The Influence Of Uber On The Culture Of America

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The iconic image I chose is a simple letter “U” that is found on thousands of cars in America; instantly when someone sees the letter “U” on vehicle they know it is Uber. Uber has shaped American’s lives, in the palm of your hand. One can request to be picked up from almost anywhere they are located within minutes and taken to a destination of choice. Uber has transformed America's service ride industry and created a new and revolutionary demand for society's needs. Uber has shaped the culture of America by negatively diminishing the American Dream, creating more congestion in city traffic, and changing work for Americans. Several people come into America with the dream of one day becoming successful and being able to be free and live a life …show more content…

It is a part of the American culture, angry people on their way to work all in a hurry in rage that someone cut them off. While traffic is a well known irritating aspect of everyday transportation, Uber claims that they have not added more traffic. They claim that their data proves they do not add to the congestion in cities but, “transportation analyst Charles Komanoff has crunched Uber’s own numbers and estimates that the service has actually reduced traffic speeds in the central business district by about 8 percent”(3). Eight percent, that does not seem like a lot but remember this is still a new business and it is only growing larger everyday. Uber is adding to the everyday problem people deal with on their way to work. Making traffic even slower than it already is does not benefit the world. Uber’s data released hourly reports on the number of rides and drivers below 59th street and the rest of the city of Manhattan between dates of May 31 and July 19. It stated the number of Uber vehicles in the central business area which make up half of the company's ride pick ups. For example, “Between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., there were an average of 1,904 Uber cars on the road below 59th Street.That seems like a small number at first glance, and Uber highlights that fact by proclaiming it ‘is not the source of Manhattan congestion.’ But the …show more content…

Work is a big aspect of american culture. Being a part of the American culture I can say that having a job or going to work is a part a lot of people's lives. One of the questions when you first meet someone new is, Where do you work? New start up companies like, “Uber and Handy enable consumer access to everything from a chauffeur to a home cleaning service—services once mainly for the well-off—with just a tap on your smartphone or the click of a mouse” (4). Uber has made their company easily accessible and makes it easy for consumers needs and wants to be met. In the span of a few seconds you can request an uber witht the tap of your, how efficient is that? Your ride picks you up and drops you off at your location of desire, meeting the needs of the consumer. These new startup companies are innovative and new, but how are they affecting American’s jobs? Rita McGrath, a professor of management at the Columbia Business School said, "If you look at the way all of our human capital systems are designed. Education, health insurance to retirement insurance, either you are employed or you are not. And there's this grey area in between which is what a lot of people are finding themselves in" (4). While New start up companies like uber are providing on demand services they are not only meeting needs of the consumers but they are also providing new jobs for people that are in need of work and are found in that “grey area”. While Uber

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