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I understand privileging buses but under what pretenses should we privilege taxis over transportation network companies? If anything, only pool ridesharing com

I understand privileging buses but under what pretenses should we privilege taxis over transportation network companies? If anything, only pool ridesharing companies should get the benefit of these intracity HOV lanes.

Thorentis 7y ago
My comment wasn't a justification of allowing taxis to use those lanes, I was just pointing out how well they worked anecdotally. I think the transit lanes can be used by buses, taxis, chauffeured cars, etc. Mainly for politicians/important people to get the airport or city quickly I suppose. I think since taxis pay heavy license fees to the state (whereas Uber etc. cars only pay car registration like all other cars) allowing them to use the lanes has been justified by the city. But of course, these licenses aren't open to Uber or other providers so it's a difficult situation that does stifle competition.
- fyfy18 7y ago
  One reason why only licensed taxis can use those lanes is to prevent regular people using them. If you just needed to sign up to be an Uber driver, and you could use the HOV lane, everyone would do it. Even if you had to do that and pay a fee of $5000/year, there would be plenty of people who could justify that over the time saved in traffic (but probably not Uber drivers).
shermozle 7y ago
Can't say I agree with it but the thinking goes that taxis are an alternative to owning/using your car so are privileged in various ways like this, dedicated short-term parking in ranks etc. It's not _only_ rich people who use taxis, so the thinking goes. (Rich people are also banned from sleeping under the bridges, just like poor people...) When Uber et al took all the value out of the expensive taxi number plate one of the few ways the government had to compensate their owners is that advantage they still have, so they haven't leveled the field there. That conversation might open up the entire concept to evaluation though.
wahern 7y ago
Particularly for airports, prices for licensed taxies are usually regulated to be within a very narrow, predictable range. Opening up the Uber app, the estimated price for an UberX to SFO from my current location is $47.30, which is almost exactly what a taxi would be--$45-50 in this part of the city. Licensed taxis are, at least to some extent, a deliberately planned component of the public transportation infrastructure. And as I about to post this, the price for UberX changed to $49.80. Thanks for the illustration, Uber.

Thorentis 7y ago

My comment wasn't a justification of allowing taxis to use those lanes, I was just pointing out how well they worked anecdotally. I think the transit lanes can be used by buses, taxis, chauffeured cars, etc. Mainly for politicians/important people to get the airport or city quickly I suppose. I think since taxis pay heavy license fees to the state (whereas Uber etc. cars only pay car registration like all other cars) allowing them to use the lanes has been justified by the city. But of course, these licenses aren't open to Uber or other providers so it's a difficult situation that does stifle competition.

fyfy18 7y ago
One reason why only licensed taxis can use those lanes is to prevent regular people using them. If you just needed to sign up to be an Uber driver, and you could use the HOV lane, everyone would do it. Even if you had to do that and pay a fee of $5000/year, there would be plenty of people who could justify that over the time saved in traffic (but probably not Uber drivers).

shermozle 7y ago

Can't say I agree with it but the thinking goes that taxis are an alternative to owning/using your car so are privileged in various ways like this, dedicated short-term parking in ranks etc. It's not _only_ rich people who use taxis, so the thinking goes. (Rich people are also banned from sleeping under the bridges, just like poor people...) When Uber et al took all the value out of the expensive taxi number plate one of the few ways the government had to compensate their owners is that advantage they still have, so they haven't leveled the field there. That conversation might open up the entire concept to evaluation though.

wahern 7y ago

Particularly for airports, prices for licensed taxies are usually regulated to be within a very narrow, predictable range. Opening up the Uber app, the estimated price for an UberX to SFO from my current location is $47.30, which is almost exactly what a taxi would be--$45-50 in this part of the city. Licensed taxis are, at least to some extent, a deliberately planned component of the public transportation infrastructure. And as I about to post this, the price for UberX changed to $49.80. Thanks for the illustration, Uber.