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They're not skirting the laws at all. The hiring of privates cars, limos, or buses is usually not restricted or regulated by cities. The innovation here, and
by allwein 16y ago
They're not skirting the laws at all. The hiring of privates cars, limos, or buses is usually not restricted or regulated by cities.
The innovation here, and the reason the cab companies are up in arms about it, is that it's now on-demand hiring of private cars via phone. The cab companies used to have a lock on on-demand hiring via handwave or cabstanding.
- OstiaAntica 16y agoThese awesome new services are threat to the current monopoly providers, who are in league with the city and protected from competition by city laws. I guarantee that that many jurisdictions will attempt to outlaw, control, or license these services. They will claim the need for "safety regulations" or similar. And a lot of cities do restrict private car and bus services-- try setting up a regular bus route in your hometown. Where I live, the major Dulles Airport even limits outbound cab service to a single provider! http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2920/time-to-ground-the-washington-flyer/ http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/2920/time-to-ground...
- ianferrel 16y ago"Skirting" was a poor choice of word on my part. I didn't mean to imply they were doing anything unethical or borderline. I simply wanted to point out that regulating cab companies and selling expensive permits is a source of city revenue. If an innovative new business disrupts that revenue, it may quickly find itself the subject of new regulation. Now, if their success is based on efficient routing algorithms and higher-class service, then they have nothing to worry about. If it's based on the fact that they don't have one of the cab companies' major expenses, then they're at significant risk of being regulated out of profitability.