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Original poster

Interested in opinions- noting hugely exciting!

37 replies

BertrandRussell · 26/10/2018 10:28

Ds was coming back from London on the last train last night. 4 stops from home, the train had to stop because of a problem on the line. After about 30minutes of milling about, the passengers were told that in “about an hour” there’d be a coach arriving. I was going to pick him up from our local station anyway, so I was just about to go and get him when he texted to say that someone had called an Uber, and offered a free ride to anyone who wanted to share.

What interested me was that there were 3 spare seats in the taxi, but only 2 people took the offer- and ds recognized people from our town. And the man who called the car repeated the offer several times. Would you have just grabbed the chance to get home for free?

Before we get called freeloaders, I did meet DS with cash and he tried to pay but the man said no very definitely!

OP posts:
motortroll · 26/10/2018 10:37

I'd probably risk it.

But I used to walk home on the canal path at 2am so I clearly have no concept of personal safety lol

Original poster
BertrandRussell · 26/10/2018 10:43

That’s the thing- the fact that it might have been a risk didn’t cross my mind! And now i’m wondering whether I should have told my ds not to have got in either- I just thought how kind of the Uber caller and now I only have a 4 mile round trip not 40.......

OP posts:
IsTheRainEverComingBack · 26/10/2018 10:44

I wouldn’t get in an Uber with a man I didn’t know. I think it’s a shame I’d consider it too high a risk, but I would

Original poster
BertrandRussell · 26/10/2018 10:47

“wouldn’t get in an Uber with a man I didn’t know. I think it’s a shame I’d consider it too high a risk, but I would”

Even if there were 2 other random passengers from the same train all going to the same place?

OP posts:
CoachBombay · 26/10/2018 10:50

If I were a man, I'd get in the taxi, but I am a woman so no, I would sadly class it as too dangerous.

My brain would make me think that the "other 2 random strangers" were also in on it, and it was a rouse to get a woman in a taxi with other men.

I know I'm paranoid but given my past history I have to be.

Sitranced · 26/10/2018 11:06

Yeah I'd get in it. I used to hitch rides loads when I didn't have a car.

CakeNinja · 26/10/2018 11:10

I’d get in.
I’m pretty gung ho and tend to think the best of people.
Not saying anyone else should be like that, or looking down on anyone who doesn’t think the same as me, it’s just in my nature. Not always a good thing I might add, my attitude has gotten me into some silly situations but I come out of them all okay!!

INeedNewShoes · 26/10/2018 11:11

If I'd seen him booking the Uber on the Uber app and was happy that it was genuinely an Uber I would definitely hop in.

I suppose the worry is that it's some elaborate ruse to get you in a car being driven by a bad character?

I'm generally probably a bit too relaxed about this sort of thing. I was lost on a country road try to get from a train station to a campsite one evening and a couple stopped their car and asked if I was ok. I asked where the campsite was and they offered me a lift. I got in. I do now think this was a bit stupid of me...

motortroll · 26/10/2018 15:01

Yeah I think a genuine Uber id definitely do it. It's unlikely all these random people who are nothing to do with each other will all turn on you at once! It's a reasonably safe situation where everyone is highly likely to be very polite and nice. I'd think twice about getting in a strangers car with no one else but this situation sounds low risk tbh

dfwr · 26/10/2018 15:05

I probably would if I thought I'd get dropped off first.

I met a person who has turned into a good friend sharing a cab one day when the train we got to work was cancelled.

OatsBeansBarley · 26/10/2018 15:10

Maybe as it was the last seat no-one wanted to take it?

I'd probably not take it, I wouldnt want to risk being last person in it or being dropped off somewhere inconvenient to me. Plus in the past i woukdnt have had the money to contribute so would have stuck with the ticketed journey iyswim.

Eastie77 · 26/10/2018 15:35

Yes I would have taken the ride and offered cash to the man who offered the cab share.
And I say this as a cautious female who lives in a dodgy part of London.

Given the circumstances it seems very unlikely that such an offer would be a ruse complete with two accomplices on hand to pretend they were fellow travellers. It was pure chance that the train broke down.

ItsJustTheOneSwanActually · 26/10/2018 15:39

yes I've done it in that situation.

DH and I also gave a lift to a woman when we got stranded when the trains failed and DH picked me up. She was someone I saw on the train every day and she was more than happy to accept a lift home when I offered, despite us being 'strangers'.

Original poster
BertrandRussell · 26/10/2018 15:50

It’s interesting. I just cannot imagine waiting at least an hour at midnight at at grotty railway station for a coach that would take at least another hour when I could be home in 20 minutes. Ds said the man was very clear about it being a free ride. And everyone was goin* to be dropped off together at the station- because that’s where the man was going. I can well imagine not wanting to get in a cab on my own with a stranger, though. But none of the men took the offer either, except ds and one other.

OP posts:
OatsBeansBarley · 26/10/2018 15:55

Still the last space situation might put people off.

lljkk · 26/10/2018 15:57

I think I'd get in. Cancelled train meant i had to drive to work so offered lift to a fellow commuter (I know from her uniform she works on the next research park over from me). She declined, which surprised me, she's seen me on train for years. How scary am I?

Aridane · 26/10/2018 17:14

Yes of course I would get in and share the Taxi ride

DioneTheDiabolist · 26/10/2018 17:29

I would take the lift. I like strangers and used to do a fair bit of hitch hiking in the past.

Thomasinaa · 26/10/2018 18:02

It was very very low risk - especially if your son is an adult. Dd was recently stranded when the buses were cancelled due to snow. She is 13. She accepted the offer of a seat in a taxi with a male passenger. I was slightly worried, but even then the risk was very low. He very kindly paid for the taxi.

Original poster
BertrandRussell · 26/10/2018 18:20

I honestly didn't-and don't think ds was even slightly at risk He's 17, by the way. But I wouldn't have thought anyone else was either-which was why I wondered about the empty seat. I would have thought there's be an unseemly scramble for it!

OP posts:
Saffkat · 26/10/2018 18:23

I’ve done what your DS has done - although it was a regular minicab not Uber and we all paid a share of the fare to the station we’d all been wanting to get to. I never thought of it as dodgy, just relieved someone else had the initiative to organise it and I was asked to join the ride.

April2020mom · 26/10/2018 19:47

The other day I was at the train station traveling to work and I called a cab from the station. I’ve even walked around town often at night after a meal at a local restaurant or pub or a movie date. My personal feeling is that you are not in danger. But if in doubt don’t get in.

DelurkingAJ · 26/10/2018 20:09

I’ve been in this position and suggested to the other commuter who was also cursing that we shared a cab. He laughed and got his DW to collect us both (which I felt guilty for but DH was working). We’ve always said ‘hello’ since then if we run into each other.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 26/10/2018 20:39

We had a bus strike earlier this year, which coincided with terrible weather. The last buses were about 6pm instead of midnight. My colleague and another passenger organised taxis for people waiting when they realised the final bus had been and gone - I was surprised to hear it was school girls who were fastest to get in. (Colleague is male.)

In the OP’s son’s situation, I would have def shared.

Dotte · 26/10/2018 22:29

DH has done this many times over the last 10 years of commuting. Sometimes people all chip in, other times there is someone who is generously happy to pay and won’t take any money. Often they are people who he sees daily but doesn’t necessarily speak to.

On some occasions he has had lifts to and from the station with complete strangers when the weather has been bad.

If I’d been your son I would have taken the Uber ride as well.