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Uber Hasn't Had an Effect on Drunken-Driving Deaths, Study Finds

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41–50 of 80 posts

Re: Uber Hasn't Had an Effect on Drunken-Driving Deaths, Study Finds

#41
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I lived in Cambridge for eight years (moved last summer) and never experienced anything remotely like this. I lived on Prospect Street right near Central Sq, and frequently took taxis around the area. I called ahead to have taxis pick me up for early morning rides to the airport, and they were always early and helped me with my bags. I took taxis over to the Boston College area when I was taking music lessons at a st…

Well, this is why we have anecdotes I suppose. I lived in Boston and Brookline for twelve years as well and find your claims equally laughable. We quite frequently found ourselves in cabs with credit card readers, only to be told they didn't work when it came time to pay. I also simply gave up using cabs trying to get to Logan because while they would usually be on time, there were others when they simply wouldn't sh…

I'm a big fan of Uber, but the secret to dealing with cabbies is to be firm and obstinate. Like any street business, they're going to take advantage when they smell weakness and fold when they sense strength. Credit card machine doesn't work? Okay, here's the address where you can send me the bill. Don't try to stop me from leaving the cab, it'll be a big mistake involving police and you getting arrested for false imprisonment. Another thing I've done to much success is negotiate the fare to the destination up front, which prevents problems at the other end. Always remember that possession is nine-tenths of the law and that as long as you're in possession of the money, you're in the position of power. And when you act as such, you'll get more respect from the cabbies to begin with.

Re: Uber Hasn't Had an Effect on Drunken-Driving Deaths, Study Finds

#42
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If these are your experiences, then your experiences seem to be very different than the average case, especially the 50% non-functioning card reader experience. While I'm sorry that you have had such bad experiences, since your experiences differ so much from what is common, I don't feel people should base their expectations on what you say. Instead, you can be nearly certain that it will be a clean, modern taxi, wit…

What everyone is telling you is that your experience is not the "average case"...

Ha. This was an odd thread to read, the averages just aren't averaging out.

Try living in Cape Town. Before Uber arrived here taxi drivers were straight up extortionists. I mean that in the literal sense. I used to have to pay anywhere for R100 to R150 minimum. Uber now averages about R50 - R60, and the experience is a pleasant one.

So with my other side of the world experiences in mind I can see how something similar might happen elsewhere, such as Boston.

Re: Uber Hasn't Had an Effect on Drunken-Driving Deaths, Study Finds

#43
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Taxis suck, globally.

Except they really don't and are a great service in tons of places.

Dude, stop shilling for taxis.

4/5 people under the top comment have said they lived in Boston and taxi service was terrible. 1/5 people is defending it all over the place like they're getting paid to...

Re: Uber Hasn't Had an Effect on Drunken-Driving Deaths, Study Finds

#44
post #9

So responsible people are trading Yellow taxis for Über and irresponsible people are still driving while intoxicated. Or, alternatively, the amount of drunk drivers is so huge that whatever number taxis and Uber take off the streets is negligible in relative numbers. But ride services want to promulgate the idea to cities they bring safety in order to counterbalance the annoyed voices of the yellow cabs decrying the…

Or, the amount of drunk drivers is so small that whatever number Uber takes off the streets doesn't make a statistical bump. The p-value hit the threshold for DUIs and deaths, but not for alcohol-involved accidents.

Re: Uber Hasn't Had an Effect on Drunken-Driving Deaths, Study Finds

#45
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, this is why we have anecdotes I suppose. I lived in Boston and Brookline for twelve years as well and find your claims equally laughable. We quite frequently found ourselves in cabs with credit card readers, only to be told they didn't work when it came time to pay. I also simply gave up using cabs trying to get to Logan because while they would usually be on time, there were others when they simply wouldn't sh…

Given that I easily rode in a hundred taxis all over Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline, and Chestnut Hill, it would be extremely statistically unlikely that I just happened to get only the far above average good experiences each time. The anecdote I described also matches the general experiences of all my friends and family as well, with occasional outliers (both good and bad), so I feel very confident in sayi…

I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. It's the first I've ever heard of a satisfied taxi customer in Boston but I'm glad to hear there's at least one!

