Uber in Helsinki

[TeppoKroatialainen]

Hi,
what is the situation with Uber in Helsinki?

Im looking for a part time job, and it looks like a perfect thing.

[Beep_Boop]

Probably not the best idea. The police are encouraging people to snitch on Uber drivers. I mean, Airbnb was one thing, but Uber is a whole different level.
Here's the thing, I doubt Uber in itself is illegal. However, if you get snitched on by somebody and the police find that you're driving your car as a taxi (which you would be doing if you're using Uber as a driver), then you're gonna get @#$% in a few different ways.

http://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/a1439084786918
http://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/a1305951411946

[TeppoKroatialainen]

Thanks for the info. I don't know what are the actual laws in Finland for taxi, but i know that Uber usually operates in that ''grey'' zone. Like in some places they are calling it a ''car sharing'' where you are chipping in for the cost, like on the blablacar.com . I can see that bla bla car is not so popular in Finaland also.

[betelgeuse]

Thanks for the info. I don't know what are the actual laws in Finland for taxi, but i know that Uber usually operates in that ''grey'' zone. Like in some places they are calling it a ''car sharing'' where you are chipping in for the cost, like on the blablacar.com . I can see that bla bla car is not so popular in Finaland also.

The Act that controls Taxis is written so that just about any driving where you get money for it requires a permit:

Tätä lakia sovelletaan ammattimaiseen henkilöiden kuljettamiseen tiellä henkilöautolla.

Ammattimaisella henkilöiden kuljettamisella tarkoitetaan elinkeinon harjoittamisen tai toimeentulon hankkimisen taikka muun tulonhankkimisen tarkoituksessa harjoitettua henkilöiden kuljettamista tiellä henkilöautolla korvausta vastaan päätoimisesti taikka sivutoimisesti tai muuten toisen elinkeinon ohella. Ammattimaiseen henkilöiden kuljettamiseen rinnastetaan kuljetus korvausta vastaan, jos kuljetusta edeltää kuljetuspalvelun tarjoaminen yleisölle julkisella paikalla.

https://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/ ... 70217#L1P3

[TeppoKroatialainen]

Would that mean that all car sharing/carpooling is illegal in Finland?

[Beep_Boop]

Would that mean that all car sharing/carpooling is illegal in Finland?

No, but driving for the purpose of earning money without a licence is illegal.

[rinso]

Would that mean that all car sharing/carpooling is illegal in Finland?

If you do it for the purpose of earning money; yes

[Querfeldein]

Car sharing is the sharing (sometimes co-ownership) of vehicles, but car sharing members drive themselves. There is nothing legally problematic about it.
Car pooling means that people share a drive, so there is a driver (often the owner of the car) and passengers. This is completely legal (and encouraged) on a not-for-profit basis (i.e. it's either free, or the passengers merely compensate the driver for their cost), but may be problematic if it is done for profit.

[TeppoKroatialainen]

Don't know how much is uber fare in Helsinki.
But for this argument

why I'd want to ride with a stranger when I have nfi if they have insurance, drive like idiots, have a grubby car or might be drunk?

When you take the normal taxi, you drive with a stranger, with uber the app actually tells you the name of the driver, info of the car and the reviews. Also the driver can leave the review of you.

So in that way if the driver really

drive like idiots, have a grubby car or might be drunk?

you can leave a review that will destroy him or her, and also if you are drunk,aggressive or refuse to pay then next time the driver won't accept to drive you.


About this:

Car pooling means that people share a drive, so there is a driver (often the owner of the car) and passengers. This is completely legal (and encouraged) on a not-for-profit basis (i.e. it's either free, or the passengers merely compensate the driver for their cost), but may be problematic if it is done for profit.

Uber can actually be in a way exactly that - car pooling, lets say you work at the airport and live in the city center. Every day when you go to work somebody else will need to catch a flight, and when you are coming back someone will need a ride to town. Uber just makes the whole process much more easier that you (driver) and the passenger just need to have the app on your phone.
So in this case are you a ''taxi driver'' or car pooler:?:

And of you are a passenger where you go in the world where there is Uber available you just need to turn on the app and gps - and car pooling magic can start

And Uber in that way is pushing the taxi services across the world to step up and keep up with the technology. Very common site across the world is that taxis services haven't changed in years, while everything else changes.

Bottom line if the Uber is not legal in Finland then it's not legal - end of story. I would dare to say- sadly.

[betelgeuse]

Uber can actually be in a way exactly that - car pooling, lets say you work at the airport and live in the city center. Every day when you go to work somebody else will need to catch a flight, and when you are coming back someone will need a ride to town. Uber just makes the whole process much more easier that you (driver) and the passenger just need to have the app on your phone.
So in this case are you a ''taxi driver'' or car pooler:?:

Car pooler only if you get no compensation for it. There are stricter rules when the service is offered in public:

Ammattimaiseen henkilöiden kuljettamiseen rinnastetaan kuljetus korvausta vastaan, jos kuljetusta edeltää kuljetuspalvelun tarjoaminen yleisölle julkisella paikalla.

[TeppoKroatialainen]

So if let say, you and me jump into my car and drive from Helsinki to Tampere, and you give me some gas money, are we then breaking the law?

[rinso]

So if let say, you and me jump into my car and drive from Helsinki to Tampere, and you give me some gas money, are we then breaking the law?

If you put up a sign "I'm going to ..., join me for €€" than yes.
If you start driving and pick up a hitchhiker on the way than no.
(but having no predetermined destination, picking up this hitchhiker and driving to his destination is indeed a taxi service)
Anything in between depends how authorities interpret "professional".

[Beep_Boop]

(but having no predetermined destination, picking up this hitchhiker and driving to his destination is indeed a taxi service)

He's trying to do the grown up version of "Mom said no party in the house, but she didn't say ON the house!". It's adorable and funny.

[TeppoKroatialainen]

He's trying to do the grown up version of "Mom said no party in the house, but she didn't say ON the house!". It's adorable and funny.

If this was appointed to me, you got me! If you find it funny even better!

I'm sorry if you or anybody else finds this discussion disturbing, wasn't my intention.

Im moving to Finland for some time and wanted to see what are the options for honest earning money, as me being guest in your ''house'' of course i should respect you rules, don't worry

It does make me sad how often people are refusing to embrace and use the new technology under the lame old excuse ''people will loose their jobs'' that is so 19th century - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luddite

And workers always lose the battle! In today's globalized market If you don't run along with the technology and the marked demands you will be left behind. (look at nokia)

Uber is just an example of new technology were wast majority of people can profit from (users and drivers) only who is potentially loosing is the current taxi drivers, but with time they they will have to adapt or disappear, that's how it usually goes with business. (again look at nokia)

So now when we concluded that Uber is now illegal in Finland, what do you think, should it stay that way?

[rinso]

So now when we concluded that Uber is now illegal in Finland, what do you think, should it stay that way?

Actually Uber is not illegal. But their drivers need to have a license (and pay taxes).