Uber Looks to Worcester for Potential Expansion
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Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Nicholas Handy, GoLocalWorcester Contributor
an ad posted on craigslist.com
After recently putting
job listings on craigslist.com looking for potential drivers for the Worcester area, it looks like international ride-sharing transportation company Uber is setting their sights on the Heart of the Commonwealth.
Uber is currently has an office located in Boston but has been doing research and outreach to determine whether or not they could open up other locations in Massachusetts.
“I can say that we've seen an overwhelmingly positive response from both riders and drivers there,” said Taylor Bennett, a spokesperson for Uber. “Riders are excited about safer, more reliable transportation options and drivers want the opportunity to start their own business and make a living. The potential for expansion into Worcester is exciting.”
Uber is currently in 43 countries around the globe and is in 95 cities throughout the United States. Uber brands themself as a technology company rather than a transportation company because they don’t hire drivers or buy vehicles. Instead, the company hires independent contractors who use their mobile app to connect with riders.
New Markets
Because of the growth of Uber and other ride-sharing service companies both nationally and internationally, Uber is always looking to new areas of the country to expand to.
While Bennett says that Uber is not looking to expand to Worcester in the immediate future, it is definitely an option that the company is looking into. In addition to Worcester, Uber has also been testing Springfield as a potential market to expand to in Massachusetts.
“We often test ads and driver postings to measure the viability of uberX in markets across the country,” said Bennett. “This is to help ensure we have sufficient driver partners on the road to meet the consumer demand when we do launch a new city.”
Opposition to Ride-Sharing Services
Are ride-sharing companies overtaking traditional taxis?
Ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft have been growing in popularity among the ranks of consumers and folks with the entrepreneurial spirit, but taxi drivers and others in the transportation industry are calling for the companies to be eradicated or regulated.
While taxi companies and others in the transportation industry are often hindered by rules and regulations, these ride-sharing companies have cheaper alternatives that that oftentimes undercut taxi services – who are already struggling to make a living in cities like Boston.
Additionally, these ride-sharing companies are not required to become commercially registered like traditional taxis and taxi drivers. Many cabbies are now concerned that these newer companies could put them out of business because they don’t face the regulations that taxi drivers and companies do. Boston is just one of the cities to rally and show their disapproval for these ride-sharing companies.
“Our initial goal is to get Uber out of the city,” says Donna Blythe-Shaw, a representative of the Boston Taxi Drivers Association. “People say this is good old-fashioned American competition, but that’s nonsense because it’s not a level playing field.”
Related Slideshow: 2014 Auto Insurance Rates in Central MA
Using a defined set of criteria, GoLocal utilized the Auto Insurance Premium Comparison tool from the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation to compile and rank the cities and towns of Central Massachusetts with the highest auto insurance premiums - lowest to highest.
The Criteria
Vehicle: 2008 Honda Civic LX
Policy: Single Vehicle, Single Operator Licensed 14 Years
Driving Record/Behaviors:
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Driver Licensed in Massachusetts: Yes
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Date of last accident or traffic violation: 5 years ago
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Days lapse in coverage during the previous 3 years: None
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Commutes to work: Yes
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Annual miles vehicle driven in past year: 15,000
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Years at current residence: 2
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Years with current agent: 3
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Years with current company: 2
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Discrepancies on Application: 0
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Subscriber to a Roadside Assitance Organization: No
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Policy Eligible for a Group Discount: No
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Premium paid in full at inception: No
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Companion insurance products purchased: None
Coverage:
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$20,000/$40,000 Bodily Injury Liability
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$20,000/$40,000 Uninsured Motorists
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$20,000/$40,000 Underinsured Motorist
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$25,000 Property Damage Liability
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$8,000 Personal Injury Protection ($0 deductible)
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71. Templeton
Highest Premium: $602.00
Lowest: $217.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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70. Upton
Highest Premium: $620.00
Lowest: $217.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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69. New Braintree
Highest Premium: $620.00
Lowest: $217.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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68. Millville
Highest Premium: $640.00
Lowest: $234.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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67. Hubbardston
Highest Premium: $640.00
Lowest: $234.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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66. Holland
Highest Premium: $640.00
Lowest: $234.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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65. West Boylston
Highest Premium: $640.00
Lowest: $268.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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64. Ashby
Highest Premium: $642.00
Lowest: $234.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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63. Westminster
Highest Premium: $651.00
Lowest: $234.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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62. Lunenburg
Highest Premium: $653.00
Lowest: $234.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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61. Townsend
Highest Premium: $655.00
Lowest: $217.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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60. Northborough
Highest Premium: $659.00
Lowest: $217.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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59. Orange
Highest Premium: $663.00
Lowest: $268.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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58.East Brookfield
Highest Premium: $663.00
Lowest: $268.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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57. Barre
Highest Premium: $663.00
Lowest: $268.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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56. Warren
Highest Premium: $663.00
Lowest: $276.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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55. Ware
Highest Premium: $663.00
Lowest: $276.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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54. Winchendon
Highest Premium: $666.00
Lowest: $276.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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53. Petersham