Re: Uber Hasn't Had an Effect on Drunken-Driving Deaths, Study Finds

#46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, this is why we have anecdotes I suppose. I lived in Boston and Brookline for twelve years as well and find your claims equally laughable. We quite frequently found ourselves in cabs with credit card readers, only to be told they didn't work when it came time to pay. I also simply gave up using cabs trying to get to Logan because while they would usually be on time, there were others when they simply wouldn't sh…

I'm a big fan of Uber, but the secret to dealing with cabbies is to be firm and obstinate. Like any street business, they're going to take advantage when they smell weakness and fold when they sense strength. Credit card machine doesn't work? Okay, here's the address where you can send me the bill. Don't try to stop me from leaving the cab, it'll be a big mistake involving police and you getting arrested for false im…

Or I could just use Uber :)

Re: Uber Hasn't Had an Effect on Drunken-Driving Deaths, Study Finds

#47
post #9

So responsible people are trading Yellow taxis for Über and irresponsible people are still driving while intoxicated. Or, alternatively, the amount of drunk drivers is so huge that whatever number taxis and Uber take off the streets is negligible in relative numbers. But ride services want to promulgate the idea to cities they bring safety in order to counterbalance the annoyed voices of the yellow cabs decrying the…

Or perhaps, drunk driving happens in areas where Taxis, Mass Transit, and Uber are not available or economical.

No. As someone who has gotten a DWI in one of the largest cities, I drove my car because I wanted to an was an irresponsible idiot, not because I had no options.

Re: Uber Hasn't Had an Effect on Drunken-Driving Deaths, Study Finds

#48
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or perhaps, drunk driving happens in areas where Taxis, Mass Transit, and Uber are not available or economical.

"Researchers... looked at the 100 most populated metropolitan areas, analyzing data from before and after the introduction of Uber and its competitors" Fair inquiry, but no. They studied the top 100 metro areas, not the Podunks. Now, it does not say whether the rate has remained steady despite, perhaps, an increase in people who now feel comfortable getting drunk cuz they can get a cab fairly easily with the intro of…

Uber doesn't launch in areas where there isn't a market. If there is no need for extensive taxi and mass transit services, Uber won't be there either.

I maintain that Uber is just another option in the top 100 metro areas. If Uber did work everywhere, then I am sure you would see reductions in places that do not have competing services.

Re: Uber Hasn't Had an Effect on Drunken-Driving Deaths, Study Finds

#49
Why does it seem the media is so intent on tearing Uber down. There have been a lot of articles on HN about Uber is fucked, Uber is going down, Uber is doomed... Uber is really great. No, they don't pay their drivers enough. No, they don't do everything they can to ensure their drivers are responsible, and vetted. Yet they provide an invaluable service against a corrupt, entrenched industry that has needed a serious kick in the pants for as long as any of us have been alive. Uber has a lot of improvements to make, but I would rather have the option of choosing them over the corrupt taxi industry than not.

Re: Uber Hasn't Had an Effect on Drunken-Driving Deaths, Study Finds

#50
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, this is why we have anecdotes I suppose. I lived in Boston and Brookline for twelve years as well and find your claims equally laughable. We quite frequently found ourselves in cabs with credit card readers, only to be told they didn't work when it came time to pay. I also simply gave up using cabs trying to get to Logan because while they would usually be on time, there were others when they simply wouldn't sh…

Given that I easily rode in a hundred taxis all over Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline, and Chestnut Hill, it would be extremely statistically unlikely that I just happened to get only the far above average good experiences each time. The anecdote I described also matches the general experiences of all my friends and family as well, with occasional outliers (both good and bad), so I feel very confident in sayi…

Clean, modern taxi, polite driver? In Boston, MA? You must be kidding, sir.

Before Uber, every cab I took was smelly, the cars were late 1970s models, sour drivers, etc.

Cabs have gotten a lot better, thanks to Uber.

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