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Ubercab is not a taxi service and does not own or operate limo vehicles. We simply connect consumers with existing Limo Drivers. We do make sure that all limo d

Ubercab is not a taxi service and does not own or operate limo vehicles. We simply connect consumers with existing Limo Drivers. We do make sure that all limo drivers that connect are properly licensed and have the appropriate insurance.

corin_ 16y ago
"Its cars don’t have insurance equivalent to taxis’ insurance" is taken directly from the TC article. As to the logic of "we are not a taxi service, we just make money putting customers into taxis", I really can't comment on how the law views this. If the SF Metro Transit Authority withdraws the cease and desist order then please accept my apologies for making bad assumptions, but given the law enforcers say what you are doing is not allowed, I can only assume that it is, indeed, not allowed, regardless of how you word what exactly you do. Either way, I hope you get it resolved (whether that means them backing down, or you agreeing to whatever they're wanting of you), other than this current situation your service looks pretty great, and I'm sure I'll use you some day when I'm on your side of the pond.
- mustpax 16y ago
  If the SF Metro Transit Authority withdraws the cease and desist order then please accept my apologies for making bad assumptions, but given the law enforcers say what you are doing is not allowed, I can only assume that it is, indeed, not allowed, regardless of how you word what exactly you do. I'm sorry but you're arguing that SF MTA is infallible and you are wrong.
  - corin_ 16y ago
    My views have been based on the facts I've been given. I'm not from SF, until I'm given a reason to believe that the MTA isn't actually following the law, I'll keep assuming they are. Maybe I should have been more specific before: I'll also apologise if the MTA don't withdraw, but are instead shown to be in the wrong.
- johnrice 16y ago
  "but given the law enforcers say what you are doing is not allowed, I can only assume that it is, indeed, not allowed" The law enforcers so often wrong about what the law does and does not allow that somebody had the foresight leave that judgement up to another branch of government entirely.
anigbrowl 16y ago
I live in SF and am totally on your side - I think you're being punished for the existing firms' failure to think of this first. SFMTA is drastically overdue for reform.
ramanujan 16y ago
You need to get your users to flex their political muscles. Whether that is text messaging the politicians or what have you, put the fear of god into them and make them realize they'll have a political fight on their hands with thousands of angry citizens on your side.
zaidf 16y ago
You have an incredible PR battle to deal with! It is hard to call yourself Ubercab and then claim "Ubercab is not a taxi service." While you may technically be right, it may not matter in your PR battle.
lolname 16y ago
Ubercab is not a taxi service It's hard to read that and think of you as anything other than a liar (or perhaps an obnoxious pedant). That's truly meant as constructive feedback. edit: seriously. I figured it'd be better somebody tell him that on HN before he says it to a media personality without thinking of how it will be perceived by some.
- deleted 16y ago
  [deleted]
- sp4rki 16y ago
  It's not a taxi service. It's a Limousine/Black car service. And Ubercab only provides the dispatch operations and facilitate payment, not the transportation service itself
  - lolname 16y ago
    Look at their website and blog: "The cab stand in your hand". Tags of "taxi", "cab" and "taxi stand". A name that includes the word "cab". They're clearly positioning themselves as a taxi company, then saying "oh, but we are not a taxi company!" when called on it. The whole thing reminds me of Napster when they tried to claim they had nothing to do with all the pirated music available via Napster. Other apps, like taximagic, avoid the trouble by simply dispatching a taxi instead of playing this limo / taxi licensing game. I find it fairly offensive that they're trying to complain that they're just too innovative, when the reality is that they entered a heavily regulated market and made a conscious decision to ignore the regulation. Too bad, so sad, deal with it. Mobile taxi hailing is obviously coming, but I'd back the horse that is smart enough not to piss off the taxi and limousine commissions in the launch city. That seems like an action that's likely to get them extra governmental attention in every new market they address.
    - sp4rki 16y ago
      How you market your brand doesn't make your company automagically drop out of its sector and join another just because. When you use Ubercab you don't get a beat up yellow taxi cab and a talkative taxi driver with too many stories to tell, you get a black sedan limousine with a professional, licensed, and insured limo driver (and sometimes fresh water bottles!). They comply with all the California regulations and are only available from dispatch and not from street hail. You could argue that then they are fooling the public, and I'd certainly give you that point, by saying this is a cab service. I understand the reasons for it though, people are used to the idea that limo service is for the rich and famous, when it's not much more expensive in contrast to a cab. So now how exactly does Taximagic avoid anything by dispatching a taxi? I'll tell you how, by sharing profit with established taxi companies. Both Taximagic and Ubercab do the exact same thing, the difference is Ubercab simply does not want to use taxi companies, and instead use limo services exclusively, not breaking any regulations by doing so. You know what I find offensive? That the medallion industry is going after Ubercab because they want to get a piece of the pie. It's a perfect way to show the world that this is really a mob in all its glory. It's in a slightly twisted way no different than a mobster sending a payment collector to every store in the neighborhood to get protection money or drive them out of business if they don't pay up. If Ubercab doesn't win this, it's an example of how rottenly corrupt the system is. PD: Napster and music piracy is no way similar to Ubercab and taxicabs. Pirated music did pass through Napster, but I see no taxi cabs being used by Ubercab.

