4 ms·

also, here in denver, most uber drivers are also lyft drivers. i.e. drivers keep both apps running to increase their chances of getting a request.

JoeAltmaier 12y ago
Really? That's marvelous. Is there an app begging to be written here? For the independent driver's needs, not for the supplier (Uber/Lyft etc). An aggregator of ride request feeds.
- thejosh 12y ago
  Yes, simply have every taxi related app feed into a central one, take a few cents off every transaction, boom done.
- smackfu 12y ago
  Uber provides the drivers with a locked-down iPhone to get the ride requests, so it's not that simple.
  - JoeAltmaier 12y ago
    Surprised; I thought Uber was some sort of public-access ridesharing thing. If they vet drivers and license them, how is it different from any other cab service?
    - smackfu 12y ago
      Mainly because they don't actually license them unless the local authorities force them to. They do vet them, in theory. And to follow-on, the practical difference is that they are a lot less terrible than most existing cab / car services.
      - iancarroll 12y ago
        People have been selling/giving away their Uber accounts too, IIRC.
- bcohen5055 12y ago
  A few years back you would be describing the role of the dispatcher for a taxi service. Now it's a killer business plan!
smanatstpete 12y ago
This is true in the Tampa area too. My Lyft driver said he was using both to increase the chances of getting a request. He also said that he got more requests with Uber.I suspect this is true in smaller cities where neither Uber nor Lyft have significant traction yet.
nrb 12y ago
This is really obnoxious in terms of rider experience though. Quite often, these drivers will stack up their next pickup on top of their current ride, even if the next pickup is nowhere near their drop-off. Very frustrating to watch the car drift along the map for several minutes, away from your location, forcing you to cancel and try again.
- twoodfin 12y ago
  Presumably Uber is capable of identifying this suboptimal routing just as they can (and do, AFAIK) monitor the route your driver takes after you're picked up. I'd hope that drivers who Uber estimates are N minutes away from pickup but consistently take N+5 to actually make the pickup are subject to penalties.

JoeAltmaier 12y ago

Really? That's marvelous. Is there an app begging to be written here? For the independent driver's needs, not for the supplier (Uber/Lyft etc). An aggregator of ride request feeds.

thejosh 12y ago
Yes, simply have every taxi related app feed into a central one, take a few cents off every transaction, boom done.
smackfu 12y ago
Uber provides the drivers with a locked-down iPhone to get the ride requests, so it's not that simple.
- JoeAltmaier 12y ago
  Surprised; I thought Uber was some sort of public-access ridesharing thing. If they vet drivers and license them, how is it different from any other cab service?
  - smackfu 12y ago
    Mainly because they don't actually license them unless the local authorities force them to. They do vet them, in theory. And to follow-on, the practical difference is that they are a lot less terrible than most existing cab / car services.
    - iancarroll 12y ago
      People have been selling/giving away their Uber accounts too, IIRC.
bcohen5055 12y ago
A few years back you would be describing the role of the dispatcher for a taxi service. Now it's a killer business plan!

smanatstpete 12y ago

This is true in the Tampa area too. My Lyft driver said he was using both to increase the chances of getting a request. He also said that he got more requests with Uber.I suspect this is true in smaller cities where neither Uber nor Lyft have significant traction yet.

nrb 12y ago

This is really obnoxious in terms of rider experience though. Quite often, these drivers will stack up their next pickup on top of their current ride, even if the next pickup is nowhere near their drop-off. Very frustrating to watch the car drift along the map for several minutes, away from your location, forcing you to cancel and try again.

twoodfin 12y ago
Presumably Uber is capable of identifying this suboptimal routing just as they can (and do, AFAIK) monitor the route your driver takes after you're picked up. I'd hope that drivers who Uber estimates are N minutes away from pickup but consistently take N+5 to actually make the pickup are subject to penalties.