7 ms·

Earnings for Uber Driver = (timeDriving - timeLookingForFares) * payRate Earnings for Cab Driver = (timeDriving - timeLookingForFares) * payRate As a taxi dri

Earnings for Uber Driver = (timeDriving - timeLookingForFares) * payRate Earnings for Cab Driver = (timeDriving - timeLookingForFares) * payRate As a taxi driver, timeLookingForFares is heavily dependent on the amount of people hailing cabs per block driven. As an Uber driver, since you are routed to fares automatically the timeLookingForFares variable is dependent on both how far away other cabs are and the density of riders. Clearly cabs should clump in higher density areas.

deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
cmarschner 11y ago
Serious question: are there no taxi apps in the US? You would think cabs would also be routed to the next customer automatically?
- dylanjermiah 11y ago
  There are. But, they are inherently limited. Via fixed supply and fixed pricing.
  - geon 11y ago
    Exactly what is Limited by supply and price? Surely not the app? Perhaps the dispatcher charges a fee for access to the API?
    - jdminhbg 11y ago
      The cabs themselves. There are a limited number of licensed cabs, and prices are preset.
      - geon 11y ago
        I don't see how that would negate the convenience of an app.
        dylanjermiah 11y ago
        You need a variable supply to accomodate for varying demand. Uber would not be able to deliver 10min and under pickups if their supply was limited.
- marquis 11y ago
  I'm not sure what stops EasyTaxi from working in the U.S. I use it in South/Central America and it routes regular taxis, you pay in cash like usual but get the convenience of the Uber experience of knowing a cab is on the way, and who the driver is. http://www.easytaxi.com/cities/ http://www.easytaxi.com/cities/
  - crdb 11y ago
    At a guess, it's because it's a Rocket Internet company and the group generally does not like operating in the US for a variety of reasons (chief amongst which is that their business model is to execute ideas in emerging markets, not developed countries).
- untog 11y ago
  NYC is a special case - yellow cabs are not allowed to be prebooked in any way, shape or form. Street hails only. (they're piloting an e-hail scheme, but it's far from done)
ploxiln 11y ago
I talked to an Uber driver who said he previously drove a cab for 15 years (in NYC). His biggest complaint was the medallion rental fee, it comes out to over $100 per day (around $150 at peak I think?), even when you're sick or you want to take a vacation. You just can't, you can't afford it. He shared a cab with a rented medallion with a friend, they would each do a shift each day. One week there was some serious engine trouble, and the cab was in the shop for a week, neither of them could drive it. He called the medallion owner to ask for leniency, and was told that if he wanted, the medallion would be removed and he would be out of a job. Otherwise he can continue paying over $100 per day. Apparently the accounting with uber doesn't penalize you to the same degree when you need to take a day off, even with car payments and such for maintaining a nicer car.
- jsjohnst 11y ago
  This isn't true in the usual case, they don't usually pay unless they drive except in the weekly case (and are paying lower per day cost). Most companies charge about $125/day or $500ish/week. If they do the day rate, they get paid the same day for CC transactions (unlike cities like SF which take comparatively forever). Yes, this is still seemingly high cost, but when you consider the medallions cost $600k (which is down from the million plus pre Uber) and the fact that drivers don't own the car and also don't pay wear and tear on it, it's not so crazy. I take Ubers and cabs every day and usually talk to the drivers about their experience if they are friendly. Both systems have their ups and downs and I can assure you neither has the interests of the driver in mind. It's simply up to the driver to decide which of the two evils hurts them less.
  - greggyb 11y ago
    Why is it not so crazy to pay $600K for an item of no value, simply to be allowed to provide a service? It is not a credential, so it can't be compared to the cost of a degree or similar in other fields. It is not and has never been awarded based on merit. The first were given to those who happened to be taxi drivers/owners at a time when taxi service providers when the same convinced the municipal government to limit their competition.

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]

cmarschner 11y ago

Serious question: are there no taxi apps in the US? You would think cabs would also be routed to the next customer automatically?

dylanjermiah 11y ago
There are. But, they are inherently limited. Via fixed supply and fixed pricing.
- geon 11y ago
  Exactly what is Limited by supply and price? Surely not the app? Perhaps the dispatcher charges a fee for access to the API?
  - jdminhbg 11y ago
    The cabs themselves. There are a limited number of licensed cabs, and prices are preset.
    - geon 11y ago
      I don't see how that would negate the convenience of an app.
      - dylanjermiah 11y ago
        You need a variable supply to accomodate for varying demand. Uber would not be able to deliver 10min and under pickups if their supply was limited.
marquis 11y ago
I'm not sure what stops EasyTaxi from working in the U.S. I use it in South/Central America and it routes regular taxis, you pay in cash like usual but get the convenience of the Uber experience of knowing a cab is on the way, and who the driver is. http://www.easytaxi.com/cities/ http://www.easytaxi.com/cities/
- crdb 11y ago
  At a guess, it's because it's a Rocket Internet company and the group generally does not like operating in the US for a variety of reasons (chief amongst which is that their business model is to execute ideas in emerging markets, not developed countries).
untog 11y ago
NYC is a special case - yellow cabs are not allowed to be prebooked in any way, shape or form. Street hails only. (they're piloting an e-hail scheme, but it's far from done)

ploxiln 11y ago

I talked to an Uber driver who said he previously drove a cab for 15 years (in NYC). His biggest complaint was the medallion rental fee, it comes out to over $100 per day (around $150 at peak I think?), even when you're sick or you want to take a vacation. You just can't, you can't afford it. He shared a cab with a rented medallion with a friend, they would each do a shift each day. One week there was some serious engine trouble, and the cab was in the shop for a week, neither of them could drive it. He called the medallion owner to ask for leniency, and was told that if he wanted, the medallion would be removed and he would be out of a job. Otherwise he can continue paying over $100 per day. Apparently the accounting with uber doesn't penalize you to the same degree when you need to take a day off, even with car payments and such for maintaining a nicer car.

jsjohnst 11y ago
This isn't true in the usual case, they don't usually pay unless they drive except in the weekly case (and are paying lower per day cost). Most companies charge about $125/day or $500ish/week. If they do the day rate, they get paid the same day for CC transactions (unlike cities like SF which take comparatively forever). Yes, this is still seemingly high cost, but when you consider the medallions cost $600k (which is down from the million plus pre Uber) and the fact that drivers don't own the car and also don't pay wear and tear on it, it's not so crazy. I take Ubers and cabs every day and usually talk to the drivers about their experience if they are friendly. Both systems have their ups and downs and I can assure you neither has the interests of the driver in mind. It's simply up to the driver to decide which of the two evils hurts them less.
- greggyb 11y ago
  Why is it not so crazy to pay $600K for an item of no value, simply to be allowed to provide a service? It is not a credential, so it can't be compared to the cost of a degree or similar in other fields. It is not and has never been awarded based on merit. The first were given to those who happened to be taxi drivers/owners at a time when taxi service providers when the same convinced the municipal government to limit their competition.