In the Uber economy, apps create anger and bewilderment

Nyoman Wirnata, an Indonesian taxi driver is baffled and angry on Uber and Grab charging such low rates – and destroying his business.

I’m talking to Nyoman Wirnata, a 30-year-old taxi driver in Denpasar, on the Indonesian island of Bali. He is telling me about his anger and grudge with Uber, Go-Jek, and Grab, the companies that have grabbed livelihood from him and taken the Indonesian taxi market by storm.

These companies charge almost one fifth of the rate he charges his customers, mostly foreign tourists.

With such low rates offered by the apps, very few tourists and even local residents end up booking with him.

“The other day there was a boxing match between an Uber driver and a local one who came to pick up foreign guests near the temple of Uluwatu,” Nyoman tells me. The 1000-year old temple is frequented by tourists and locals alike.

Can you explain to me how apps make money?

In Jakarta last month, there were violent protests against some of these startup services. Bali is no different.

As I land at Denpasar Airport, I got a first hand feel of the angst against these new transportation apps.

I book an Uber. The driver tries to enter the airport’s arrivals area but is stopped by the locals who apparently see his phone mounted on the dashboard. He calls me to apologize he can’t pick me up.

“They are banned from entering the airport,” local cabbie Madeputra Yasa tells me. I decide to ride with him because no other option is available. “We can’t match their rates,” he says with a frown on his wrinkled face.

On the highway from Denpasar to Tanah Lot, signboards outside many cafes and hotels display this – “Not Allowed – Grab, Uber, Go-Jek.”

A skull is also scribbled on those boards – indicating ‘danger’ to drivers who will try to ferry guests from these locations. There’s a huge grudge amongst local businesses against these tech startup companies.

Go-Jek is a popular app for hailing motorbike taxis in Indonesia’s capital.

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