Uber’s London competitor Wheely shows money can buy happiness
Wheely’s drivers are all professional chauffers, and have a code of conduct – they must wear smart suits and ties, open doors for passengers, and help to carry their luggage, writes Alison Millington
I’ve lived in London for more than five years, and getting around is officially becoming exhausting.
Over the past few years I’ve become reliant on Uber for when I’ve been in a rush, carrying a lot of stuff, or just feeling too tired or lazy to get on public transport (which is almost always).
However, ever since Uber lost (and then regained) its licence in London – and drivers started protests demanding better treatment and an upgrade in employment status – the app seems to have turned a bit chaotic. Lately, Uber rides have rarely gone off without a hitch, whether it’s because of a long wait, a badly-planned route, or an unfriendly driver.
What’s more, when the company won its licence back in June, it was only for 15 months with clear conditions – so the future of the app in the capital remains uncertain.
Luxurious Russian chauffeur app Wheely launched in London and Moscow in 2012, but pulled out of the British capital when it failed to compete against then-giant minicab company Addison Lee.
The company relaunched in London last year with “plans to plough hundreds of thousands of pounds into attracting drivers away from Uber”, according to the Financial Times.
When I heard the news, having long wished for an Uber competitor, I decided to give it a go.
Wheely may not replace Uber like-for-like – it’s certainly more expensive than the standard UberX, and has fewer drivers in the capital.
However, after using the service twice – once in September from my flat in southeast London to Gatwick airport, and a second time in December from home to Heathrow – I had a glimpse at how money can buy happiness.