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That is only because Uber has decided to. Tomorrow Uber could put a price on the app and then when you get there double it for "unforeseen traffic conditions".

That is only because Uber has decided to. Tomorrow Uber could put a price on the app and then when you get there double it for "unforeseen traffic conditions". Before regulation taxis were experts at scamming and scheming their way into higher fares. I'm not sure why you think Uber, who outwardly admits profit is their only motive, won't use similar tricks if it benefits their bottom line. Or any number of similar copy cat services that will arrive if the Uber model finally does replace taxis.

icebraining 12y ago
Agreed. By the same token, we should also fix by the decree the price of any service - after all, companies can put surcharges and other tricks after you signed up. I say the Legislature of California should decide how much is fair for a SaaS company in SF to charge for its apps. Clearly they know better than the consumer. And it should be a standard price, none of this nonsense of different companies charging different prices.
- techpeace 12y ago
  see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man
  - icebraining 12y ago
    It'd be more helpful if you explained in what way is it a strawman.
    - kalleboo 12y ago
      Nobody said the exact pricing of Uber should be regulated.
      - icebraining 12y ago
        That's what applying taxi regulations does.
        kalleboo 12y ago
        It does? Why? I've never heard of that. Where I'm from, taxi regulations are basically a more stringent driver's license, insurance, inspected taxi meter, and standardized/consumer-friendly presentation of the pricing. If a taxi wants to charge $100/km then that's up to them, but it has to be clearly displayed in the taxi window so the customer can avoid them.
        icebraining 12y ago
        As far as I know, most cities regulate fares. Seoul (the city in the article) certainly does, as according to a survey done by some economists, so do most cities in the US. Same here in Lisbon.
- fred_durst 12y ago
  Why do we need stop lights? I've never been hit by a car, why should the government decide when I cross the street. A car stopping and my crossing is a contract between me and the stopping driver. The government will never be able to decide when is the best time for cars to stop and people to cross.
  - icebraining 12y ago
    Maybe we don't: "“Naked Streets” Without Traffic Lights Improve Flow and Safety" An article in a local Bristol newspaper explaining the effort stated, “drivers will now be expected to use a combination of common sense and courtesy to negotiate the junction of the town’s High Street, Wyndam Way and The Cabstand.” http://thecityfix.com/blog/naked-streets-without-traffic-lights-improve-flow-and-safety/ http://thecityfix.com/blog/naked-streets-without-traffic-lig... "Removing Roads and Traffic Lights Speeds Urban Travel" Another kind of anarchy could actually speed travel as well—namely, a counterintuitive traffic design strategy known as shared streets. The practice encourages driver anarchy by removing traffic lights, street markings, and boundaries between the street and sidewalk. Studies conducted in northern Europe, where shared streets are common, point to improved safety and traffic flow. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/removing-roads-and-traffic-lights/ http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/removing-roads-and...
jbaudanza 12y ago
If Uber did this, their business would get eaten up by Lyft and other competitors. There is very little to prevent users from changing ride sharing companies, so they must compete fiercely on price.
- fred_durst 12y ago
  Or come up with clever tricks to appear cheaper.
  - jbaudanza 12y ago
    I think you are underestimating how competitive the ridesharing market is.
- ryanross 12y ago
  Lyft is great! Ride for free 1. Download the app 2. Enter code LOSANGELES (works nationwide) 3. Request and enjoy your free ride 4. Repeat on another phone to ride again free
haberman 12y ago
> That is only because Uber has decided to. Tomorrow Uber could put a price on the app and then when you get there double it for "unforeseen traffic conditions". That's like saying we should regulate the price of milk because the grocery store cash register might charge you something different than the price you saw on the shelf. There are plenty of consumer protections already in place to punish that kind of deception.
- kalleboo 12y ago
  > There are plenty of consumer protections already in place to punish that kind of deception And who's going to spot if the Uber app incorrectly calculates distances, skimming a couple bucks off each rider? This is why taxis have regulations for approved taximeters. That's an existing taxi regulation that clearly should also apply to Uber. Same as how scales used in trade have to be validated.
  - cloverich 12y ago
    > And who's going to spot if the Uber app incorrectly calculates distances, skimming a couple bucks off each rider? If this is being used by thousands of riders a day, I would wager it would be spotted fairly quickly. Is there good reason to imagine otherwise?
    - fred_durst 12y ago
      Because it actually happened quite often with taxis before the meter system?

