Uber/Lyft and Taxi Cabs

[MichaelAndrew3435]

So Lyft recently moved into my hometown in Upstate New York, and I've been reading about how it's going to be hard on the local Taxi Cab business. Am I an ass for not giving a shit about how Uber and Lyft negatively affect the Taxi Cab business? I see that some places are trying to make it more difficult for Uber and Lyft to operate because Cab drivers will suffer, and I just think it's BS. I don't know if any of you guys have ever used Uber or Lyft, but it beats taking a Cab in both price and convenience by a mile. Taking a Cab somewhere, especially in a rural area, is 5x the price of Uber/Lyft and takes significantly less time because there are Uber/Lyft drivers everywhere, and the app links you with the driver who is closest to you via GPS. Calling a cab would take more time and cost more money. Why would I even bother?

So I'm sorry, but someone came up with a better way to drive people around that's cheaper and more convenient. It annoys me when I see that places are trying to push them away because it hurts the business that already exists. I don't care. Improve your service and make your prices competitive or say goodbye. Having a better, cheaper driving service decreases people getting behind the wheel while intoxicated.



Below is an article detailing some of the ways cities are trying to make it harder for Uber/Lyft to operate, or ban them completely.


http://www.statepress.com/article/2...sinesses-such-as-uber-and-lyft-from-operating



"According to the Foundation for Economic Education, the city of Austin, Texas essentially forced Uber and Lyft companies to relocate. More than a year ago, the city council passed a “package of burdensome fingerprinting requirements for ride sharing companies.” Whatever ride sharing companies that were left “issued soaring prices, posted inaccurate information and left countless riders without any options to get around.”

This type of regulation was pushed forward as a way for the taxi lobby to maintain a monopoly. The Uber and Lyft drivers there were restricted from going to certain areas, just as the Uber and Lyft drivers in Phoenix were.

Essentially, when the Phoenix City Council approved of allowing Uber and Lyft to pick up passengers at Sky Harbor Airport, it did the city a huge favor and made life easier for the people of Phoenix and other neighboring cities."

We should strive to keep these type regulations out of Phoenix and all throughout Arizona. Regulations harm small businesses that are trying to compete in the market.

 

[DotStudio]

I don't even use car rentals for business travel anymore. Uber all the way. Makes life easy and you don't need to ride around in a vomit-soaked taxi.

 

[sk8rat]

you should not feel bad. all those uber drivers are offering the same service for cheaper and much more convenient. not to mention that you get to see a review of your driver before you ride. it would be stupid not to use lyft and uber.

its a dog eat dog world.

 

[MichaelAndrew3435]

I don't even use car rentals for business travel anymore. Uber all the way. Makes life easy and you don't need to ride around in a vomit-soaked taxi.

Funny. I used to work at a car rental place (Assistant Manager at Enterprise). When I'd get a customer who wanted to rent a car, drive downtown and pay out the ass for parking, I'd usually recommend Uber if I was low on cars for their sake. Enterprise now has a deal with Uber where they can rent our cars and use them for work at a low cost. Smart decision by them to work with Uber because that's obviously going to take business away.

 

[lucidspoon]

It's all about who has the best lobbyists. In Indiana, we still don't have alcohol sales on Sundays, and it's primarily because liquor stores don't want it. It be an additional cost for them to be open an extra day, whereas grocery stores are already open, so it's more beneficial for them and cuts into liquor store profits.

As for Uber and Lyft, it's a no brainier that they're better than taxis. I've only taken taxis a couple of times for what seemed like what should be short rides, only to end up being $30 or more. I've used Uber maybe 20 times across several cities, anywhere from a mile to 20. Never felt overcharged, and it's always convenient.

 

[Harmony]

I always use Uber when visiting Cities across the States and whenever I need to go to airport here. Much cheaper and I feel safer with them.
Taxi usually is about $45-50 to or from airport. Uber $16.

While in D.C, I often used Uber share. Many of my rides only cost $3.

Lyft drivers are often the same drivers as Uber.

 

[Donal]

Most monopolies don`t like it when they have to operate in a free market all of a sudden.

I use Uber a lot, on both Business and private travel. Even the last 2 times I visited the States I didn`t bother renting a car when we were
in Miami, San Francisco and Vegas. It`s so much simpler and in the end I actually payed less for the whole duration.

 

[LPMarshall Hack]

Don't feel bad. Taxis will either adapt and lower their prices to compete. Or die.

 

[Nippon]

Uber can get fvcked.

 

[Kamen_Kaiju]

show us on the transforming car-robot where the bad Uber touched you

 

[Nippon]

show us on the transforming car-robot where the bad Uber touched you

If the car doesn't, the driver will.

