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I like InstantCab and I really do hope that sanity will come to bear around community ride-sharing, but at this point isn't it disingenuous to be surprised that

by gmisra 14y ago

I like InstantCab and I really do hope that sanity will come to bear around community ride-sharing, but at this point isn't it disingenuous to be surprised that their are repercussions from ignoring the rules around the highly-regulated driving-other-people-around industry? If I'm in charge of SFO operations, InstantCab is at least the third entity to enable third parties to engage in unregulated cash-for-ride transactions, and is doing so without asking me how best to go about it. At this point, I would be much more annoyed than curious (fool me once, etc) For the founders: Do you believe the burden of mediation here lies with SFO (status quo) or with you (new entrant)? Have you at any point before receiving this communication contacted SFO regarding what you were doing with the community drivers at the airport? Do you think it's fair to your non-community taxi drivers that you're cannibalizing a market that they have to pay regulatory fees to participate in (the right to pick up at SFO)? The underlying issue is that too many people who are setting out to "disrupt" an industry come off as arrogant when faced with _any_ resistance to their fantastic new business model. IMO, interacting with people who are skeptical of your new ideas and winning them over is a critical (and underrated) skill amongst engineers/technologists/etc

ajju 14y ago
As I mentioned in my previous comment (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5476668 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5476668) I think regulators have a necessary job to do, and it's perfectly ok for regulators to ask us to come to the table. We are happy to. Indeed we have met with and had detailed discussions with SFO (and other regulators). I don't see how re-imagining the letter we got from SFO as one written with a positive tone and poking some fun at cease and desist letters in general, on April 1st no less, is arrogant.
- 205guy 14y ago
  Except they didn't ask you to come to the table. They told you to stop doing potentially illegal things. In my mind, it is correct for the burden to be on the business to comply and advocate, not break regulations first and ask for new ones later. I totally see how "re-imagining" an official letter to can be construed as arrogant. It makes it seem like you think the rules doen't apply to you. That's the impression I got when reading your post. When authority tells you to stop, deflecting the response into humor doesn't seem very mature. I remember being a kid and making fun of my dad who was getting angry at something I did, but it only happened once due to the consequences. FWIW, I also support peer-to-peer driving arrangements, and more transparent access to regulated markets, but I also don't think kicking the hornet's nest and laughing about it will work.

by gmisra 14y ago

ajju 14y ago

As I mentioned in my previous comment (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5476668 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5476668) I think regulators have a necessary job to do, and it's perfectly ok for regulators to ask us to come to the table. We are happy to. Indeed we have met with and had detailed discussions with SFO (and other regulators). I don't see how re-imagining the letter we got from SFO as one written with a positive tone and poking some fun at cease and desist letters in general, on April 1st no less, is arrogant.

205guy 14y ago
Except they didn't ask you to come to the table. They told you to stop doing potentially illegal things. In my mind, it is correct for the burden to be on the business to comply and advocate, not break regulations first and ask for new ones later. I totally see how "re-imagining" an official letter to can be construed as arrogant. It makes it seem like you think the rules doen't apply to you. That's the impression I got when reading your post. When authority tells you to stop, deflecting the response into humor doesn't seem very mature. I remember being a kid and making fun of my dad who was getting angry at something I did, but it only happened once due to the consequences. FWIW, I also support peer-to-peer driving arrangements, and more transparent access to regulated markets, but I also don't think kicking the hornet's nest and laughing about it will work.