Here’s How You Can Move Forward with Uber in Malaysia
Sometimes it takes only a touch to make a difference
Malaysia is known to many as a food haven with stunning tourist attractions, a nation of hospitable people… and in recent years a country with horrific traffic jams. If you’re nodding your head in agreement and live in KL, here are a few findings published by The World Bank to really put things into perspective for you.
In June 2015, The World Bank estimated that the folks of KL spend more than 250 million hours stuck behind the wheel in a year.
Traffic in KL alone incurred a cost between 1.1% - 2.2% of our GDP in 2014.
A mere 17% of commuters in KL use public transport.
Even if you’re not living in KL but in a part of Malaysia that often faces congestion, you undoubtedly can relate to the many levels of frustration drivers experience on a daily basis.
The good news is, you don’t have to continue enduring this congestion. In the past few years, ride-sharing has been introduced to Malaysia and has been well-received by urban residents looking for options to free themselves from the shackles of driving in a congested city. One of these companies is Uber, which has been providing a safe, reliable, affordable and comfortable method of transportation for urban dwellers in Malaysia at the push of a button, besides also offering a new means of earning income for driver-partners.
Even differently-abled Malaysians, such as the blind and the deaf have benefited from Uber. Earlier this year, Uber partnered with the National Council for the Blind Malaysia (NCBM) and the Malaysian Federation for the Deaf (MFD) resulting in visually-impaired Malaysians having the choice of moving around conveniently and reliably while those with hearing impairment now also have the freedom to earn an income as a driver-partner.
Uber’s effort to empower Malaysians with another choice of transportation that connects private vehicle ownership and public transportation has been so well-received by the people of Malaysia that the Malaysian Parliament recently passed ridesharing regulations, thus formally recognising ridesharing as part of the Malaysian transportation landscape.
Think about it. You now have choice at the touch of a button. A choice of having any a car at anytime, anywhere you want it; the choice of not being tied down by car loans, maintenance fees, road tax, insurance fees, petrol costs, parking fees; and the choice of not navigating traffic jams or struggling for parking. It’s a smarter way to travel - you have more time on your hands to be more productive.
Sounds good? If you’re looking to Cuba Uber but don’t know where to start, here’s how!
1. Download the Uber app FOR FREE on your iOS or Android smartphone via Apple Store or Google Play.
2. Create an account by entering a valid email address and phone number. You’ll receive a verification code on your phone once you’ve completed the signup process. Verify the code and you’re good to go!
3. Open the app, tap “Where to?” and key in your destination. You’ll have the option of taking either an uberX, uberXL or uberBLACK. In a nutshell, uberX gives you the most affordable choice for a ride for 1-4 people, uberXL accommodates for a group of up to 6, and uberBLACK is for when you feel like splurging a tad more on a fancy ride. P.S Add your favourite or frequent destinations as bookmarks to save your time in the future.
4. Once you’ve selected your ride, your driver’s name, car number plate and contact number will be shared immediately to help you identify your driver. You may also get a hearing-impaired driver partner and when you do, the app will let you know in advance so that when you get on your ride, you’ll be able to sign a “Hello” instead of saying it. Yeay to inclusion!
5. You can pay for your Uber ride with both your credit card or cash. Select “Payment” from your app menu and choose credit card or cash and whichever you select will appear as the preferred payment method automatically.