3 ms·

Would light regulation hurt this? Just requiring that all taxi drivers display an ID number, and with some inexpensive process to become a new taxi driver (ver

by rdl 13y ago

Would light regulation hurt this? Just requiring that all taxi drivers display an ID number, and with some inexpensive process to become a new taxi driver (verifying you're not already banned, that you have a valid license, and if required in Russia, insurance). The problem with taxi regulation is when "safety" is used as a pretext to reduce supply. I pay a premium in general to get a taxi which is somewhat less likely to be driven by a criminal, and I imagine female/small/weak/foreign/etc. people would pay more of a premium for this. If the regulation is just for the purposes of identification and safety, it wouldn't have a huge cost for the taxi driver ($50 or so and a few hours), and would probably justify an increase in rates to make up for that. I could easily imagine a private licensing system coexisting with an unlicensed market.

snitko 13y ago
Why would you need an ID from a taxi driver? If you're scared a taxi driver's gonna rob or rape you (a common concern among ladies) you remember or photograph his plate number (or ask your friend to do so). An official government paper wouldn't make it any more safer. It would only add problems for drivers since they would have to acquire those licences, it would increase corruption and decrease supply, which would in turn raise prices. If you care about safety, call a licenced taxi company - your choice, isn't it? Update: I misread you. "licensing system coexisting with an unlicensed market" is definitely the state of things in Russia currently. I think that's a good way to go. Except maybe that since licensing is not required, then safety may be guaranteed by non-governmental agencies or maybe even technologies (as mentioned in another comment below).
- yummyfajitas 13y ago
  An Uber-style taxi service would certainly make the situation safer. You get a paper trail before you get into the cab showing that driver X picked up passenger Y at time T.
  - snitko 13y ago
    I agree. But please note that government regulation would have nothing to do with it. This would be safety provided by the free market. Question is, what would the demand for such a safety be. If the prices were to remain the same, then the company providing this safety would drive all those freelance drivers out of the market. If not, then there would still probably be some demand for Uber, but also some demand for less safe options.

by rdl 13y ago

snitko 13y ago

Why would you need an ID from a taxi driver? If you're scared a taxi driver's gonna rob or rape you (a common concern among ladies) you remember or photograph his plate number (or ask your friend to do so). An official government paper wouldn't make it any more safer. It would only add problems for drivers since they would have to acquire those licences, it would increase corruption and decrease supply, which would in turn raise prices. If you care about safety, call a licenced taxi company - your choice, isn't it? Update: I misread you. "licensing system coexisting with an unlicensed market" is definitely the state of things in Russia currently. I think that's a good way to go. Except maybe that since licensing is not required, then safety may be guaranteed by non-governmental agencies or maybe even technologies (as mentioned in another comment below).

yummyfajitas 13y ago
An Uber-style taxi service would certainly make the situation safer. You get a paper trail before you get into the cab showing that driver X picked up passenger Y at time T.
- snitko 13y ago
  I agree. But please note that government regulation would have nothing to do with it. This would be safety provided by the free market. Question is, what would the demand for such a safety be. If the prices were to remain the same, then the company providing this safety would drive all those freelance drivers out of the market. If not, then there would still probably be some demand for Uber, but also some demand for less safe options.