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Uber pool is becoming a real and separate disruptor that seems to compete more with public transport than taxis. I would like to see stats on what's happening w

Uber pool is becoming a real and separate disruptor that seems to compete more with public transport than taxis. I would like to see stats on what's happening with buses and subways. In Miami it's about the same price to take an Uber pool ($2.50-$3) as it is to take a bus ($2.25), while being significantly better. UberX feels like Netflix's DVD phase, a precursor to the real, defensible, network-effect dependent, technologically more challenging [1], core competency of pool. 1. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shortest_path_problem https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shortest_path_problem

becarefulyo 10y ago
They should require larger vehicles. Cramming three people into the back of a compact sucks.
- twblalock 10y ago
  If you don't like it, don't take the least expensive level of Uber service. Uber has already segmented the market to provide more space and luxury to those willing to pay for it. Take Uber X, or Uber, or Uber Black.
  - MarkMc 10y ago
    I think becarefulyo's point was that Uber hasn't segmented the market enough. There needs to be a pool-without-cramming option. If Uber doesn't provide it, someone else will.
legodt 10y ago
Interesting, but the argument has always been that x is Uber's Netflix DVD phase. Uber black car was the DVD phase for UberX, UberX was the DVD phase for Uber pool, and, now, Uber pool is the DVD phase for fully automating the driver out of the picture. It's certainly an interesting strategy to watch unfold. It's reasonable to assume that Uber black car very deliberately was a stepping stone to the more accessible UberX, but what I want to know is if during the initial pitch meetings they had any idea that their game was to burn money/remain solvent as long as they possibly can in order to have an upper hand in the future self-driving market.
- hulahoof 10y ago
  I'd be interested to know for sure too, my intuition tells me it was a pivot to self-driving

becarefulyo 10y ago

They should require larger vehicles. Cramming three people into the back of a compact sucks.

twblalock 10y ago
If you don't like it, don't take the least expensive level of Uber service. Uber has already segmented the market to provide more space and luxury to those willing to pay for it. Take Uber X, or Uber, or Uber Black.
- MarkMc 10y ago
  I think becarefulyo's point was that Uber hasn't segmented the market enough. There needs to be a pool-without-cramming option. If Uber doesn't provide it, someone else will.

legodt 10y ago

Interesting, but the argument has always been that x is Uber's Netflix DVD phase. Uber black car was the DVD phase for UberX, UberX was the DVD phase for Uber pool, and, now, Uber pool is the DVD phase for fully automating the driver out of the picture. It's certainly an interesting strategy to watch unfold. It's reasonable to assume that Uber black car very deliberately was a stepping stone to the more accessible UberX, but what I want to know is if during the initial pitch meetings they had any idea that their game was to burn money/remain solvent as long as they possibly can in order to have an upper hand in the future self-driving market.

hulahoof 10y ago
I'd be interested to know for sure too, my intuition tells me it was a pivot to self-driving