Lyft Carpool: A New Way to Commute • Hacker News Board

Re: Lyft Carpool: A New Way to Commute

#121

Post by eli » Tue, Mar 29, 2016, 9:57 PM UTC

omginternets wrote: post #119

nxzero wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most people are more concerned about getting somewhere than reading contracts, seeing proof of insurance, etc. -- this based on seeing how commuter sharing systems work in the wild. If you're super concerned, next time you flag down a taxi make sure you make sure they're not a "rogue" cabbie; them being uninsured is the the least of your concerns.

> make sure they're not a "rogue" cabbie; them being uninsured is the the least of your concerns. Could you elaborate?

Guessing they mean the fairly common (around me) practice of a cab driver loaning their car to a friend or relative who may not have the correct licenses or carry the correct insurance.

Re: Lyft Carpool: A New Way to Commute

#122

Post by massysett » Tue, Mar 29, 2016, 9:58 PM UTC

samstave wrote: post #115

massysett wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have health insurance, so treatment for my bodily injuries is covered. Someone else is driving, so if his negligence results in a wreck I generally won't be liable to the other driver. I won't be responsible for fixing his vehicle. That covers most garden-variety car wrecks, so there is little need to be concerned about my friend's insurance. I suppose if I were really on top of things, I would ask my friends for p…

Your injuries could potentially be more than what your insurance would pay, thus your driving friend would be liable for the injuries. Actually your insurer would likely go after his, assuming he had it, to get their costs mitigated.

> Your injuries could potentially be more than what your insurance would pay, thus your driving friend would be liable for the injuries.

I suppose that could happen to some, but my insurance pays for all care after I satisfy the flat out-of-pocket requirement.

I suppose my friend would be liable for the out-of-pocket cost, but that would typically be only several hundred dollars--a fair amount of money, but not much relatively speaking if this is a wreck that caused injuries.

Re: Lyft Carpool: A New Way to Commute

#123

Post by bbcbasic » Tue, Mar 29, 2016, 9:59 PM UTC

I wonder what the ettiquite is when sharing a ride like this? On a bus or in a cab there is no pressure to make conversation with the other passenger/driver, although sometimes they may be chatty. In this situation I'd feel pressure to make conversation with the driver, but what if I want to just read? Would that be rude?

If I found a good driver I would just deal directly with them because (a) I know they share my route and (b) I don't need to get to know them again each time I commute. That would be money off the table for Lyft though.

But I would not use the service because I have kids to drop off and also I may not finish at the same time every day.

Re: Lyft Carpool: A New Way to Commute

#124

Post by omginternets » Tue, Mar 29, 2016, 10:00 PM UTC

orlybach wrote: post #74

martinald wrote: post #69

I don't drive or live in the bay area. What sort of typical time savings does the carpool lane give you?

During my morning commute I sit in traffic in the regular (non carpool lane) for about 5-10 minutes, whereas the carpool lane passes right by with no traffic. I am only on this stretch for about a mile. So imagine about 5-10 minutes/mile saved as an example. It really depends on the area though. I am referring to the 85/101 merge near all the Google exits.

>I am referring to the 85/101 merge near all the Google exits.

I've never stepped foot on the West coast, but I found this sentence really amusing! I guess I never realized the extent to which GAFA was embedded in the landscape.

(Nevermind this East-coast pleb. Carry on!)

Re: Lyft Carpool: A New Way to Commute

#125

Post by pstrazzulla » Tue, Mar 29, 2016, 10:04 PM UTC

This was essentially Lyft's first idea right? I believe it was called Zimride?

Re: Lyft Carpool: A New Way to Commute

#126

Post by vkou » Tue, Mar 29, 2016, 10:05 PM UTC

prawn wrote: post #84

thrwwyh wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They get around this by limiting the amount of payment to the drivers' costs (i.e. the IRS standard mileage rate of $0.54/mile.) From the TOS: "...we may charge you to reimburse the Carpool Driver for the costs associated with a Carpool Ride provided to you. [...] Reimbursements may include per mile charges at up to the prevailing IRS standard mileage rate, and other expenses like tolls and parking fees." (Emphasis m…

If they wanted/needed to pay a higher amount, could Lyft get around this by paying the driver two fees - a first constrained one to skirt the insurance rules and then a "separate" fee for another component such as advertising or data provision or something else plausible but arbitrary?

If it walks like a duck, smells like a duck, and quacks like a duck, a court is very likely to call it a duck.

Re: Lyft Carpool: A New Way to Commute

#127

Post by HappyTypist » Tue, Mar 29, 2016, 10:06 PM UTC

matt_wulfeck wrote: post #70

It seems the natural progression of this service is not paying each other $5-$10 for a ride, but some sort of service that allowed getting and giving credits for sharing rides. Most of us in the bay area have cars (because public transportation is stinking horrible). I want more to lessen my burden on the environment/save money on gas by sharing the road. A more natural pair would be to easily find people who share m…

They're using credits. It's called money.

Re: Lyft Carpool: A New Way to Commute

#128

Post by omginternets » Tue, Mar 29, 2016, 10:06 PM UTC

eli wrote: post #121

omginternets wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> make sure they're not a "rogue" cabbie; them being uninsured is the the least of your concerns. Could you elaborate?

Guessing they mean the fairly common (around me) practice of a cab driver loaning their car to a friend or relative who may not have the correct licenses or carry the correct insurance.

Right, but why would this be the least of my concerns? What's the greater concern here?

Re: Lyft Carpool: A New Way to Commute

#129

Post by vkou » Tue, Mar 29, 2016, 10:06 PM UTC

rconti wrote: post #91

levemi wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People shouldn't just worry about "no insurance" but also underinsurance. Minimal insurance in many areas is ridiculously too low. If you're signing up to do this as a driver you better #1 Tell your auto insurance company and #2 Up your insurance levels to the max (something you should probably do anyways if you can afford it). If you're signing up to do this as a rider, well I don't think you should given the insura…

Or make sure you have health insurance.

Your own health insurance is one thing - compared to it, your liability in the event of an accident is essentially unbounded.

Re: Lyft Carpool: A New Way to Commute

#130

Post by rosnow » Tue, Mar 29, 2016, 10:14 PM UTC

martinshen wrote: post #81

Any idea if commuter benefits are eligible for this? If so, this sounds better than my Caltrain ride.

Unlikely unless there is a regulatory change. Commuter benefits, as in an employer paying for transit with pre-tax dollars, currently exclude vehicles that can carry less than 7 passengers.