Highest Premium: $671.00
Lowest: $217.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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52. Sterling
Highest Premium: $672.00
Lowest: $217.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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51. Brimfield
Highest Premium: $679.00
Lowest: $276.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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50. Ashburnham
Highest Premium: $687.00
Lowest: $234.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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49. North Brookfield
Highest Premium: $692.00
Lowest: $276.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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48. Shirley
Highest Premium: $693.00
Lowest: $268.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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47. Brookfield
Highest Premium: $693.00
Lowest: $276.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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46. Uxbridge
Highest Premium: $698.00
Lowest: $217.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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45. Northbridge
Highest Premium: $698.00
Lowest: $276.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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44. Gardner
Highest Premium: $698.00
Lowest: $276.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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43. Ayer
Highest Premium: $698.00
Lowest: $276.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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42. Athol
Highest Premium: $698.00
Lowest: $276.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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41. Sturbridge
Highest Premium: $702.00
Lowest: $234.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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40. Topsfield
Highest Premium: $702.00
Lowest: $291.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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39. Charlton
Highest Premium: $703.00
Lowest: $291.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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38. Sutton
Highest Premium: $704.00
Lowest: $217.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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37. Hopkinton
Highest Premium: $705.00
Lowest: $217.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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36. Oakham
Highest Premium: $705.00
Lowest: $234.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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35. Hudson
Highest Premium: $705.00
Lowest: $276.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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34. Douglas
Highest Premium: $706.00
Lowest: $268.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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33. Harvard
Highest Premium: $707.00
Lowest: $217.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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32. West Brookfield
Highest Premium: $708.00
Lowest: $217.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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31. Paxton
Highest Premium: $714.00
Lowest: $300.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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30. Boylston
Highest Premium: $716.00
Lowest: $268.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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29. Bolton
Highest Premium: $719.00
Lowest: $234.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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28. Dudley
Highest Premium: $719.00
Lowest: $276.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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27. Palmer
Highest Premium: $719.00
Lowest: $291.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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26. Royalston
Highest Premium: $721.00
Lowest: $234.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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25. Oxford
Highest Premium: $727.00
Lowest: $300.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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24. Westborough
Highest Premium: $728.00
Lowest: $268.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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23. Millbury
Highest Premium: $744.00
Lowest: $291.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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22. Hardwick
Highest Premium: $746.00
Lowest: $217.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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21. Milford
Highest Premium: $746.00
Lowest: $300.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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20. Marlborough
Highest Premium: $746.00
Lowest: $300.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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19. Leominster
Highest Premium: $746.00
Lowest: $300.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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18. Clinton
Highest Premium: $746.00
Lowest: $310.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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17. Auburn
Highest Premium: $746.00
Lowest: $310.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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16. Hopedale
Highest Premium: $749.00
Lowest: $268.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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15. Lancaster
Highest Premium: $755.00
Lowest: $268.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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14. Southbridge
Highest Premium: $759.00
Lowest: $310.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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13. Rutland
Highest Premium: $766.00
Lowest: $276.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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12. Fitchburg
Highest Premium: $770.00
Lowest: $332.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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11. Princeton
Highest Premium: $773.00
Lowest: $217.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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10. Holden
Highest Premium: $773.00
Lowest: $276.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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9. Leicester
Highest Premium: $773.00
Lowest: $332.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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8. Mendon
Highest Premium: $779.00
Lowest: $217.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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7. Southborough
Highest Premium: $780.00
Lowest: $217.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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6. Webster
Highest Premium: $786.00
Lowest: $332.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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5. Spencer
Highest Premium: $805.00
Lowest: $310.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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4. Blackstone
Highest Premium: $829.00
Lowest: $268.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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3. Grafton
Highest Premium: $850.00
Lowest: $276.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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2. Shrewsbury
Highest Premium: $865.00
Lowest: $300.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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1. Worcester
Highest Premium: $997.00
Lowest: $440.00
All premiums reflect rates effective on 1/1/14
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