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Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles

nytimes.com

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Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles

#381

Post by schrijver »

dagw wrote: post #324
deusex_ wrote: post #160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Europe, your bus fare would be half of the price and probably you would need one or two connections. The public transport is much more developed and to me seems like a much better mass transportation alternative. More ecological, cheaper, less cars overall.

In Europe, your bus fare would be half of the price Which Europe? ~$100 pr month seems about par for the course for most major cities I've looked at, and some cities, like London, charge quite a bit more.

Brussels is €41,58 (≈ $43.96) / month if you take the yearly subscription (bus, tram, metro, train)

Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles

#382

Post by bb611 »

maxander wrote: post #38
prostoalex wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Early stage private valuations tend to be focused on future potential, usually expressed in total addressable market figures. Lyft was selling slow expansion (they're still a US-only operator, and even within the US operate in relatively few markets) and most likely positive cashflow. Uber was selling rapid global expansion, where each new city could be scaled up via Uber playbooks. Then it started selling itself as…

And? What's the difference between total coverage in 2018 versus total coverage in 2020? Uber can't lock Lyft out of the market- that was abundantly proved when a bit of ham-fisted PR made Lyft one of the most popular apps of January. And Lyft can just copy any of Uber's random X-delivery schemes that actually works . Self-driving cars might be a distinguishing factor, since as far as I know Lyft has no efforts in th…

Lyft took $500 million in financing from GM and is partnered with them to deliver self driving cars through the GM acquisition of Cruise Automation.

Lyft isn't doing their work in house but they are on a similar timeline to Uber for automation.

Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles

#383

Post by untog »

smileysteve wrote: post #70
untog wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is in no way true. Suggesting that black people are somehow to blame for Uber not allowing in-app tips is one of the most out there things I've seen on HN, and that's saying something.

Tipping has been studied and has been associated with discrimination on gender, race, and class. http://www.esquire.com/food-drink/restaurants/a23132/why-tip...

It's a long way to go from that to saying that Uber have enacted a policy specifically because of it.

Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles

#384

Post by freyr »

lordnacho wrote: post #237
freyr wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Lyft has in app digital tipping (drivers keep 100% of tips). One of the reasons I don't like Lyft. How about this system: pay the drivers a fair wage up front, so they don't need to subsist on the generosity of strangers. If they get great ratings, you can give them a bonus.

It's not a great system, tipping the way it's done in cabs, restaurants, and "door-opening" (I only see those guys when I'm in America, no idea what to call them). But people have come to rely on it, and there'd be fewer people working those types of jobs if there wasn't some extra money from the customers. If there was a collective way to tell the tipping industry to change, I think a lot of people would be for it.…

> there'd be fewer people working those types of jobs if there wasn't some extra money from the customers.

And somehow, Europe isn't suffering from a massive taxi driver and server shortage. And here in the U.S., there is no shortage of Uber drivers.

> for now it feels like you're taking away something they reasonably expect if you don't tip.

Uber drivers never relied on or expected tips. Uber seized the opportunity to change expectations and disrupt the payment model, and customers seem to like it. "This is the way it's always been done" isn't a solid argument IMO.

Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles

#385

Post by gregshap »

c0ntrarian wrote: post #358
wcummings wrote: post #315

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>"Yes, but poor people use public transportation to come from bad neighborhoods to good neighborhoods to rob us! We must ban all expansion of public transportation!" This is why the (Boston) red line doesn't extend to Arlington.

I am sorry, good sir, but I must vehemently disagree with your reasoning. Arlington is not such a bad area, especially when compared to Dorchester, to which the Red Line does connect. In addition, the Red Line links through Mattapan cough Murderpan via trolley. So, I consider your comment thoroughly debunked.

It was arlington that blocked the expansion because they didn't want the wrong people coming from the wrong areas, not the other way around. [I lived in Arlington in the 90s-2000s]

Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles

#386

Post by misiti3780 »

dwg wrote: post #126
nhf wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Patagonia is famous for this in the clothing industry. They are a premium brand so they can get away with higher prices and a lot of it gets reinvested in supply chain sustainability /ethics.

Thanks for this example. I wonder how much ethics contributes to Patagonia's success. I own at least a few things from Patagonia, but I wasn't aware of anything to do with their ethics. I bought them because of (perceived) quality. My point being that, in response to the original comment, I think it would be pretty difficult to disrupt the space by "being more ethical."

I didnt know either until I listened to this excellent interview. change the way i thought about the company:

https://www.npr.org/player/embed/504852483/505017995

Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles

#387

Post by whafro »

cmdrfred wrote: post #380
mtw wrote: post #377

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The solution is reliable public transport. The way i see it, Uber is half price because it is sustained by VC money and ever-decreasing pay for drivers. Taxis or Ubers are in theory your own private vehicle or limo. It should be special occasions. Because you're late to the meeting. Or have to go the airport. Or because you had a drink too much. Having a private vehicle for everyday transport is a luxury and it shoul…

This only works in what, 5 - 15% of the US? Public transport isn't viable for commuting in most of the country. If you factor in time and the raise in tax required to subsidize it there it is likely that it is more cost effective to own and maintain a used car.

Perhaps not for most of the country by surface area, but far more than 5-15% of the population could be effectively served by better public transportation.

Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles

#388

Post by freyr »

agumonkey wrote: post #302
freyr wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Lyft has in app digital tipping (drivers keep 100% of tips). One of the reasons I don't like Lyft. How about this system: pay the drivers a fair wage up front, so they don't need to subsist on the generosity of strangers. If they get great ratings, you can give them a bonus.

Are you European ? tipping seems to be a big habit in the U.S

No, but traveling to Europe for work helped to change perspective.

Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles

#389

Post by humanrebar »

objclxt wrote: post #372
humanrebar wrote: post #311

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> In the future I see a fleet of larger vehicles combined with a Uber Pool type app working really well. This already exists. Or it existed anyway. NYC used to have "Chinatown buses" that ran underserved routes for a fraction of the price. NYC and the MTA prosecuted them and got rid of them. Furthermore, innovation and competition in busing is great in Latin America. But we're waiting on regulations to change, not fo…

> NYC used to have "Chinatown buses" that ran underserved routes for a fraction of the price. NYC and the MTA prosecuted them and got rid of them The implication in your comment seems to be that the MTA went after the Chinatown buses because they were anti innovation and competition. I'm not sure if you ever took the Fung Wah bus from Boston to NYC, but one reason the DoT and MTA worked so hard to get rid of them was…

And yet people in outer burroughs and Jersey still have really long commutes and unacceptable bus service. NYC and the MTA weren't as interested in replacing the Chinatown buses with safer options or otherwise improving the safety standards.

Re: Lyft Is Said to Seek New Funding as Its Rival Uber Stumbles

#390

Post by URSpider94 »

wcummings wrote: post #315
op00to wrote: post #297

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Yes, but poor people use public transportation to come from bad neighborhoods to good neighborhoods to rob us! We must ban all expansion of public transportation!" This exact sentiment is echoed by many in the US as a reason to not expand public transit. When asked about criminals driving cars to commit crimes, they were not open to bulldozing the roads over. It's gross.

>"Yes, but poor people use public transportation to come from bad neighborhoods to good neighborhoods to rob us! We must ban all expansion of public transportation!" This is why the (Boston) red line doesn't extend to Arlington.

... and why the DC Metro doesn't go to Georgetown.
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