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Having taken a $30 Uber to drive 15 minutes lately, when a taxi would’ve cost $10 or so, I don’t think they’ve ultimately created much value with their rideshar

Having taken a $30 Uber to drive 15 minutes lately, when a taxi would’ve cost $10 or so, I don’t think they’ve ultimately created much value with their rideshare service. They’ve basically just moved the entities around, and now it takes a lot longer to get a taxi. Ultimately this is an era largely of the conglomerate, it doesn’t matter who you are unless you’re one of the big fishes. Media, Advertising, etc. Its no longer small shops that are creating interesting and useful things, at least not at the rate they were. It’s more likely to be an expansion out of a big company into a marketplace trying to sip an audience than it is a disruptor changing any of the game. The disrupters that exist must get and stay large as fast as possible as well. I’m looking for things that don’t scale. I think we’ve basically poured all societies money into anything that might scale. We’ve found we have run out of those things. And all the problems we have left are things like education, homelessness, lack of meaning, healthcare, etc. All problems so entrenched I’m willing to say at this point they can’t scale, and therefore won’t be solved. Maybe the next technological revolution will be a social dynamic. Who knows.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
xmprt 5y ago
That doesn't sound right to me. The only place where you're paying $30 for an Uber where 1. it would have been possible to call a taxi, 2. the taxi only costs $10, 3. it's a 15 minute drive, is in the middle of a big city. In that case, why are you calling an Uber instead of using public transit? Yes, Ubers are more expensive than taxis in some cases, but in many other cases, they can do things that taxis can't.
- unicornporn 5y ago
  > but in many other cases, they can do things that taxis can't. Like what?
  - sokoloff 5y ago
    Easily coordinate pre-paid transportation limited to your event as one: https://help.uber.com/riders/article/vouchers-for-events-faq?nodeId=00668aab-aeba-435b-bd1c-674cf566b3a7 https://help.uber.com/riders/article/vouchers-for-events-faq...
    - Ekaros 5y ago
      I see that as pretty easy, ship pre-paid vouchers to participants or digital ones. Have them scanned and then billed to customer. Nothing complicated with big enough operators if they want to sell such service.
- taurath 5y ago
  You're right it is in a big city. A taxi meter except to/from an airport is almost always much cheaper than a rideshare. A cab that takes 15 minutes might require a 45-60 minute bus journey if you have to transfer. It was $30 for the slowest uber or lyft before tip. Taxi fare is $2.60 + $1.70/km, so it would have been around $10 to make the 3.5 mile journey. There used to be enough taxi's in the area to just hail one.
nonrandomstring 5y ago
> And all the problems we have left are things like education, homelessness, lack of meaning, healthcare, etc. All problems so entrenched I’m willing to say at this point they can’t scale, and therefore won’t be solved. Maybe the next technological revolution will be a social dynamic. Who knows. Hoorah to that! We need a "cultural revolution" that let's us catch up with our technological advances. New forms of digital literacy will change the idea that any technological advance is good for its own sake to seriously asking "what for?" of any technology. Mere "efficiency" and "inevitability" will be seen as dumb reason and forms of technological ignorance. Intelligence amplification (IA) will usurp "artificial intelligence" (AI), putting human agency ahead of laziness and "convenience". For now I think we have to go through this runaway period of technology, to get it out of our system. Let's hope it doesn't kill us.
Gareth321 5y ago
>Having taken a $30 Uber to drive 15 minutes lately, when a taxi would’ve cost $10 or so, I don’t think they’ve ultimately created much value with their rideshare service. They’ve basically just moved the entities around, and now it takes a lot longer to get a taxi. You forget just how terrible the taxi industry was prior to Uber. I would walk for miles rather than take a taxi. I would gladly pay 2-3x more for an Uber than taking a taxi. There are signs that traditional taxi companies are waking up to their enormous service issues, but it only took their imminent demise.
- pjmlp 5y ago
  I never had an issue with taxis in most European countries I have lived on, so reaching 50 it is quite a number of taxis, and still manage to this day without ever having taken an uber, which I refuse by principle due to the way their treat employees.
  - Ekaros 5y ago
    In Finland Uber lead to deregulating taxi market, which to no ones surprise lead to worse service, less skilled drivers, less availability on average and more expensive service... Then again I suppose the Uber lovers want exactly those things and an exploiting entity to leech money in between.
    - pjmlp 5y ago
      Interesting that you mention Finland, given that I was regularly there during my Nokia days almost 20 years ago, and they are for me the top reference, maybe only similar to the time I spent on Norway also servicing Nokia customers.
  - Gareth321 5y ago
    This must be regional. My experiences are from the U.S., New Zealand, and Australia. Terrible, miserable service. I hate the old taxi industry in a very visceral way. If you're seeing good/better service in your location, and they cost much less than Uber, I imagine they have no issues staying commercially viable and you'll be able to keep enjoying their services.

