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> too many taxis > There should be enough And who gets to decide how many is "enough" or "too many"? Shouldn't it be the voluntary actions of individuals coo
by clarkmoody 10y ago
> too many taxis
> There should be enough
And who gets to decide how many is "enough" or "too many"?
Shouldn't it be the voluntary actions of individuals coordinated by the price system, rather than a centralized planning board? When ride prices are very high, new competitors come in to serve the demand. When prices are low, the least efficient cars stop giving rides, and the supply shrinks. The price system coordinates the actions of countless individuals without the need for a central planner.
Note: I'm not defending Uber / Lyft in any way, as I'm not familiar enough with the latest drama.
- Tiktaalik 10y agoThe city needs to regulate transportation in order to prevent an abuse of the commons that makes everything worse for everyone. Cars impose negative externalities on others in that they take up space on the road and increase traffic congestion. This is not factored into any pricing system. Too many taxis is potentially bad in that they increase traffic congestion and make public transit less efficient. This can result in worse transportation options for low income persons, especially in the case where the taxis are Lyft/Uber type ride shares that are only hailable with a smart phone and may be more expensive due to surge pricing. A potential solution is to introduce comprehensive road pricing such that a car pays for its amount of road use.
- valuearb 10y agoCabs aren't imposing negative externalities, all cars are. Limiting cabs does nothing to address the problems of congestion, it makes it more likely that people will drive their own cars. You are correct the solution to congestion is to use tolls in some manner, whether on parking or entry to freeway/city. But they have to apply to all vehicles, not just cabs.