corin_ 16y ago

"Its cars don’t have insurance equivalent to taxis’ insurance" is taken directly from the TC article. As to the logic of "we are not a taxi service, we just make money putting customers into taxis", I really can't comment on how the law views this. If the SF Metro Transit Authority withdraws the cease and desist order then please accept my apologies for making bad assumptions, but given the law enforcers say what you are doing is not allowed, I can only assume that it is, indeed, not allowed, regardless of how you word what exactly you do. Either way, I hope you get it resolved (whether that means them backing down, or you agreeing to whatever they're wanting of you), other than this current situation your service looks pretty great, and I'm sure I'll use you some day when I'm on your side of the pond.

mustpax 16y ago
If the SF Metro Transit Authority withdraws the cease and desist order then please accept my apologies for making bad assumptions, but given the law enforcers say what you are doing is not allowed, I can only assume that it is, indeed, not allowed, regardless of how you word what exactly you do. I'm sorry but you're arguing that SF MTA is infallible and you are wrong.
- corin_ 16y ago
  My views have been based on the facts I've been given. I'm not from SF, until I'm given a reason to believe that the MTA isn't actually following the law, I'll keep assuming they are. Maybe I should have been more specific before: I'll also apologise if the MTA don't withdraw, but are instead shown to be in the wrong.
johnrice 16y ago
"but given the law enforcers say what you are doing is not allowed, I can only assume that it is, indeed, not allowed" The law enforcers so often wrong about what the law does and does not allow that somebody had the foresight leave that judgement up to another branch of government entirely.

anigbrowl 16y ago

I live in SF and am totally on your side - I think you're being punished for the existing firms' failure to think of this first. SFMTA is drastically overdue for reform.

ramanujan 16y ago

You need to get your users to flex their political muscles. Whether that is text messaging the politicians or what have you, put the fear of god into them and make them realize they'll have a political fight on their hands with thousands of angry citizens on your side.

zaidf 16y ago

You have an incredible PR battle to deal with! It is hard to call yourself Ubercab and then claim "Ubercab is not a taxi service." While you may technically be right, it may not matter in your PR battle.

lolname 16y ago

Ubercab is not a taxi service It's hard to read that and think of you as anything other than a liar (or perhaps an obnoxious pedant). That's truly meant as constructive feedback. edit: seriously. I figured it'd be better somebody tell him that on HN before he says it to a media personality without thinking of how it will be perceived by some.

deleted 16y ago
[deleted]
sp4rki 16y ago
It's not a taxi service. It's a Limousine/Black car service. And Ubercab only provides the dispatch operations and facilitate payment, not the transportation service itself
- lolname 16y ago
  Look at their website and blog: "The cab stand in your hand". Tags of "taxi", "cab" and "taxi stand". A name that includes the word "cab". They're clearly positioning themselves as a taxi company, then saying "oh, but we are not a taxi company!" when called on it. The whole thing reminds me of Napster when they tried to claim they had nothing to do with all the pirated music available via Napster. Other apps, like taximagic, avoid the trouble by simply dispatching a taxi instead of playing this limo / taxi licensing game. I find it fairly offensive that they're trying to complain that they're just too innovative, when the reality is that they entered a heavily regulated market and made a conscious decision to ignore the regulation. Too bad, so sad, deal with it. Mobile taxi hailing is obviously coming, but I'd back the horse that is smart enough not to piss off the taxi and limousine commissions in the launch city. That seems like an action that's likely to get them extra governmental attention in every new market they address.
  - sp4rki 16y ago
    How you market your brand doesn't make your company automagically drop out of its sector and join another just because. When you use Ubercab you don't get a beat up yellow taxi cab and a talkative taxi driver with too many stories to tell, you get a black sedan limousine with a professional, licensed, and insured limo driver (and sometimes fresh water bottles!). They comply with all the California regulations and are only available from dispatch and not from street hail. You could argue that then they are fooling the public, and I'd certainly give you that point, by saying this is a cab service. I understand the reasons for it though, people are used to the idea that limo service is for the rich and famous, when it's not much more expensive in contrast to a cab. So now how exactly does Taximagic avoid anything by dispatching a taxi? I'll tell you how, by sharing profit with established taxi companies. Both Taximagic and Ubercab do the exact same thing, the difference is Ubercab simply does not want to use taxi companies, and instead use limo services exclusively, not breaking any regulations by doing so. You know what I find offensive? That the medallion industry is going after Ubercab because they want to get a piece of the pie. It's a perfect way to show the world that this is really a mob in all its glory. It's in a slightly twisted way no different than a mobster sending a payment collector to every store in the neighborhood to get protection money or drive them out of business if they don't pay up. If Ubercab doesn't win this, it's an example of how rottenly corrupt the system is. PD: Napster and music piracy is no way similar to Ubercab and taxicabs. Pirated music did pass through Napster, but I see no taxi cabs being used by Ubercab.