4 ms·

Did you just compare honest hard working taxi drivers to mafia? If government didn't require licences for taxi drivers, you'd have some crazy place like Russia

by snitko 12y ago

Did you just compare honest hard working taxi drivers to mafia? If government didn't require licences for taxi drivers, you'd have some crazy place like Russia where anyone can be a private driver without any licence and customers actually get cheaper prices and can get cars any time of day in seconds by just raising a hand and negotiate the price beforehand. Oh wait...

fminor 12y ago
Russia introduced legislation around taxis in 2011 because customers were routinely being ripped off. snitko's post is based on bad info.
- snitko 12y ago
  That's first hand info. I live in Russia. You go out any time of day, raise a hand and chances are, a private car would stop. Taxis are limited to by-phone-orders, but are also very cheap due to a very light regulation. Not once was I ripped off or heard of anyone being ripped off.
  - fminor 12y ago
    If one of these random cars gets into an accident and you're hurt, who pays for your medical care?
    - snitko 12y ago
      I do. What's wrong with obtaining an insurance? It's my choice. You want an insured taxi service - get one and pay more. I want cheaper taxi and I don't want government to mess with my choices. It seems to me, westerners became so helpless and dependent on third parties (and government), it amazes me. Especially in the US. It used to the land of self sufficient entrepreneurial people. Now it's just a nanny state.
      - fminor 12y ago
        I was only asking because in the US, if you're a passenger in improperly insured car, you're pretty much fucked. Private health insurance won't cover you. The driver's auto insurance won't cover you. Your private auto insurance won't cover you. There simply isn't a generally available american insurance policy which provides coverage for catastrophic injuries that occur while in a private vehicle that's being driven commercially. It saddens (but doesn't surprise) me that you felt free to jump to an unsupported, bigoted conclusion, and then to spew hatred at me. Typical HN. Asshole.
oleganza 12y ago
Actually, in Russia taxi is very lightly regulated without limited number of "medallions" like in NYC or Paris. While being in St. Petersburg this summer I ordered a taxi by phone dozens of times and it was always super-swift and human response. Unlike rude and slow taxi service in Paris.
wyager 12y ago
>Did you just compare honest hard working taxi drivers to mafia? Hey! There were lots of honest and hard working Mafiosi.
baddox 12y ago
I don't think it was a slight against individual taxi drivers, but against the taxi regulatory systems in many cities.

by snitko 12y ago

fminor 12y ago

Russia introduced legislation around taxis in 2011 because customers were routinely being ripped off. snitko's post is based on bad info.

snitko 12y ago
That's first hand info. I live in Russia. You go out any time of day, raise a hand and chances are, a private car would stop. Taxis are limited to by-phone-orders, but are also very cheap due to a very light regulation. Not once was I ripped off or heard of anyone being ripped off.
- fminor 12y ago
  If one of these random cars gets into an accident and you're hurt, who pays for your medical care?
  - snitko 12y ago
    I do. What's wrong with obtaining an insurance? It's my choice. You want an insured taxi service - get one and pay more. I want cheaper taxi and I don't want government to mess with my choices. It seems to me, westerners became so helpless and dependent on third parties (and government), it amazes me. Especially in the US. It used to the land of self sufficient entrepreneurial people. Now it's just a nanny state.
    - fminor 12y ago
      I was only asking because in the US, if you're a passenger in improperly insured car, you're pretty much fucked. Private health insurance won't cover you. The driver's auto insurance won't cover you. Your private auto insurance won't cover you. There simply isn't a generally available american insurance policy which provides coverage for catastrophic injuries that occur while in a private vehicle that's being driven commercially. It saddens (but doesn't surprise) me that you felt free to jump to an unsupported, bigoted conclusion, and then to spew hatred at me. Typical HN. Asshole.

oleganza 12y ago

Actually, in Russia taxi is very lightly regulated without limited number of "medallions" like in NYC or Paris. While being in St. Petersburg this summer I ordered a taxi by phone dozens of times and it was always super-swift and human response. Unlike rude and slow taxi service in Paris.

wyager 12y ago

>Did you just compare honest hard working taxi drivers to mafia? Hey! There were lots of honest and hard working Mafiosi.

baddox 12y ago

I don't think it was a slight against individual taxi drivers, but against the taxi regulatory systems in many cities.