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Just think how bad it might be if cities were to create regulations to keep out anyone besides Uber. Then Uber might create a medallion system - artificially l

Just think how bad it might be if cities were to create regulations to keep out anyone besides Uber. Then Uber might create a medallion system - artificially limiting the number of cars on the road - to maximize their profits [1]. Uber would also have no real incentive to monitor their driver's behavior - after all, it's not like they'll lose any business to Ola, Lyft or Meru. They might even engage in racist protectionism, like banning cab drivers from the wrong ethnic group [2]! I sure hope no one ever gets this kind of monopoly on taxi cabs! [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxicabs_of_New_York_City#Medallions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxicabs_of_New_York_City#Meda... [2] http://www.firstpost.com/india/dont-know-marathi-cant-drive-autos-heres-how-shiv-sena-plans-to-gain-from-the-move-in-maharashtra-2436220.html http://www.firstpost.com/india/dont-know-marathi-cant-drive-... (For those unfamiliar, Shiv Sena is basically the Donald Trump party of Maharashtra.)

HappyTypist 10y ago
There's no reason Uber would create a medallion system. They'd just raise the commissions that drivers pay.
Scoundreller 10y ago
Uber's headstart already makes it difficult for any upstart to compete with UberPool. In Toronto, Uber appears to be taking aggressive action against drivers that refuse Pool: http://uberpeople.net/threads/reject-2-pool-in-a-row-get-kicked-off-for-15-min-anyone-else.79105/ http://uberpeople.net/threads/reject-2-pool-in-a-row-get-kic...
DrScump 10y ago
Uber has no need to worry about maximizing profits via limiting drivers, or need for a medallion system, in the long term given that their long-term goal is no drivers at all: http://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/17/ubers-self-driving-car-future-vs-california-decision-today.html http://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/17/ubers-self-driving-car-future... (one example; there are more recent articles)

HappyTypist 10y ago

There's no reason Uber would create a medallion system. They'd just raise the commissions that drivers pay.

Scoundreller 10y ago

Uber's headstart already makes it difficult for any upstart to compete with UberPool. In Toronto, Uber appears to be taking aggressive action against drivers that refuse Pool: http://uberpeople.net/threads/reject-2-pool-in-a-row-get-kicked-off-for-15-min-anyone-else.79105/ http://uberpeople.net/threads/reject-2-pool-in-a-row-get-kic...

DrScump 10y ago

Uber has no need to worry about maximizing profits via limiting drivers, or need for a medallion system, in the long term given that their long-term goal is no drivers at all: http://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/17/ubers-self-driving-car-future-vs-california-decision-today.html http://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/17/ubers-self-driving-car-future... (one example; there are more recent articles)