[dropcap]The[/dropcap] average waiting time for a MyTaxi is now down to three minutes and thirty seconds, according to the company behind the app.
The app, formerly known as Hailo, had its busiest ever quarter in Ireland, serving four million customers between July and September.
The app has proven to be quite popular among DCU students. Cathal McCahey, currently studying an MA in public relations and strategic communications, said he thought MyTaxi was “100 per cent” better than hailing down a taxi on the street.
“You can go for pre-drinks and have it ready for you, you can book it in advance. I think it’s handy,” he said.
International relations student, Darragh Houston, echoed these sentiments. “It’s better because it comes straight to your location. You don’t have to go looking for taxis. It always comes within 10 minutes.”
Cathal O’Rourke, a second year communications student, recalled how he was advised to use the app when he started college.
“We were warned in first year that it’s a safer option to use MyTaxi so you know the driver number and whether you were charged incorrectly.”
However, O’Rourke has experienced some problems when using the app. “I know from personal experience, I’ve been in town on a Saturday night going home early, I’ve missed the last bus and all of a sudden I can’t get a taxi. I had to wave one down because I was waiting 20 minutes, half an hour for a MyTaxi.”
O’Rourke’s fellow communications student Dylan Mangan was less critical of the app and explained why he thought that MyTaxi was overtaking the more traditional method of getting a taxi.
“People aren’t bothered to wave down taxis on the street any more, it’s much easier to just whip out your phone. It’s just convenient more than anything else I think,” he said.
MyTaxi posted an increase of almost 50 per cent in demand for taxis to and from Dublin Airport in the third quarter when compared to last year. Over the same third quarter, 568 new drivers signed up with MyTaxi.
The company experienced its busiest Thursday on record on September 20th, with Storm Ali being responsible for the boost in popularity on the day.
The MyTaxi app is available on both iOS and Android devices and is free to download.
Eoin Harte
Image credit: Wikipedia Commons