8 ms·
The only problem I have with Uber is they get away with not having to compete on a level playing field. I live in Sydney Australia and catch a fair few taxis.
by jussij 11y ago
The only problem I have with Uber is they get away with not having to compete on a level playing field.
I live in Sydney Australia and catch a fair few taxis.
That taxi diver I use has to pay many $100,000.00 to buy a taxi plate just to work (or work for someone who has bought such a plate), but the same Uber driver does not have such an overhead.
Also, that taxi has to pay insurance in case I'm injured while I'm in their cab, another cost the Uber driver does not have to cover with an insurance policy.
So government has to decide, does it want to eliminate those costs and make it a level playing field, making it an effective free for all.
But why politicians will never do that is because the first crash with the resulting insurance claim will bring the industry to it's knees and from that point on all hell will brake loose.
At present the politicians just don't want to make a decision because it is just a little too hard.
- cosmolev 11y agoSo you have full control and it's up to you to choose whether you pay more for the being insured and ride with a plate or pay less and ride Uber. Why do you want government and politicians to enter the game?
- s73v3r 11y agoExcept he doesn't, because there are more people on the road besides just him and the Uber driver. See, this is what the libertarian types constantly forget: You are not an island. Your choices do not happen in a vacuum.
- woah 11y agoUber cannot be applauded enough for sidestepping the legalized monopoly and bribery of "plates" or "medallions".
- bigdubs 11y agoThere is a reason the cities regulate the number and type of cabs on the road; too many cabs leads to increased congestion being one reason. It is also important to license cabs and certify the drivers of said cabs. The main reason though, is so that there isn't a glut of taxi drivers chasing a fixed rider pool and ensures that drivers can make a decent living off taxi driving. The plate/medallion system gets out of hand when non-driver entities (read, taxi companies) can own the medallions and buy large quantities of them and lease them out at a profit, driving up the barrier of entry.
- seizethecheese 11y agoWhat's the argument that taxis increase congestion? It seems it should do the opposite. First, people are more likely to share taxis than carpool. Second, taxis drastically reduce parking congestion since dozens of people can utilize the same vehicle in a day.
- bigdubs 11y agoThe problem is that there are literally too many cabs on the road. Cabs rarely, if ever park, and are constantly driving. Parking, and this may seem counter-intuitive, reduces road congestion. If you have many vehicles constantly being driven, it increases congestion.
- rodgerd 11y ago> Cabs rarely, if ever park, and are constantly driving If only. Taxis in my neck of the woods park everywhere, including general parking, bus stops, and the middle of the road while loitering for fares.
- smileysteve 11y agoThe argument around congestion is not only that of taxis on the roads, but also taxis waiting outside taxi stands. Where I live / walk (Atlanta), it's not uncommon for every taxi that passes me on my walk to honk or to stalk me seeing if I will hail it. At hotels near me, taxis will often back up the parking circle, street, and taxi spots waiting for a fare.
- s73v3r 11y agoBullshit. Uber likes having those laws in place, so it can break the law and have an unfair advantage. If Uber had actually lobbied to remove those laws, then they would be deserving of applause.
- ahupp 11y ago" that taxi has to pay insurance in case I'm injured while I'm in their cab" Uber pays for commercial insurance for it's drivers. See http://newsroom.uber.com/2014/02/insurance-for-uberx-with-ridesharing/ http://newsroom.uber.com/2014/02/insurance-for-uberx-with-ri...