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U.S. Navy sailors getting off ships in Pearl Harbor recently were quoted as much as $221 to get to Waikiki when a cab ride was $44 So what's the problem? Let t

U.S. Navy sailors getting off ships in Pearl Harbor recently were quoted as much as $221 to get to Waikiki when a cab ride was $44 So what's the problem? Let them take a cab. Oh, there's not enough cabs to meet demand when hundreds of sailors get off the ship? Well that's why they have surge pricing -- to get more drivers on the road. If you don't like the surge price, wait until demand subsides. I'd rather have the option to split a $200 ride with my buddies and get to Waikiki now than to pay $44 and have to wait 2 hours for a cab. If I wanted to wait, I'd just wait until the surge pricing dropped.

raz32dust 8y ago
Well there aren't enough cabs because ride-sharing companies have driven them out of business. I am no fan of cabs. They were unreliable and overpriced, which is why they got driven out. I am willing to pay slightly more some of the times in exchange for the better availability, reliability and price that Uber will provide me most of the time. But not 5x more! This price should in theory be determined by the free market. However, because Uber determines the price, not the driver, it is not really a free market. I'd love to see an Uber-like service where the drivers outbid each other <del>and Uber takes a fixed percentage cut</del>. Edit: I learned that Uber does in fact charge a fixed percentage cut, even during surge (20%).
- Johnny555 8y ago
  There weren't enough cabs during peak periods even before Uber. And yes, I've tried catching a cab from UH or downtown to Waikiki on a Friday night in the rain, and it's nearly impossible. Cars (even ignoring the medallion scam) are expensive to leave sitting around idle, and you have to pay a driver a lot to make it worthwhile to work for a few hours a few times a month) so cab services can't afford to staff for peak service, instead they just make riders wait (or reject them at dispatch by not answering the phone). At least with Uber, if I really need to be there, I can pay to get a car. Would you rather pay a 5X surcharge or have no car at all? Uber is already has incentive to keep the surge pricing reasonable -- not only do they suffer from spoilage, but if a driver clocks in during the surge and doesn't get a rider, he's less likely to clock in during the next surge. Uber already has competition in Lyft -- I just use "Uber" as a generic name, I only take Lyft unless I'm in a city that Lyft doesn't serve. It's (mostly) the same drivers anyway.
  - ASalazarMX 8y ago
    > Uber is already has incentive to keep the surge pricing reasonable -- not only do they suffer from spoilage, but if a driver clocks in during the surge and doesn't get a rider, he's less likely to clock in during the next surge. I disagree. Since Uber takes a percent of the price, it's in its best interest that the surge scales fast. 5X is unreasonable, it should be capped at 3X. It's not like the Honolulu Uber drivers would multiply as the surge increases, the service is already maxed out and has become first come first served.
    - Johnny555 8y ago
      Riders are only one of Uber's customers -- drivers are the other, and if they clock in during surge pricing and never get a ride, they'll stop clocking in - why bother getting in your car and driving across town to find out that even though surge pricing is in effect, you can't find a rider?
CogitoCogito 8y ago
> Oh, there's not enough cabs to meet demand when hundreds of sailors get off the ship? Well that's why they have surge pricing -- to get more drivers on the road. If you don't like the surge price, wait until demand subsides. Using surge pricing to get drivers on the road is unnecessary. If the Navy knows that many of its sailors will be going into Waikiki after getting off the ship, why doesn't it just organize some buses to bring them in? Surge pricing seems more like a last resort "we didn't see this coming, but this can help bring supply to the demand", but in this case a little forethought would be much better.
- Johnny555 8y ago
  Because they aren't all going to Waikiki -- some are going to Mililani, Kaneohe or Kapolei to go home, others are going to downtown Honolulu or elsewhere on the Island. And who wants to wait an hour for the official shuttle bus to leave when you can call an Uber and leave now? And if they want to take a bus, they can take TheBus and spend less than $3. Some day (7 years or so), taking the train to Waikiki will be an option. For all I know, maybe the military already contracts with buses for those that are willing to put up with the inconvenience, but there are always those that are willing to pay more to get there faster.
  - toomuchtodo 8y ago
    Seems like the solution is to tax ridesharing rides, and use that to speed up light rail to Waikiki and run a more frequent shuttle bus service. This ensures minimum levels of service for everyone, but if you want to rideshare on demand, you can!
awinder 8y ago
Why don't we have enough cabs? Because Uber was allowed to use vast sums of private capital to back market-hostile moves and create a world where it had to exist. We've regulated cab fares for decades, because as a society through government, we've decided that it's exploitative behavior that is an ill, not "a slick/fair idea". The part where this really goes off the rails is "id rather pay $200 than wait 2 hours". That's because you can time-price your time out to that level. The average american solider is earning $33K a year, I don't want to make assumptions, but I'd be mindblown if there is a choice to be made here.
s2g 8y ago
Should do this for everything. 15 cent an item surcharge for every minute you wait in line at the grocery store. Bus crash? 10k added to emergency room bills that day. crank those restaurant prices through the roof for dinner.
- Johnny555 8y ago
  15 cent an item surcharge for every minute you wait in line at the grocery store. Or, go to the gourmet market down the street that's not as busy -- it's more expensive, but lines are shorter. Bus crash? 10k added to emergency room bills that day. Would it be better to force every emergency room visit to cost $40 regardless of whether it's an emergency? Then the guy that's in the bus crash has to wait hours behind every stubbed toe to get service. ER visits are expensive which naturally reduces demand. crank those restaurant prices through the roof for dinner. Isn't that what "lunch specials" are? Take a look at the prices between the lunch menu and dinner menu at any restaurant. If eating at a restaurant was the only way you could get food, wouldn't you rather pay 5X the price to get a meal now versus waiting hours for a table?

