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For years there is ride-sharing in germany. its simply not as hyped as uber. Just google for "Mitfahrzentrale". The key difference is: these people dont do it a

For years there is ride-sharing in germany. its simply not as hyped as uber. Just google for "Mitfahrzentrale". The key difference is: these people dont do it as their main job and dont do it for profit.

solstice 7y ago
Modern day version would be blablacar
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
jhoechtl 7y ago
This is a valid point. Monetizing a service which has been previously provided out of altruism could effectively ruin it.
njb311 7y ago
In the UK too, I first used a ride-sharing company back in 1993, and have been a member of BlaBlaCar since 2012. Uber is nothing like a ride-sharing company because you aren't sharing a ride, you're booking a taxi. The journey didn't exist until you requested it, except in the case of Uber Pool but even then only the second rider is sharing, if there happens to be a match. And they, along with AirBnb, are certainly not part of the 'sharing economy'. In the same way that Couchsurfing is sharing economy while Airbnb is running an accommodation business, Blablacar is sharing economy/ride-sharing, Uber is a taxi booking company just like the thousands of minicab firms that already exist. I welcome innovation and Uber clearly has a useful product (though by no means unique), and if investors are happy to risk billions of dollars being spent in market entry that's fine, but your growth strategy can't be to trample over regulation. If it's bad regulation, sure you can lobby to change it and then structure your business around that. But a level playing field in which all competing business operate is essential both to ensure businesses themselves comply and consumers know the levels of protection they can expect.