4 ms·

Perfect! More bifurcation in the industry due to regulatory overreach. What a great time to be alive!

mc32 10y ago
What? This is like saying requiring iodine created bifurcation in the salt industry? Salt, never the less is a commodity (exceptions for pink Himalayan salt, etc.) Taxi services are similar. Just for context, we used to have thousands of local taxi operations, so it's not like we don't have experience with bifurcation and further, these "platform" taxi services were an additional distinct bifurcation into the traditional industry.
rodgerd 10y ago
So just to be clear you think the ideal outcome is a monopoly by Uber?
- briandear 10y ago
  Better than the existing taxi monopoly. The taxi monopoly used regulation to support a monopoly. That's wrong. Less regulation means more competition. Re: ISPs.
  - mc32 10y ago
    But taxis are not a monopoly. There are thousands of cab companies. If you mean they were regulated into some kind of uniform service whose results were suboptimal, ok, but that's not what people tend to call a "monopoly".
    - PKop 10y ago
      What do the 995 taxi cab companies existing outside of my local area do for me if I want a ride? What does there existence have to do with the constraints of local supply? It is a de facto monopoly within the confines of a metro area where competition is absolutely regulated and limited.
      - mc32 10y ago
        That does not equal a "monopoly" anymore than the sole coffee shop in a small town is a monopoly. When we make these equivalences, words lose their meanings.
        drtz 10y ago
        "complete control of the entire supply of goods or of a service in a certain area or market" - Webster's Dictionary
        mc32 10y ago
        So somehow, using unbecoming means (anti competitive and illegal) these taxi cos are disallowing other entrants as well as these coffee shops thus controlling their respective industries? Creating a monopoly (i.e with purpose) is not the same as enjoying a virtual monopoly. At least I see daylight.
        PKop 10y ago
        Do you understand how tax cab companies operate and are regulated? "Some cab drivers want the council to issue permits directly to drivers with at least five years of experience — what the drivers call "legacy permits"... — bypassing Austin's three taxi franchise holders: Yellow Cab, Austin Cab and Lone Star. The change could cost cab companies control of the market — and the thousands of dollars they collect annually from each cabbie after paying the city just $400 for each permit."[0] "STOA wants to limit the number of cabs on the street in order to increase market share for large operators; with less competition for passengers they would be able to cover their higher overhead costs, and presumably "can charge less per trip." By asking the city to regulate the number of cabs, STOA is asking the city to limit their competition."[1] [0] http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/taxi-industry-pours-thousands-into-austin-counci-1/nRbpq/ http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/taxi-industry-pours... [1] http://savannahnow.com/column/2009-10-23/toma-cab-owners-seek-city-council-abled-cartel-0 http://savannahnow.com/column/2009-10-23/toma-cab-owners-see... Is this how coffee shops, restaurants, bars, etc. are setup in any city you're aware of?

mc32 10y ago

What? This is like saying requiring iodine created bifurcation in the salt industry? Salt, never the less is a commodity (exceptions for pink Himalayan salt, etc.) Taxi services are similar. Just for context, we used to have thousands of local taxi operations, so it's not like we don't have experience with bifurcation and further, these "platform" taxi services were an additional distinct bifurcation into the traditional industry.

rodgerd 10y ago

So just to be clear you think the ideal outcome is a monopoly by Uber?

briandear 10y ago
Better than the existing taxi monopoly. The taxi monopoly used regulation to support a monopoly. That's wrong. Less regulation means more competition. Re: ISPs.
- mc32 10y ago
  But taxis are not a monopoly. There are thousands of cab companies. If you mean they were regulated into some kind of uniform service whose results were suboptimal, ok, but that's not what people tend to call a "monopoly".
  - PKop 10y ago
    What do the 995 taxi cab companies existing outside of my local area do for me if I want a ride? What does there existence have to do with the constraints of local supply? It is a de facto monopoly within the confines of a metro area where competition is absolutely regulated and limited.
    - mc32 10y ago
      That does not equal a "monopoly" anymore than the sole coffee shop in a small town is a monopoly. When we make these equivalences, words lose their meanings.
      - drtz 10y ago
        "complete control of the entire supply of goods or of a service in a certain area or market" - Webster's Dictionary
        mc32 10y ago
        So somehow, using unbecoming means (anti competitive and illegal) these taxi cos are disallowing other entrants as well as these coffee shops thus controlling their respective industries? Creating a monopoly (i.e with purpose) is not the same as enjoying a virtual monopoly. At least I see daylight.
        PKop 10y ago
        Do you understand how tax cab companies operate and are regulated? "Some cab drivers want the council to issue permits directly to drivers with at least five years of experience — what the drivers call "legacy permits"... — bypassing Austin's three taxi franchise holders: Yellow Cab, Austin Cab and Lone Star. The change could cost cab companies control of the market — and the thousands of dollars they collect annually from each cabbie after paying the city just $400 for each permit."[0] "STOA wants to limit the number of cabs on the street in order to increase market share for large operators; with less competition for passengers they would be able to cover their higher overhead costs, and presumably "can charge less per trip." By asking the city to regulate the number of cabs, STOA is asking the city to limit their competition."[1] [0] http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/taxi-industry-pours-thousands-into-austin-counci-1/nRbpq/ http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/taxi-industry-pours... [1] http://savannahnow.com/column/2009-10-23/toma-cab-owners-seek-city-council-abled-cartel-0 http://savannahnow.com/column/2009-10-23/toma-cab-owners-see... Is this how coffee shops, restaurants, bars, etc. are setup in any city you're aware of?