raz32dust 8y ago

Well there aren't enough cabs because ride-sharing companies have driven them out of business. I am no fan of cabs. They were unreliable and overpriced, which is why they got driven out. I am willing to pay slightly more some of the times in exchange for the better availability, reliability and price that Uber will provide me most of the time. But not 5x more! This price should in theory be determined by the free market. However, because Uber determines the price, not the driver, it is not really a free market. I'd love to see an Uber-like service where the drivers outbid each other <del>and Uber takes a fixed percentage cut</del>. Edit: I learned that Uber does in fact charge a fixed percentage cut, even during surge (20%).

Johnny555 8y ago
There weren't enough cabs during peak periods even before Uber. And yes, I've tried catching a cab from UH or downtown to Waikiki on a Friday night in the rain, and it's nearly impossible. Cars (even ignoring the medallion scam) are expensive to leave sitting around idle, and you have to pay a driver a lot to make it worthwhile to work for a few hours a few times a month) so cab services can't afford to staff for peak service, instead they just make riders wait (or reject them at dispatch by not answering the phone). At least with Uber, if I really need to be there, I can pay to get a car. Would you rather pay a 5X surcharge or have no car at all? Uber is already has incentive to keep the surge pricing reasonable -- not only do they suffer from spoilage, but if a driver clocks in during the surge and doesn't get a rider, he's less likely to clock in during the next surge. Uber already has competition in Lyft -- I just use "Uber" as a generic name, I only take Lyft unless I'm in a city that Lyft doesn't serve. It's (mostly) the same drivers anyway.
- ASalazarMX 8y ago
  > Uber is already has incentive to keep the surge pricing reasonable -- not only do they suffer from spoilage, but if a driver clocks in during the surge and doesn't get a rider, he's less likely to clock in during the next surge. I disagree. Since Uber takes a percent of the price, it's in its best interest that the surge scales fast. 5X is unreasonable, it should be capped at 3X. It's not like the Honolulu Uber drivers would multiply as the surge increases, the service is already maxed out and has become first come first served.
  - Johnny555 8y ago
    Riders are only one of Uber's customers -- drivers are the other, and if they clock in during surge pricing and never get a ride, they'll stop clocking in - why bother getting in your car and driving across town to find out that even though surge pricing is in effect, you can't find a rider?

CogitoCogito 8y ago

> Oh, there's not enough cabs to meet demand when hundreds of sailors get off the ship? Well that's why they have surge pricing -- to get more drivers on the road. If you don't like the surge price, wait until demand subsides. Using surge pricing to get drivers on the road is unnecessary. If the Navy knows that many of its sailors will be going into Waikiki after getting off the ship, why doesn't it just organize some buses to bring them in? Surge pricing seems more like a last resort "we didn't see this coming, but this can help bring supply to the demand", but in this case a little forethought would be much better.

Johnny555 8y ago
Because they aren't all going to Waikiki -- some are going to Mililani, Kaneohe or Kapolei to go home, others are going to downtown Honolulu or elsewhere on the Island. And who wants to wait an hour for the official shuttle bus to leave when you can call an Uber and leave now? And if they want to take a bus, they can take TheBus and spend less than $3. Some day (7 years or so), taking the train to Waikiki will be an option. For all I know, maybe the military already contracts with buses for those that are willing to put up with the inconvenience, but there are always those that are willing to pay more to get there faster.
- toomuchtodo 8y ago
  Seems like the solution is to tax ridesharing rides, and use that to speed up light rail to Waikiki and run a more frequent shuttle bus service. This ensures minimum levels of service for everyone, but if you want to rideshare on demand, you can!

awinder 8y ago

Why don't we have enough cabs? Because Uber was allowed to use vast sums of private capital to back market-hostile moves and create a world where it had to exist. We've regulated cab fares for decades, because as a society through government, we've decided that it's exploitative behavior that is an ill, not "a slick/fair idea". The part where this really goes off the rails is "id rather pay $200 than wait 2 hours". That's because you can time-price your time out to that level. The average american solider is earning $33K a year, I don't want to make assumptions, but I'd be mindblown if there is a choice to be made here.

s2g 8y ago

Should do this for everything. 15 cent an item surcharge for every minute you wait in line at the grocery store. Bus crash? 10k added to emergency room bills that day. crank those restaurant prices through the roof for dinner.

Johnny555 8y ago
15 cent an item surcharge for every minute you wait in line at the grocery store. Or, go to the gourmet market down the street that's not as busy -- it's more expensive, but lines are shorter. Bus crash? 10k added to emergency room bills that day. Would it be better to force every emergency room visit to cost $40 regardless of whether it's an emergency? Then the guy that's in the bus crash has to wait hours behind every stubbed toe to get service. ER visits are expensive which naturally reduces demand. crank those restaurant prices through the roof for dinner. Isn't that what "lunch specials" are? Take a look at the prices between the lunch menu and dinner menu at any restaurant. If eating at a restaurant was the only way you could get food, wouldn't you rather pay 5X the price to get a meal now versus waiting hours for a table?