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I thought this was a key take away from the article: >Taxis already share all the data the commission is requesting from Uber. If Taxis are required to give t

I thought this was a key take away from the article: >Taxis already share all the data the commission is requesting from Uber. If Taxis are required to give this data why should Uber be different?

TAForObvReasons 10y ago
... because Uber is a special snowflake, haven't you heard? /s Uber is trying to differentiate itself from the standard taxi companies in order to avoid the same level of regulations and issues. To do that, you can't concede on any front no matter how trivial or reasonable it sounds.
- warcher 10y ago
  Yeah, and it's virtually inevitable that city hall catches up with them eventually somewhere. They have to win all the city hall fights everywhere. Also Lyft does too-- if Lyft ever capitulates in exchange for licensure, Uber has to as well, lest they be out in the cold. Sooner or later somebody is gonna get one of them, and then all the other cities are going to say "Hey, if Los Angeles gets your ride data, then why can't Topeka?"
- deleted 10y ago
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JumpCrisscross 10y ago
I tell Uber the exact address at which I should be picked up and dropped off. Taxis don't get nearly that much granularity. Furthermore, one can pay for taxis with cash.
- dublinben 10y ago
  You can (any probably should) slightly fuzz the addresses you're providing Uber. They're tracking you with GPS before and after your rides anyway, but you might as well make it a little harder for them to track you.
  - maverick_iceman 10y ago
    As an end user what's the upside in doing that?
- RockyMcNuts 10y ago
  Uber also tracks you before/after, even if you're not using the app. I can only guess all the reasons why. But it should help them predict supply and demand/gouge you better. It's worth knowing when everybody starts to head for the exits from the Rolling Stones concert. And if you came from there, it's worth knowing to predict what fare you might be willing pay, even if you hail a couple of blocks away from the arena to avoid the crush.
  - DINKDINK 10y ago
    >Uber also tracks you before/after, even if you're not using the app. You don't have to elect to have background tracking on. Undoubtedly, most users have elected to keep it on but there is the option to turn it off and just type in the pick up and drop off address.
- madgar 10y ago
  > I tell Uber the exact address at which I should be picked up and dropped off. I just leave in the address that Uber guessed for me, which is always wrong by a couple of street numbers. > Taxis don't get nearly that much granularity. The GPS coords in the NYC taxi dataset are accurate enough that in aggregate, you can see precise hot spots at popular trip sources (MSG, GCT, Penn, etc). You should check it out: http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/about/trip_record_data.shtml http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/about/trip_record_data.shtm...
  - JumpCrisscross 10y ago
    I don't have a problem with anyone knowing when I am at, or near, Grand Central or Penn Stations. I have an issue with a politician knowing I visited the home of a potential rival three times in a week before campaign filings are due.
kodablah 10y ago
Why not rephrase the question to "Just because taxis have to give this data, why should Uber?" or "Why traditionally do taxis have to give this data?" These types of situations are perfect for re-examination/re-justification. We should question the law in general and then question its equitable application. Unfortunately, it takes law applications like this to bring up the obvious need for re-justification. I think this is the key take away from the article: > Uber offered to give officials data on how long each trip lasted, without any location information. The regulator rejected this idea, in part because it appears to have more in mind than driver fatigue.

I thought this was a key take away from the article: >Taxis already share all the data the commission is requesting from Uber. If Taxis are required to give this data why should Uber be different?

TAForObvReasons 10y ago

... because Uber is a special snowflake, haven't you heard? /s Uber is trying to differentiate itself from the standard taxi companies in order to avoid the same level of regulations and issues. To do that, you can't concede on any front no matter how trivial or reasonable it sounds.

warcher 10y ago
Yeah, and it's virtually inevitable that city hall catches up with them eventually somewhere. They have to win all the city hall fights everywhere. Also Lyft does too-- if Lyft ever capitulates in exchange for licensure, Uber has to as well, lest they be out in the cold. Sooner or later somebody is gonna get one of them, and then all the other cities are going to say "Hey, if Los Angeles gets your ride data, then why can't Topeka?"
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JumpCrisscross 10y ago

I tell Uber the exact address at which I should be picked up and dropped off. Taxis don't get nearly that much granularity. Furthermore, one can pay for taxis with cash.

dublinben 10y ago
You can (any probably should) slightly fuzz the addresses you're providing Uber. They're tracking you with GPS before and after your rides anyway, but you might as well make it a little harder for them to track you.
- maverick_iceman 10y ago
  As an end user what's the upside in doing that?
RockyMcNuts 10y ago
Uber also tracks you before/after, even if you're not using the app. I can only guess all the reasons why. But it should help them predict supply and demand/gouge you better. It's worth knowing when everybody starts to head for the exits from the Rolling Stones concert. And if you came from there, it's worth knowing to predict what fare you might be willing pay, even if you hail a couple of blocks away from the arena to avoid the crush.
- DINKDINK 10y ago
  >Uber also tracks you before/after, even if you're not using the app. You don't have to elect to have background tracking on. Undoubtedly, most users have elected to keep it on but there is the option to turn it off and just type in the pick up and drop off address.
madgar 10y ago
> I tell Uber the exact address at which I should be picked up and dropped off. I just leave in the address that Uber guessed for me, which is always wrong by a couple of street numbers. > Taxis don't get nearly that much granularity. The GPS coords in the NYC taxi dataset are accurate enough that in aggregate, you can see precise hot spots at popular trip sources (MSG, GCT, Penn, etc). You should check it out: http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/about/trip_record_data.shtml http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/about/trip_record_data.shtm...
- JumpCrisscross 10y ago
  I don't have a problem with anyone knowing when I am at, or near, Grand Central or Penn Stations. I have an issue with a politician knowing I visited the home of a potential rival three times in a week before campaign filings are due.

kodablah 10y ago

Why not rephrase the question to "Just because taxis have to give this data, why should Uber?" or "Why traditionally do taxis have to give this data?" These types of situations are perfect for re-examination/re-justification. We should question the law in general and then question its equitable application. Unfortunately, it takes law applications like this to bring up the obvious need for re-justification. I think this is the key take away from the article: > Uber offered to give officials data on how long each trip lasted, without any location information. The regulator rejected this idea, in part because it appears to have more in mind than driver fatigue.