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Local governments should be demanding detailed data from companies like Uber in exchange for legalization, even raw data on locations of available cars. They ha

Local governments should be demanding detailed data from companies like Uber in exchange for legalization, even raw data on locations of available cars. They have the leverage to get it now but they're wasting the chance. This data could eventually be used to avoid a true monopoly. http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2014/10/30/ubers-data-could-be-a-treasure-trove-for-cites-but-theyre-wasting-the-chance-to-get-it/ http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonkblog/wp/2014/10/30/ub...

Shivetya 11y ago
we already have enough hoops for companies to jump through to prevent competition so we certainly do not need any more. New York is a perfect example were regulation and so contorted the market you can make money selling your permission to run the business to the point it might be more profitable than running the business. From medallions to food cart and restaurant permits, regulation is keeping competition out while rewarding those who merely sit on permits and rent their use. It is nearly an identical situation to how badly patents are managed and rewarded
- jdeibele 11y ago
  One of the reasons that taxis are licensed is that they're supposed to pick up everyone and anyone. Uber and Lyft don't seem to have that problem with race (AFAIK) but there are two other situations where people have trouble: (1) small children, where you need a car seat (or two) (2) people with disabilities - service animal, wheelchair, etc. Analyzing the data would hopefully show whether people had to wait for 2 hours. Also, as a substitute for race, it might be possible to see if certain areas are under-served or not served at all. Perhaps drivers are avoiding picking up in Harlem.
  - mlrtime 11y ago
    "One of the reasons that taxis are licensed is that they're supposed to pick up everyone and anyone." Which is clearly violated thousands of times per day. Sure you can call 311 in NYC but very few people do.
    - untog 11y ago
      So we shouldn't try to improve it?
    - rayiner 11y ago
      The difference is, the city has the authority to crack down on it. I was just in NYC, and cabs are running a video in the back seat informing passengers that it's illegal for cabs not to pick you up for race/disability. The city doesn't legally have that kind of leverage over Uber.
      - SilasX 11y ago
        Leverage that is rarely and reluctantly used, and that no one reasonably expects to be used, and that does not translate into any observable consequences in the lives of black people attempting to get a ride. I've once heard a quip that "You have no constitutional right to eat at a restaurant, but you do have one to a speedy trial -- but which one feels more secure?" The city has "leverage" to stamp out discrimination against black people wanting a cab ride, but "no leverage" to stamp out discrimination against black people on Uber -- yet which one will more reliably secure a ride?
      - danielweber 11y ago
        I watched that video, too, right after the first cab drove off when he found out where I was going to. I could report him, but I'm a busy adult with kids of my own to mind, and I don't have time to try to parent someone else's problem.
  - avani 11y ago
    Anecdata: As a wheelchair user and frequent traveler, Uber has never ever failed me, but hailing a cab was nearly impossible (was, because at this point even if uber charged twice what a cab does, I'd still use them every time for the certainty that they'll pick me up).
potatolicious 11y ago
NYC did exactly this. The city threatened all rideshare companies with a cap on their driver growth rate, which Uber successfully "defeated" by giving up access to detailed data to the city. Uber hailed this as a victory - but the way I see it, when your victory means "maintenance of the status quo while conceding your data to a third party" it probably wasn't actually a victory.

Shivetya 11y ago

we already have enough hoops for companies to jump through to prevent competition so we certainly do not need any more. New York is a perfect example were regulation and so contorted the market you can make money selling your permission to run the business to the point it might be more profitable than running the business. From medallions to food cart and restaurant permits, regulation is keeping competition out while rewarding those who merely sit on permits and rent their use. It is nearly an identical situation to how badly patents are managed and rewarded

jdeibele 11y ago
One of the reasons that taxis are licensed is that they're supposed to pick up everyone and anyone. Uber and Lyft don't seem to have that problem with race (AFAIK) but there are two other situations where people have trouble: (1) small children, where you need a car seat (or two) (2) people with disabilities - service animal, wheelchair, etc. Analyzing the data would hopefully show whether people had to wait for 2 hours. Also, as a substitute for race, it might be possible to see if certain areas are under-served or not served at all. Perhaps drivers are avoiding picking up in Harlem.
- mlrtime 11y ago
  "One of the reasons that taxis are licensed is that they're supposed to pick up everyone and anyone." Which is clearly violated thousands of times per day. Sure you can call 311 in NYC but very few people do.
  - untog 11y ago
    So we shouldn't try to improve it?
  - rayiner 11y ago
    The difference is, the city has the authority to crack down on it. I was just in NYC, and cabs are running a video in the back seat informing passengers that it's illegal for cabs not to pick you up for race/disability. The city doesn't legally have that kind of leverage over Uber.
    - SilasX 11y ago
      Leverage that is rarely and reluctantly used, and that no one reasonably expects to be used, and that does not translate into any observable consequences in the lives of black people attempting to get a ride. I've once heard a quip that "You have no constitutional right to eat at a restaurant, but you do have one to a speedy trial -- but which one feels more secure?" The city has "leverage" to stamp out discrimination against black people wanting a cab ride, but "no leverage" to stamp out discrimination against black people on Uber -- yet which one will more reliably secure a ride?
    - danielweber 11y ago
      I watched that video, too, right after the first cab drove off when he found out where I was going to. I could report him, but I'm a busy adult with kids of my own to mind, and I don't have time to try to parent someone else's problem.
- avani 11y ago
  Anecdata: As a wheelchair user and frequent traveler, Uber has never ever failed me, but hailing a cab was nearly impossible (was, because at this point even if uber charged twice what a cab does, I'd still use them every time for the certainty that they'll pick me up).

potatolicious 11y ago

NYC did exactly this. The city threatened all rideshare companies with a cap on their driver growth rate, which Uber successfully "defeated" by giving up access to detailed data to the city. Uber hailed this as a victory - but the way I see it, when your victory means "maintenance of the status quo while conceding your data to a third party" it probably wasn't actually a victory.