 

[James Carney]

Uber invented a service people really wanted, but didn't know yet. They harnessed the power of technology and people, that was right there for anyone, but they connected the dots. That's impressive, amazing, and admirable.

But let's be honest, they are illegal unlicensed cab services. I find it strange they're allowed to operate at all under the ride sharing label. Cabs dropped the ball by not getting with tech, for sure. I made jokes for weeks about how there will be Uber serial killers because of this lack of oversight. The Detroit one happened sooner than I thought.

 

[lung plunger]

I've had a lot of fun in cabs. Weaving in/out of traffic and hitting 70mph in the French Quarter NOLA was pretty memorable. Crazy price though, bound to happen.

 

[Mockbel]

No mercy here !

When Uber started in Egypt a couple of years ago it affected taxi drivers bad.. I tried to show some mercy and every now and then try to use a taxi rather than Uber but every time I try to do so I have a shitty bargain about fee and drop location with the driver so I gave up.. no more taxi.. always Uber !

 

[Kamen_Kaiju]

Is Uber really that inexpensive? Like if you just wanted to go a couple/few miles up the road it doesn't cost you $10.-$20. like a taxi?

(I never used Uber before.)

 

[Kris Ford]

I would use it if i needed to..hell..cabs around here suck. I've NEVER taken a cab in Detroit, but plenty of times in other cities..for being the MOTOR CITY..we sure have poor transportation!

When I was in Norfolk, cabs were EVERYWHERE..different time and place though..

 

[Brians Evil Twin]

Started using Uber and Lyft a couple of years ago. I don't see why anyone would take a taxi when these cheaper, more convenient alternatives exist. In some cities, the cost/convenience outweighs renting a car and paying for parking. I like not having to drop the rental off and taking a shuttle at the airport, saves time and aggravation.

Cab companies saw this coming a long time ago and did nothing. Now that they're getting creamed in the marketplace, all they can do is try to fight it with monopolistic legislation. It won't last, the economics are too strong. Their cost model will eventually kill them, as it should.

Funny thing, in NYC and Las Vegas, I had several drivers tell me they were cabbies but drove for Uber when they couldn't get a hack or to supplement their income during off hours. Also had one cabbie tell me he always takes Uber on vacation, and would never take a cab himself, they're too expensive.

 

[MikeC]

Uber/Lyft is artificially cheap. Their low rates are heavily subsidised by capital injection to the tune of billions ever year. They're the sort of company invstment banks love to laud because it makes them a lot of commissions. Underneath it all, it's all a big scam. Once the bubble bursts, its back to square one.

 

[Brians Evil Twin]

Uber/Lyft is artificially cheap. Their low rates are heavily subsidised by capital injection to the tune of billions ever year. They're the sort of company invstment banks love to laud because it makes them a lot of commissions. Underneath it all, it's all a big scam. Once the bubble bursts, its back to square one.

I don't think so. The rates may go up to a point to where there's only a slight cost difference, but the ride-sharing cat is out of the bag. The days of waiting for a dispatcher to send a cab are over, as is the top-heavy model of the cab company owning the vehicles and managing territories, routes, vehicles, badges, etc.

Also, bricks and mortar retail, branch banking, paper maps, vinyl records, cable TV, land lines and American manufacturing jobs are not coming back either.

 

[Cozmik Cowboy]

Allow me to give a taxi driver's perspective.
As a cab in our city, we have to:
1. Register the vehicle with TX, LV, or PT plates; this costs money.
2. Equip the cab with required signage, fire extinguisher, etc; this costs money.
3. Carry $500K commercial liabilty insurance; this costs money.
4. Have the vehicle inspected annually by a certified mechanic; this costs money.
5. Have it inspected again by the police dept. OK, that one's free - except for the fares we lose while they do it.
6. Purchase an annual city business license; this costs money.
7. Purchase an annual city taxi driver's license (which includes a fingerprint criminal background check); this costs money.
All of these are reasonable regulations for the safety of you, the passenger. Uber & Lyft, in most locales, are not subject to any of them; they operate as taxis without any of the costs inherent in operating a legitimate taxi, and thus are given special assistance from the government (in the form being left alone) that gives them an unfair economic advantage over legitimate businesses.
I have no problem with them operating - if the playing field is level. Let them compete, but require them (and since the companies swear thier drivers are not employees, this means each Uber or Lyft driver) comply with all the regulations & fees i must.
And that lack of regulation is why you hear so many horror stories about Uber.
"Ride-sharing" services are, essentially, paying to hitchhike. You stick out your electronic thumb and someone may or may not show up. If they do, you may get a safe, pleasant ride ot your destination (guaranteed if you ride with me) or they may rob you, raoe you, and bury you in a cornfield.