5 ms·

Let's go back to taxis while we're at it.

by piyh 8y ago

StavrosK 8y ago
Taxis are a problem, but Uber is not the solution.
- xapata 8y ago
  Oh? What is? Uber/Lyft seem like a great solution to me.
  - danudey 8y ago
    Uber is a great concept, but the reality is that Uber has shown us time and time again why taxis cost what they do: regulation to protect users and our cities. Uber, like AirBnB and a lot of other startups, are 'disrupting' industries by entering them and taking them over by ignoring regulations, insurance, and even laws to keep costs low and make a profit. In this day and age, they can grow fast enough that by the time cities see the repercussions and react to them, the companies are big enough and rich enough (and flush enough with VC money) to fight back, and are already entrenched with a loud and enthusiastic user base. In other words, Uber is great if you ignore the various safety and insurance regulations, background checks, licensing, etc. that taxis have to comply with.
    - xapata 8y ago
      Uber provides commercial insurance, no? Other than that, I generally feel safer in an Uber ride than in a taxi.
      - xapata 8y ago
        To explain: I've never been yelled at by an Uber driver. I have been cursed at by taxi drivers. Yes, more than one. They often don't like my destination and get mad at me for being in their cab. "I've been waiting for two hours, and you're going to Chinatown!? Fuck you!" (Not far enough) "Brooklyn?! Fuck you!" (Wants to stay in Manhattan) One cabbie was so pissed he went 70 in a 35 zone to demonstrate how annoying my destination was. Cabbies pretend to get lost so that the fare is longer. Uber will refund the difference. Etc. Etc.
    - jstarfish 8y ago
      Regulation also limits the number of taxis out on the streets (for better or worse). Uber has no incentive to limit the number of drivers they employ. Our small streets are jammed with Uber/Lyft cars endlessly driving back and forth.
      - xapata 8y ago
        Do they circle while not carrying passengers or going to pick up? I've observed them usually waiting by the curb for the next hail.
  - Tiktaalik 8y ago
    People without as much money as you would probably prefer more robust public transportation systems, which Uber/Lyft compete against.
    - xapata 8y ago
      Oh, sure, I'd prefer a better transit system, too. But in the meantime, I'd rather have more choice than less. Uber costs less than a taxi, so this is giving poor(er) people more choice.
      - vuln 8y ago
        Until the VC money runs out and the poor(er) have zero choice. Those people chose to give their money to Lyft / Uber instead of supporting their local public transit. Fast forward through Uber/Lyft's 'disruption' the local public transit shuts down due to lack of funds for maintenance, upgrades, etc. The public transportation ridership will be at an all time low, so it would be very hard to get tax payers to shoulder the burden of the costs... Seems like a sad state for the future.
        jessaustin 8y ago
        I also prefer more robust public transit, but I know of no community who decided against a public transit project because Uber was meeting their needs.
        cornholio 8y ago
        Uber has a low cost because it doesn't use monopoly power to gouge consumers like cities do when issuing medallions. So Uber's secret sauce is the fact that it breaks the law, not VC money. The medallion laws are unjust and should be broken, other laws like insurance, driver training and vehicle safety are not. This is what makes the debate so complex and passionate, with people taking one side or the other depending on their personal incentives and political bias.
        newfoundglory 8y ago
- mmt 8y ago
  I wonder, though, if the original iteration of Uber (now Uber Black?), their actual commercial car/driver version of the service, is the solution. It didn't have the hyper-growth potential of the current model, but it didn't draw most of the ethical/moral objections, while still providing at least some "disruption" to the taxi monopolies.
  - StavrosK 8y ago
    Yes, that's much better. We have something similar here, called Beat, which I like much more. It's just taxis, but you can see and leave reviews, you get an estimated price, you can pay by card, etc.

Let's go back to taxis while we're at it.

by piyh 8y ago

Let's go back to taxis while we're at it.

StavrosK 8y ago

Taxis are a problem, but Uber is not the solution.

xapata 8y ago
Oh? What is? Uber/Lyft seem like a great solution to me.
- danudey 8y ago
  Uber is a great concept, but the reality is that Uber has shown us time and time again why taxis cost what they do: regulation to protect users and our cities. Uber, like AirBnB and a lot of other startups, are 'disrupting' industries by entering them and taking them over by ignoring regulations, insurance, and even laws to keep costs low and make a profit. In this day and age, they can grow fast enough that by the time cities see the repercussions and react to them, the companies are big enough and rich enough (and flush enough with VC money) to fight back, and are already entrenched with a loud and enthusiastic user base. In other words, Uber is great if you ignore the various safety and insurance regulations, background checks, licensing, etc. that taxis have to comply with.
  - xapata 8y ago
    Uber provides commercial insurance, no? Other than that, I generally feel safer in an Uber ride than in a taxi.
    - xapata 8y ago
      To explain: I've never been yelled at by an Uber driver. I have been cursed at by taxi drivers. Yes, more than one. They often don't like my destination and get mad at me for being in their cab. "I've been waiting for two hours, and you're going to Chinatown!? Fuck you!" (Not far enough) "Brooklyn?! Fuck you!" (Wants to stay in Manhattan) One cabbie was so pissed he went 70 in a 35 zone to demonstrate how annoying my destination was. Cabbies pretend to get lost so that the fare is longer. Uber will refund the difference. Etc. Etc.
  - jstarfish 8y ago
    Regulation also limits the number of taxis out on the streets (for better or worse). Uber has no incentive to limit the number of drivers they employ. Our small streets are jammed with Uber/Lyft cars endlessly driving back and forth.
    - xapata 8y ago
      Do they circle while not carrying passengers or going to pick up? I've observed them usually waiting by the curb for the next hail.
- Tiktaalik 8y ago
  People without as much money as you would probably prefer more robust public transportation systems, which Uber/Lyft compete against.
  - xapata 8y ago
    Oh, sure, I'd prefer a better transit system, too. But in the meantime, I'd rather have more choice than less. Uber costs less than a taxi, so this is giving poor(er) people more choice.
    - vuln 8y ago
      Until the VC money runs out and the poor(er) have zero choice. Those people chose to give their money to Lyft / Uber instead of supporting their local public transit. Fast forward through Uber/Lyft's 'disruption' the local public transit shuts down due to lack of funds for maintenance, upgrades, etc. The public transportation ridership will be at an all time low, so it would be very hard to get tax payers to shoulder the burden of the costs... Seems like a sad state for the future.
      - jessaustin 8y ago
        I also prefer more robust public transit, but I know of no community who decided against a public transit project because Uber was meeting their needs.
      - cornholio 8y ago
        Uber has a low cost because it doesn't use monopoly power to gouge consumers like cities do when issuing medallions. So Uber's secret sauce is the fact that it breaks the law, not VC money. The medallion laws are unjust and should be broken, other laws like insurance, driver training and vehicle safety are not. This is what makes the debate so complex and passionate, with people taking one side or the other depending on their personal incentives and political bias.
        newfoundglory 8y ago
mmt 8y ago
I wonder, though, if the original iteration of Uber (now Uber Black?), their actual commercial car/driver version of the service, is the solution. It didn't have the hyper-growth potential of the current model, but it didn't draw most of the ethical/moral objections, while still providing at least some "disruption" to the taxi monopolies.
- StavrosK 8y ago
  Yes, that's much better. We have something similar here, called Beat, which I like much more. It's just taxis, but you can see and leave reviews, you get an estimated price, you can pay by card, etc.