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I like that lyft is getting more marketshare. But could we create an opensource rideshare server and a nonprofit that lets drivers keep 99% of the fare? There i

I like that lyft is getting more marketshare. But could we create an opensource rideshare server and a nonprofit that lets drivers keep 99% of the fare? There is nothing these companies are doing that the drivers couldn't get done themselves with a handful of developers. The lawyering/lobbying part is taken care of as long as they follow in uber and lyft's footprints.

listenallyall 9y ago
isn't that a bit optimistic? while you're at it, why not create an open-source ticket-selling site where fees are only 1% of the ticket price? and a short-term home/room rental with tiny fees also? oh, and a global auction (or BuyItNow) marketplace with virtually no fees, because open-source. when you're finished with those, don't forget a worldwide social network with no ads, because why not, its gonna be opensource, right?
- TulliusCicero 9y ago
  Exactly correct: there are many developers overenthusiastic about free/open software who trivialize everything other than the code (and sometimes even that). "Business things? How hard could businessing possibly be??"
- WisNorCan 9y ago
  Do any of those sound crazier than (1) a free open source OS that anyone can just download and modify or (2) a free encyclopedia created by people on the Internet that has the same quality as EB. Dream big. All the best ideas sound impossible until someone does it.
cbcoutinho 9y ago
> "... couldn't get done themselves with a handful of developers" This sounds like someone with an idea looking for a developer to 'just' implement that idea into an app for them. The software side of a real-time ridesharing service is not trivial
Tangy92 9y ago
I've thought about this but it's not feasible. Firstly the software side is not trivial, costs for servers and payment processing and everything are real, and providing support for unsatisfied riders would be impossible.
TulliusCicero 9y ago
* A customer just got an abusive driver who allegedly used a racial slur. The driver denies it. What do you do? * A driver just got an asshole customer who threatened to make up false accusations if they didn't give them a bonus ride for free. What do you do? * Nobody -- drivers and customers -- outside of the nerdsphere has heard of your app, so nobody is using it. What do you do? * Some customers are using stolen credit cards, and drivers are mad at you that those fares end up getting chargebacked. What do you do? * There's a city where people are allegedly using your platform for nefarious or extra-legal purposes. The local government is mad at you and demands answers. What do you do? Your post is an excellent example of "I know nothing about managing X, so probably X is quite simple and easy to do." It's the same attitude that leads people to believe that they "could probably implement Facebook in a weekend."
- tootie 9y ago
  Exactly. I don't understand why Uber and Lyft are even considered tech companies. Lyft is my jam and their Android app isn't even that great. Getting a lost receipt required an email because you can't recover them on the website. I feel like I could best their public-facing tech presence in 6 months with a decent team but I'd still have zero business. These guys are car services with a national brand and network of drivers. That's 95% of their value.
saas_co_de 9y ago
The problem is not the creating the software but the advertising and subsidies needed to gain consumer market share.
whazor 9y ago
Some business guy could come in, copy the software.. add 30% extra cost and use that for marketing. With a sprinkle of socialism you could let governments run the server with API's and force removal of competitors.
csours 9y ago
Ride Austin is a 100% non-profit that allows drivers to keep 100% of the fare. It had several months to develop free from the influence of Lyft and Uber after they left Austin. My driver on Friday said he went from Ride Austin to Lyft because he gets more rides from Lyft. Perhaps someone else can further comment on why Ride Austin isn't winning.
- jen20 9y ago
  One potential contributing reason: it’s not (or wasn’t recently) in app stores other than US, and doesn’t take international credit cards - making it a non-starter for many visitors to Austin. Lyft had the same problem too - I don’t know if it’s fixed because Uber never had that issue so I use that.

listenallyall 9y ago

isn't that a bit optimistic? while you're at it, why not create an open-source ticket-selling site where fees are only 1% of the ticket price? and a short-term home/room rental with tiny fees also? oh, and a global auction (or BuyItNow) marketplace with virtually no fees, because open-source. when you're finished with those, don't forget a worldwide social network with no ads, because why not, its gonna be opensource, right?

TulliusCicero 9y ago
Exactly correct: there are many developers overenthusiastic about free/open software who trivialize everything other than the code (and sometimes even that). "Business things? How hard could businessing possibly be??"
WisNorCan 9y ago
Do any of those sound crazier than (1) a free open source OS that anyone can just download and modify or (2) a free encyclopedia created by people on the Internet that has the same quality as EB. Dream big. All the best ideas sound impossible until someone does it.

cbcoutinho 9y ago

> "... couldn't get done themselves with a handful of developers" This sounds like someone with an idea looking for a developer to 'just' implement that idea into an app for them. The software side of a real-time ridesharing service is not trivial

Tangy92 9y ago

I've thought about this but it's not feasible. Firstly the software side is not trivial, costs for servers and payment processing and everything are real, and providing support for unsatisfied riders would be impossible.

TulliusCicero 9y ago

* A customer just got an abusive driver who allegedly used a racial slur. The driver denies it. What do you do? * A driver just got an asshole customer who threatened to make up false accusations if they didn't give them a bonus ride for free. What do you do? * Nobody -- drivers and customers -- outside of the nerdsphere has heard of your app, so nobody is using it. What do you do? * Some customers are using stolen credit cards, and drivers are mad at you that those fares end up getting chargebacked. What do you do? * There's a city where people are allegedly using your platform for nefarious or extra-legal purposes. The local government is mad at you and demands answers. What do you do? Your post is an excellent example of "I know nothing about managing X, so probably X is quite simple and easy to do." It's the same attitude that leads people to believe that they "could probably implement Facebook in a weekend."

tootie 9y ago
Exactly. I don't understand why Uber and Lyft are even considered tech companies. Lyft is my jam and their Android app isn't even that great. Getting a lost receipt required an email because you can't recover them on the website. I feel like I could best their public-facing tech presence in 6 months with a decent team but I'd still have zero business. These guys are car services with a national brand and network of drivers. That's 95% of their value.

saas_co_de 9y ago

The problem is not the creating the software but the advertising and subsidies needed to gain consumer market share.

whazor 9y ago

Some business guy could come in, copy the software.. add 30% extra cost and use that for marketing. With a sprinkle of socialism you could let governments run the server with API's and force removal of competitors.

csours 9y ago

Ride Austin is a 100% non-profit that allows drivers to keep 100% of the fare. It had several months to develop free from the influence of Lyft and Uber after they left Austin. My driver on Friday said he went from Ride Austin to Lyft because he gets more rides from Lyft. Perhaps someone else can further comment on why Ride Austin isn't winning.

jen20 9y ago
One potential contributing reason: it’s not (or wasn’t recently) in app stores other than US, and doesn’t take international credit cards - making it a non-starter for many visitors to Austin. Lyft had the same problem too - I don’t know if it’s fixed because Uber never had that issue so I use that.