3 ms·

>Taxi companies are regulated for a variety of reasons Correct. But mostly because they made a mess of their nr1 job: transporting people This is not how I fee

>Taxi companies are regulated for a variety of reasons Correct. But mostly because they made a mess of their nr1 job: transporting people This is not how I feel about it in Germany. Whenever I needed a cab, I got one, for a fair, reasonable price. Might be a little longer if I'm out in the fields or when a thunderstorm hit Berlin and there's no public transport, but sooner or later, I was picked up. Taxis are treated as part of the public transport system here, they have obligations (must transport everyone for the same price, must provide basic service at any time, regulated rates, ...) and in return receive benefits - effectively a monopoly on the taxi market. Now, if we decide to repeal the benefits and allow UberPop, how are we going to make sure we fulfill the obligations? No, surge pricing is not a solution. There's probably a solution, but I'm very much not convinced that Uber is the solution, so until someone presents a genuinely better system, I'll stick with what we have. It's not perfect, but good enough.

digitalengineer 12y ago
You make a strong case for the existing taxi-companies. They sure do sound a lot better then Amsterdam taxi's. If they are so loved, I really don't see why they should protest... They will win over client any with their superiour service.
- Xylakant 12y ago
  They don't protest against Uber as such - they do protest that Uber is skirting the obligations that cost them money and use those savings to undercut their prices. Which is a fair point to make. Uber could easily license their cars as regular taxis and outcompete the regular taxi service. They might even provide better service at the same time - I'm all in favor of that. But they choose not to and then whine about how backwards we all are here that we can't see progress.
aianus 12y ago
Is there a law forcing Taxi drivers to go to work during a hurricane or New Year's Eve or something? If not, how is the current system of not being able to find a ride better than Uber's system of making you pay a fair market price for it?
- Xylakant 12y ago
  Yes, at least in Germany, there is. Taxi companies are obliged to provide a minimum level of service or loose the license. The administration can even order a license holder to expand his business if there's public need. (http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pbefg/__21.html http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pbefg/__21.html)
  - aianus 12y ago
    I can't read German, do you mind telling me the details of the minimum level of service? If it's per week or per month it doesn't solve the problem when there's inclement weather or a holiday or a conference, etc.
    - Xylakant 12y ago
      The law itself does not specify the level, it grant the authority do decide to the relevant authorities. (For example the administration in Berlin), so things will vary depending on where you are. Generally speaking I haven't had any problem finding a cab in Berlin. The longest wait was after a thunderstorm took out most of the public transport a couple of years ago and that took like 20 minutes somewhere in the outskirts. I usually either flag one down on the road or use the smartphone app.

digitalengineer 12y ago

You make a strong case for the existing taxi-companies. They sure do sound a lot better then Amsterdam taxi's. If they are so loved, I really don't see why they should protest... They will win over client any with their superiour service.

Xylakant 12y ago
They don't protest against Uber as such - they do protest that Uber is skirting the obligations that cost them money and use those savings to undercut their prices. Which is a fair point to make. Uber could easily license their cars as regular taxis and outcompete the regular taxi service. They might even provide better service at the same time - I'm all in favor of that. But they choose not to and then whine about how backwards we all are here that we can't see progress.

aianus 12y ago

Is there a law forcing Taxi drivers to go to work during a hurricane or New Year's Eve or something? If not, how is the current system of not being able to find a ride better than Uber's system of making you pay a fair market price for it?

Xylakant 12y ago
Yes, at least in Germany, there is. Taxi companies are obliged to provide a minimum level of service or loose the license. The administration can even order a license holder to expand his business if there's public need. (http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pbefg/__21.html http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pbefg/__21.html)
- aianus 12y ago
  I can't read German, do you mind telling me the details of the minimum level of service? If it's per week or per month it doesn't solve the problem when there's inclement weather or a holiday or a conference, etc.
  - Xylakant 12y ago
    The law itself does not specify the level, it grant the authority do decide to the relevant authorities. (For example the administration in Berlin), so things will vary depending on where you are. Generally speaking I haven't had any problem finding a cab in Berlin. The longest wait was after a thunderstorm took out most of the public transport a couple of years ago and that took like 20 minutes somewhere in the outskirts. I usually either flag one down on the road or use the smartphone app.