New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers • Hacker News Board

Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers

#141

Post by kuschku » Fri, Oct 09, 2015, 5:52 PM UTC

SilasX wrote: post #140

kuschku wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are many existing, one that is supported by the local taxi drivers in my city would be http://www.taxi.eu/en/

Well, now I have to admit confusion. I downloaded it and poked around, and it seems to be put together pretty well and has all the features from Uber. My best guess is that they started in a place where taxis were generally "good enough" already and didn't market it as hard, but it definitely competes well along the dimensions I gave before.

Well, they didn’t care about expansion.

But you have to know: My region had a dozen of these apps, all competing with each other.

So, the only reason why people used uber was that sometimes it was cheaper. But that only because they ignored the laws.

German Taxi market is a seriously free market, and uber can’t compete fairly.

Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers

#142

Post by SilasX » Fri, Oct 09, 2015, 6:58 PM UTC

kuschku wrote: post #141

SilasX wrote: post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, now I have to admit confusion. I downloaded it and poked around, and it seems to be put together pretty well and has all the features from Uber. My best guess is that they started in a place where taxis were generally "good enough" already and didn't market it as hard, but it definitely competes well along the dimensions I gave before.

Well, they didn’t care about expansion. But you have to know: My region had a dozen of these apps, all competing with each other. So, the only reason why people used uber was that sometimes it was cheaper. But that only because they ignored the laws. German Taxi market is a seriously free market, and uber can’t compete fairly.

Interesting, that definitely gives some perspective on why Uber has taken so much more flak in Europe than the US, where the taxi market is uncompetitive and routinely tries to take advantage of passengers.

Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers

#143

Post by lmm » Fri, Oct 09, 2015, 8:11 PM UTC

nommm-nommm wrote: post #107

lmm wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Small town Scotland, sure, a bit different. But small town Scotland is, by population, a tiny fraction of the UK.

Of course! But I was replying to "people in first world countries" and giving my personal experiences. :) I've also been all across small town USA :) I really hope I don't offend. I don't mean to.

I don't think anyone's offended. But I think it's acceptable to say "people in first world countries" when one actually just means "the overwhelming majority of people in first world countries".

Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers

#144

Post by walshemj » Fri, Oct 09, 2015, 8:37 PM UTC

rodgerd wrote: post #135

walshemj wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really you don't keep £50-100 for small purchases on you what happens if its late at night raining and your card gets eaten by the machine and you need a taxi home? Also if its a crowded pub waiting while you dig you card out and slowly use the one machine your holding every one up.

> Really you don't keep £50-100 for small purchases on you what happens if its late at night raining and your card gets eaten by the machine and you need a taxi home? No? Why would it get eaten by a machine?

Never had a card get damaged by accident and retained by the machine? I have and had to walk 4 miles in the rain home.

Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers

#145

Post by kuschku » Fri, Oct 09, 2015, 9:08 PM UTC

SilasX wrote: post #142

kuschku wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, they didn’t care about expansion. But you have to know: My region had a dozen of these apps, all competing with each other. So, the only reason why people used uber was that sometimes it was cheaper. But that only because they ignored the laws. German Taxi market is a seriously free market, and uber can’t compete fairly.

Interesting, that definitely gives some perspective on why Uber has taken so much more flak in Europe than the US, where the taxi market is uncompetitive and routinely tries to take advantage of passengers.

But keep in mind: This is only Germany.

Italy, France, etc still have insanely overprotective markets.

Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers

#146

Post by madebylaw » Sat, Oct 10, 2015, 6:22 PM UTC

toomuchtodo wrote: post #39

rdl wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It'd be interesting if someone got in front of that and ran Uber-Prime with Uber-Prime, Inc. employees as drivers, driving vehicles leased by Uber-Prime, Inc. Maybe go upmarket of Uber by offering a 100% guaranteed rape-free experience for your minor children, borderline medical transport, incapacitated people, rich/scared people, etc.

Tesla is on its way to doing this, no driver required. "As Tesla Motors Inc. develops self-driving technology, an analyst asked Chief Executive Elon Musk a provocative question Wednesday: Will his company sell cars to a transportation service like Uber, or try to start something similar on its own?" "Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas posed the question to Musk in an earnings call Wednesday afternoon, noting that Uber…

Uber has a bit more than an app:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/is-uber-a-friend-or-foe-of-carne...

Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers

#147

Post by nommm-nommm » Sun, Oct 11, 2015, 2:50 PM UTC

lmm wrote: post #143

nommm-nommm wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of course! But I was replying to "people in first world countries" and giving my personal experiences. :) I've also been all across small town USA :) I really hope I don't offend. I don't mean to.

I don't think anyone's offended. But I think it's acceptable to say "people in first world countries" when one actually just means "the overwhelming majority of people in first world countries".

No, that's not at all acceptable to move the goalpost in that way at all! How completely and utterly ridiculous!

Re: New Initiatives for Lyft Drivers

#148

Post by takeda » Mon, Oct 12, 2015, 4:36 PM UTC

s73v3r wrote: post #139

takeda wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Lyft currently pays more, because that's probably last thing that keeps them alive. Many drivers work for both, if Lyft would pay same or less then what would keep them there? As for the negating point, this is not something that happens instantly, but if you want an example then look at restaurants. There's even special minimum wage (currently $2.13) for jobs that receive tips.

Not in California.

US is bigger than California.