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There are dollar vans in NY, that supposedly regulated and still profitable. It's really weird how developed world mostly ignores third-world model of private m

by monort 9y ago

There are dollar vans in NY, that supposedly regulated and still profitable. It's really weird how developed world mostly ignores third-world model of private mini-buses.

ben_w 9y ago
I’ve been on a third-world minibus. In comparison to developed nation public transport, it was overcrowded by a factor of two, it only set off when it was full and not to any timetable, and (from what my partner told me after living there for years back when she was a teenager), most of the drivers constantly consume stimulants so they can work for 15-hour days. (I would also describe the minibus as poorly maintained, but that’s by European standards — I was really surprised by the poor condition of American vehicles on each of my three visits, and it didn’t seem significantly worse than an American vehicle).
- monort 9y ago
  This depends on a country, I've seen some where it's municipal bus, that is overcrowded, and mini-bus is a more "premium" service. But anyway, do you think you should force them to pay twice the price by removing the overcrowding? It's just a revealed preference, like with airplanes, people prefer price to comfort. Modern startup in this area can experiment with a different price for standing/sitting. If this jitneys are really worse, there is no need to forbid them, municipal buses will outcompete jitneys.
  - lotsofpulp 9y ago
    No one is forbidding "jitneys". What is being discussed is maintaining certain safety standards that, as an individual, one might not consider significant enough to care about, but on a societal level, make everyone's lives better. For example, someone can undercut you on price by taking risky shortcuts. Therefore your product or service won't sell, but as a society, it's better for everyone that certain standards are met. Hence, regulations on electrical work and plumbing, etc. Same thing with driver's training and sleep minimums. Real life example is the recent bus crashes in New York City from overworked or underpaid Chinatown buses.
    - monort 9y ago
      Are you talking hypotheticals? Because in reality private jitneys are mostly forbidden in US, not regulated.

by monort 9y ago

There are dollar vans in NY, that supposedly regulated and still profitable. It's really weird how developed world mostly ignores third-world model of private mini-buses.

ben_w 9y ago

I’ve been on a third-world minibus. In comparison to developed nation public transport, it was overcrowded by a factor of two, it only set off when it was full and not to any timetable, and (from what my partner told me after living there for years back when she was a teenager), most of the drivers constantly consume stimulants so they can work for 15-hour days. (I would also describe the minibus as poorly maintained, but that’s by European standards — I was really surprised by the poor condition of American vehicles on each of my three visits, and it didn’t seem significantly worse than an American vehicle).

monort 9y ago
This depends on a country, I've seen some where it's municipal bus, that is overcrowded, and mini-bus is a more "premium" service. But anyway, do you think you should force them to pay twice the price by removing the overcrowding? It's just a revealed preference, like with airplanes, people prefer price to comfort. Modern startup in this area can experiment with a different price for standing/sitting. If this jitneys are really worse, there is no need to forbid them, municipal buses will outcompete jitneys.
- lotsofpulp 9y ago
  No one is forbidding "jitneys". What is being discussed is maintaining certain safety standards that, as an individual, one might not consider significant enough to care about, but on a societal level, make everyone's lives better. For example, someone can undercut you on price by taking risky shortcuts. Therefore your product or service won't sell, but as a society, it's better for everyone that certain standards are met. Hence, regulations on electrical work and plumbing, etc. Same thing with driver's training and sleep minimums. Real life example is the recent bus crashes in New York City from overworked or underpaid Chinatown buses.
  - monort 9y ago
    Are you talking hypotheticals? Because in reality private jitneys are mostly forbidden in US, not regulated.