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

xmprt 5y ago

That doesn't sound right to me. The only place where you're paying $30 for an Uber where 1. it would have been possible to call a taxi, 2. the taxi only costs $10, 3. it's a 15 minute drive, is in the middle of a big city. In that case, why are you calling an Uber instead of using public transit? Yes, Ubers are more expensive than taxis in some cases, but in many other cases, they can do things that taxis can't.

unicornporn 5y ago
> but in many other cases, they can do things that taxis can't. Like what?
- sokoloff 5y ago
  Easily coordinate pre-paid transportation limited to your event as one: https://help.uber.com/riders/article/vouchers-for-events-faq?nodeId=00668aab-aeba-435b-bd1c-674cf566b3a7 https://help.uber.com/riders/article/vouchers-for-events-faq...
  - Ekaros 5y ago
    I see that as pretty easy, ship pre-paid vouchers to participants or digital ones. Have them scanned and then billed to customer. Nothing complicated with big enough operators if they want to sell such service.
taurath 5y ago
You're right it is in a big city. A taxi meter except to/from an airport is almost always much cheaper than a rideshare. A cab that takes 15 minutes might require a 45-60 minute bus journey if you have to transfer. It was $30 for the slowest uber or lyft before tip. Taxi fare is $2.60 + $1.70/km, so it would have been around $10 to make the 3.5 mile journey. There used to be enough taxi's in the area to just hail one.

nonrandomstring 5y ago

> And all the problems we have left are things like education, homelessness, lack of meaning, healthcare, etc. All problems so entrenched I’m willing to say at this point they can’t scale, and therefore won’t be solved. Maybe the next technological revolution will be a social dynamic. Who knows. Hoorah to that! We need a "cultural revolution" that let's us catch up with our technological advances. New forms of digital literacy will change the idea that any technological advance is good for its own sake to seriously asking "what for?" of any technology. Mere "efficiency" and "inevitability" will be seen as dumb reason and forms of technological ignorance. Intelligence amplification (IA) will usurp "artificial intelligence" (AI), putting human agency ahead of laziness and "convenience". For now I think we have to go through this runaway period of technology, to get it out of our system. Let's hope it doesn't kill us.

Gareth321 5y ago

>Having taken a $30 Uber to drive 15 minutes lately, when a taxi would’ve cost $10 or so, I don’t think they’ve ultimately created much value with their rideshare service. They’ve basically just moved the entities around, and now it takes a lot longer to get a taxi. You forget just how terrible the taxi industry was prior to Uber. I would walk for miles rather than take a taxi. I would gladly pay 2-3x more for an Uber than taking a taxi. There are signs that traditional taxi companies are waking up to their enormous service issues, but it only took their imminent demise.

pjmlp 5y ago
I never had an issue with taxis in most European countries I have lived on, so reaching 50 it is quite a number of taxis, and still manage to this day without ever having taken an uber, which I refuse by principle due to the way their treat employees.
- Ekaros 5y ago
  In Finland Uber lead to deregulating taxi market, which to no ones surprise lead to worse service, less skilled drivers, less availability on average and more expensive service... Then again I suppose the Uber lovers want exactly those things and an exploiting entity to leech money in between.
  - pjmlp 5y ago
    Interesting that you mention Finland, given that I was regularly there during my Nokia days almost 20 years ago, and they are for me the top reference, maybe only similar to the time I spent on Norway also servicing Nokia customers.
- Gareth321 5y ago
  This must be regional. My experiences are from the U.S., New Zealand, and Australia. Terrible, miserable service. I hate the old taxi industry in a very visceral way. If you're seeing good/better service in your location, and they cost much less than Uber, I imagine they have no issues staying commercially viable and you'll be able to keep enjoying their services.