Uber has launched a new courier service in Prague, allowing residents to send parcels across the city with ease and transparency.

The delivery process works much like booking a ride—users can schedule pickups directly in the Uber app, and they’ll know the price in advance, regardless of the parcel’s size or weight, as long as it meets the service conditions.

According to a statement from the company, the cost of using the courier service will be comparable to UberX, Uber’s most affordable ride option.

To use the service, the sender simply selects “Courier” in the Uber app, agrees to the terms, and enters key information such as the recipient’s name and drop-off address. The sender then meets the driver at a selected pickup location to hand over the parcel.

Once dispatched, both sender and recipient can track the package in real-time via the app. Even if the recipient doesn’t have the Uber app, they’ll receive an SMS link to follow the parcel’s journey. When the delivery is completed, both parties are notified automatically.

The new service comes with some restrictions. Packages must not exceed 15 kilograms, and their value must be under 2,500 CZK. Items such as weapons, alcohol, drugs, prescription medications, cash, and perishable goods are prohibited.

For now, the service is available only in Prague, but Uber plans to roll it out in other Czech cities where it operates. “Drivers will benefit from this new feature, as it gives them an opportunity to boost their earnings by handling package deliveries,” said Štěpán Šindelář, Uber’s operations manager for the Czech Republic.

Uber has been present in Prague since 2014 and has since expanded to Brno, Ostrava, Pilsen, Olomouc, Hradec Králové, and Pardubice.

It faces competition from other ride-hailing and delivery platforms in the Czech Republic, including Estonia-based Bolt and local startup Liftago, both of which offer similar services. Liftago also provides courier deliveries, while Bolt operates a food delivery platform.

 

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Drivers working for Bolt and Uber have launched a new strike in the Czech capital, repeating a protest held just a week ago.

On that occasion, hundreds of drivers refused to accept rides, causing longer wait times and leaving many users without available cars.

This Monday, the protest has grown in scale and coordination, with two separate driver groups participating in different ways.

The first group, organized by the Lucky Taxi Association, began their strike at 4:00 a.m., planning to end it at 12:00 noon. Their specific demands have been made available through their official channels.

Meanwhile, a second group of drivers has launched a full 24-hour strike, starting at 6:00 a.m. Monday and running until 6:00 a.m. Tuesday.

This protest includes a public demonstration officially registered with Prague City Hall. Organizers expect between 500 and 1,000 vehicles to gather in the parking lot outside the Tesco hypermarket in Letňany between 10:00 and 11:30 a.m.

At 12:00 p.m., the group plans to drive in a slow-moving convoy through the city center, ending in Čestlice, a suburb southeast of Prague.

Drivers Demand Fairer Conditions

“We, taxi drivers in Prague, are dissatisfied with the current working conditions and demand immediate changes,” the group wrote in a statement distributed to media outlets.

They cite a drop in fares by 25–30% over the past three years, even as the cost of fuel, insurance, car maintenance, and housing continues to rise.

Meanwhile, Uber and Bolt continue to charge drivers commissions of up to 35%, the group claims, without paying taxes in the Czech Republic. Drivers are forced to operate as independent contractors under IČO licenses, making them responsible for 21% VAT payments on top of operating expenses.

The drivers’ key demands include:

• Setting the official fare levels established by Prague City Hall:

  • Base fare: 60 CZK

  • Per kilometer: 36 CZK

  • Per minute of waiting: 7 CZK

• Reducing commissions from 25–35% down to 15–20%.

• Introducing a flexible commission system where fees decrease based on the number of completed trips.

• Mandatory registration of Uber and Bolt with Czech trade licenses and VAT obligations.

• Removing Bolt’s “Economy” tier, which drivers argue makes their work financially unsustainable.

“If our demands are not heard, we will escalate our protest with a two-day strike on April 20–21,” the organizers warned. “We remain open to dialogue and await an official response.”

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Tired of chatty drivers? Uber is giving users its most requested feature: an in-app way to ask for minimal conversation during your ride. The “Quiet Mode” feature is free and will be available to everyone in the U.S. tomorrow, but only on Uber Black and Uber Black SUV premium rides.

Users can select “Quiet preferred,” “happy to chat” or leave the setting at “No preference.” The desire for silence might convince more riders to pay for Uber’s more expensive vehicle types so they can work, nap, take a call or just relax in the car.

Uber’s app now also lets Uber Black riders select the temperature of their vehicle so you can ensure it feels just right inside when it shows up, and you can also let the driver know if you have any bags with you so they can hop out and assist you. There’s also the chance to extend the pickup period by up to 15 minutes at no extra cost should you need a little longer to get ready.

Uber also wants to ensure Uber Black riders can expect a consistent level of quality from professional drivers (with commercial licenses) and their cars, which will have similar models, makes, interiors, and exteriors.

These new features have been released yesterday (May 15) in the US. The updated driver and vehicle requirements are active in most major cities in the US, with more to follow.

Author: red