icebraining 12y ago

Agreed. By the same token, we should also fix by the decree the price of any service - after all, companies can put surcharges and other tricks after you signed up. I say the Legislature of California should decide how much is fair for a SaaS company in SF to charge for its apps. Clearly they know better than the consumer. And it should be a standard price, none of this nonsense of different companies charging different prices.

techpeace 12y ago
see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man
- icebraining 12y ago
  It'd be more helpful if you explained in what way is it a strawman.
  - kalleboo 12y ago
    Nobody said the exact pricing of Uber should be regulated.
    - icebraining 12y ago
      That's what applying taxi regulations does.
      - kalleboo 12y ago
        It does? Why? I've never heard of that. Where I'm from, taxi regulations are basically a more stringent driver's license, insurance, inspected taxi meter, and standardized/consumer-friendly presentation of the pricing. If a taxi wants to charge $100/km then that's up to them, but it has to be clearly displayed in the taxi window so the customer can avoid them.
        icebraining 12y ago
        As far as I know, most cities regulate fares. Seoul (the city in the article) certainly does, as according to a survey done by some economists, so do most cities in the US. Same here in Lisbon.
fred_durst 12y ago
Why do we need stop lights? I've never been hit by a car, why should the government decide when I cross the street. A car stopping and my crossing is a contract between me and the stopping driver. The government will never be able to decide when is the best time for cars to stop and people to cross.
- icebraining 12y ago
  Maybe we don't: "“Naked Streets” Without Traffic Lights Improve Flow and Safety" An article in a local Bristol newspaper explaining the effort stated, “drivers will now be expected to use a combination of common sense and courtesy to negotiate the junction of the town’s High Street, Wyndam Way and The Cabstand.” http://thecityfix.com/blog/naked-streets-without-traffic-lights-improve-flow-and-safety/ http://thecityfix.com/blog/naked-streets-without-traffic-lig... "Removing Roads and Traffic Lights Speeds Urban Travel" Another kind of anarchy could actually speed travel as well—namely, a counterintuitive traffic design strategy known as shared streets. The practice encourages driver anarchy by removing traffic lights, street markings, and boundaries between the street and sidewalk. Studies conducted in northern Europe, where shared streets are common, point to improved safety and traffic flow. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/removing-roads-and-traffic-lights/ http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/removing-roads-and...

jbaudanza 12y ago

If Uber did this, their business would get eaten up by Lyft and other competitors. There is very little to prevent users from changing ride sharing companies, so they must compete fiercely on price.

fred_durst 12y ago
Or come up with clever tricks to appear cheaper.
- jbaudanza 12y ago
  I think you are underestimating how competitive the ridesharing market is.
ryanross 12y ago
Lyft is great! Ride for free 1. Download the app 2. Enter code LOSANGELES (works nationwide) 3. Request and enjoy your free ride 4. Repeat on another phone to ride again free

haberman 12y ago

> That is only because Uber has decided to. Tomorrow Uber could put a price on the app and then when you get there double it for "unforeseen traffic conditions". That's like saying we should regulate the price of milk because the grocery store cash register might charge you something different than the price you saw on the shelf. There are plenty of consumer protections already in place to punish that kind of deception.

kalleboo 12y ago
> There are plenty of consumer protections already in place to punish that kind of deception And who's going to spot if the Uber app incorrectly calculates distances, skimming a couple bucks off each rider? This is why taxis have regulations for approved taximeters. That's an existing taxi regulation that clearly should also apply to Uber. Same as how scales used in trade have to be validated.
- cloverich 12y ago
  > And who's going to spot if the Uber app incorrectly calculates distances, skimming a couple bucks off each rider? If this is being used by thousands of riders a day, I would wager it would be spotted fairly quickly. Is there good reason to imagine otherwise?
  - fred_durst 12y ago
    Because it actually happened quite often with taxis before the meter system?