4 ms·

Good riddance. In Montreal we have [Téo Taxi](http://teomtl.com/ http://teomtl.com/), which is far better, IMO (although more expensive) and more fair with its

Good riddance. In Montreal we have [Téo Taxi](http://teomtl.com/ http://teomtl.com/), which is far better, IMO (although more expensive) and more fair with its employees (They get enough by working only 8h/day, compared to previously with Uber or other old-school companies). All electric cars with free wifi in them. The app is on par with Uber's, and the drivers are always nice.

nyxtom 9y ago
That sounds awesome
microcolonel 9y ago
Isn't being more expensive part of the problem? I think one of the main things that is "better" about Uber is how comparatively cheap it is. I know a couple of people who make enough money not to really care what they spend day-to-day, but I suspect that for most people that few dollars per fare is the difference between viable and unacceptable.
- pixl97 9y ago
  >Isn't being more expensive part of the problem? It is a big part of the problem when Uber is using VC money to subsidize part of the trip and when Uber isn't following safety/training/insurance regulations. People are funny about that. They will bitch and moan about how expensive something is, but the second something goes wrong they want more safety features and regulation, in spite of the cost increase it will bring.
  - nyxtom 9y ago
    This ^^^^ Uber operates at a loss which is based on a grandiose vision of the future. It's their only way to undercut competition.
- ghaff 9y ago
  Which will last as long as the VC subsidies do--i.e. probably not much longer. I suspect that a lot of people who have grown accustomed to the sort of low fares that losing billions of dollars make possible are in for a surprise when prices rise up to be more in line with cabs again.
bllguo 9y ago
Don't you worry that removing the biggest competition will de-incentivize Téo Taxi from providing such an experience?
- ramy_d 9y ago
  They already offer that experience and they still compete against ordinary Taxis which now have their own apps - Customers now expect a kind of experience and will go where it is met.
alexasmyths 9y ago
"Good riddance." Sorry, I don't agree at all. I live in Montreal and I appreciate the choice. You can't seriously know that company 'ABC' is 'more fair' to their drivers. If that were seriously the case, why are any of them even working for Uber? I'm a 'local' in Montreal, and I now have one less major option for travel, though I usually use regular cabs, I use Uber to go to the airport and the service was great. Timely, clean, cheap - perfect. How on earth this is 'good for Montreal' is beyond me. Choice is good - and unless there are specific issues about Uber's service here (i.e. lack of licensing, insurance etc.) - then they should be left alone.
- s73ver_ 9y ago
  Why on earth should Uber be exempt from regulations that other taxis have to comply with?
  - alexasmyths 9y ago
    They shouldn't be exempt. But there's no reason for cab divers to have '35 hours of training' - the reg should be off the books. What on earth are they trained for? Maybe 'back in the day' knowing the city by memory was an issue - it's certainly not today. Has the city of Mtl been receiving complaints that 'Uber drivers are getting lost?' Not only do I feel that most consumers would give Uber a 'better service rating' (despite their 'lack of training') - but consumers have tech that enables them: Maps. Estimates. Automatic payments etc.. When it comes to issues such as 'identity' 'insurance' etc. - there's no question Uber has to be on par: cars need to be driven by registered folks, there needs to be clean insurance, safety checks on the car etc. etc.. To speak of this as 'about training' I think misses the point that this is entirely political: medallion owners want to keep the value of their medallions up, and have used a 'legal' and 'populist' angle to protect their medallion-oligarchy. That's what's going on. I don't believe there have been significant complaints bout Uber indicating that '35 hours of training' simply is not a requirement. And FYI - you don't need any training to open a store and offer a service - if people don't like the merchandise or quality of service they go elsewhere - that model works well. If people thought Uber was crap, they wouldn't use it. There are possibly 'issues' with Uber, but this is not one of them.

nyxtom 9y ago

That sounds awesome

microcolonel 9y ago

Isn't being more expensive part of the problem? I think one of the main things that is "better" about Uber is how comparatively cheap it is. I know a couple of people who make enough money not to really care what they spend day-to-day, but I suspect that for most people that few dollars per fare is the difference between viable and unacceptable.

pixl97 9y ago
>Isn't being more expensive part of the problem? It is a big part of the problem when Uber is using VC money to subsidize part of the trip and when Uber isn't following safety/training/insurance regulations. People are funny about that. They will bitch and moan about how expensive something is, but the second something goes wrong they want more safety features and regulation, in spite of the cost increase it will bring.
- nyxtom 9y ago
  This ^^^^ Uber operates at a loss which is based on a grandiose vision of the future. It's their only way to undercut competition.
ghaff 9y ago
Which will last as long as the VC subsidies do--i.e. probably not much longer. I suspect that a lot of people who have grown accustomed to the sort of low fares that losing billions of dollars make possible are in for a surprise when prices rise up to be more in line with cabs again.

bllguo 9y ago

Don't you worry that removing the biggest competition will de-incentivize Téo Taxi from providing such an experience?

ramy_d 9y ago
They already offer that experience and they still compete against ordinary Taxis which now have their own apps - Customers now expect a kind of experience and will go where it is met.

alexasmyths 9y ago

"Good riddance." Sorry, I don't agree at all. I live in Montreal and I appreciate the choice. You can't seriously know that company 'ABC' is 'more fair' to their drivers. If that were seriously the case, why are any of them even working for Uber? I'm a 'local' in Montreal, and I now have one less major option for travel, though I usually use regular cabs, I use Uber to go to the airport and the service was great. Timely, clean, cheap - perfect. How on earth this is 'good for Montreal' is beyond me. Choice is good - and unless there are specific issues about Uber's service here (i.e. lack of licensing, insurance etc.) - then they should be left alone.

s73ver_ 9y ago
Why on earth should Uber be exempt from regulations that other taxis have to comply with?
- alexasmyths 9y ago
  They shouldn't be exempt. But there's no reason for cab divers to have '35 hours of training' - the reg should be off the books. What on earth are they trained for? Maybe 'back in the day' knowing the city by memory was an issue - it's certainly not today. Has the city of Mtl been receiving complaints that 'Uber drivers are getting lost?' Not only do I feel that most consumers would give Uber a 'better service rating' (despite their 'lack of training') - but consumers have tech that enables them: Maps. Estimates. Automatic payments etc.. When it comes to issues such as 'identity' 'insurance' etc. - there's no question Uber has to be on par: cars need to be driven by registered folks, there needs to be clean insurance, safety checks on the car etc. etc.. To speak of this as 'about training' I think misses the point that this is entirely political: medallion owners want to keep the value of their medallions up, and have used a 'legal' and 'populist' angle to protect their medallion-oligarchy. That's what's going on. I don't believe there have been significant complaints bout Uber indicating that '35 hours of training' simply is not a requirement. And FYI - you don't need any training to open a store and offer a service - if people don't like the merchandise or quality of service they go elsewhere - that model works well. If people thought Uber was crap, they wouldn't use it. There are possibly 'issues' with Uber, but this is not one of them.