Gross said. It gives them the ability to compare prices and makes informed choices.
Gross stated that there has been an increase of 35 percent in the number of taxi drivers since Curb was redesigned in New York City. Curb is currently piloting its new platform in Chicago.