Ride-hailing apps may help to curb drunk driving • Hacker News Board

Re: Ride-hailing apps may help to curb drunk driving

#91

Post by ajmurmann » Thu, Apr 06, 2017, 5:04 AM UTC

mikekchar wrote: post #74

pm90 wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Without great public transportation, it seems rather unlikely for suburban folks to enjoy a lifestyle where you can drink downtown and safely get back home at a decent rate. Ridesharing might be cheaper for now, but I'm not sure what it will be like when the prices truly represent the market value; currently, most ridesharing companies seem to be operating at loss. The ultimate solution might come when autonomous dri…

I wish the US and Canada would relax zoning restrictions. I've spent the last decade or so in Japan and the UK and it's just so much better. Admittedly, when you are young and going out clubbing then you want access to the big city. But for quieter/older people, just having access to a decent restaurant or pub within walking distance of your house is amazing. These days my wife and I might go out to the big city mayb…

The zoning restrictions are one of the most startling things to be about the US. Especially since the US is in general very pro market but in this case is incredibly anti market.

The major my suburb recently sent out a survey asking people what kind of building projects people would like to see. The granularity of what was being asked for was shocking. It should not be the government's task to decide if we need to build single family homes or multi family homes and if they are allowed to be town houses etc. I felt like I was in the Soviet Union.

Re: Ride-hailing apps may help to curb drunk driving

#92

Post by metafunctor » Thu, Apr 06, 2017, 5:06 AM UTC

jhpaul wrote: post #65

Based on personal experiences this isn't surprising. When I was in college in a small town in the late 00's, many friends and acquaintances would drive across town after heavy drinking. 10-15 minutes, straight roads, little traffic. Other than not going out, or not getting home, you didn't have many options. It was a hour long walk or a $20-40 cab ride, if you could get one. I was recently back in town for a wedding…

It has always amazed me how casually people drink and drive in some countries; the US especially springs to mind.

Over here, drinking and driving is an extremely shameful and embarrassing thing to do. I would say it's on par with hitting a child. You just don't do it, not to save 20 bucks, or to save you from walking an hour.

Re: Ride-hailing apps may help to curb drunk driving

#93

Post by ssttoo » Thu, Apr 06, 2017, 5:09 AM UTC

visakanv wrote: post #86

A separate discussion that I'd like to have is – why do people drink so much, to the point of drunkenness? Why is this so common? Has this always been the case? Will this change?

> why do people drink so much, to the point of drunkenness?

Many reasons. To the point of darkness because it's a thin line between a light buzz and over-the-top-cannot-even-say-my-name

> Why is this so common?

human nature. Not only human, actually, monkeys drunk on fermented fruit, etc [1]

> Has this always been the case?

Yes

> Will this change?

No.

[1] http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/wildlife/2011/...

Re: Ride-hailing apps may help to curb drunk driving

#94

Post by hmcdona1 » Thu, Apr 06, 2017, 5:15 AM UTC

jnordwick wrote: post #78

qyv wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not he accessibility of ride-sharing services that is doing this, it is the ride-sharing services policy of artificially low pricing to facilitate rapid growth that is responsible. Those $9 rides are not sustainable. When the prices go back up to sustainable levels we will see many of these benefits evaporate.

And like you know, all the other things he listed: > it's easy to call one from a crowded/loud place, you know how much it will cost, they don't use cash, they know where you are, and you don't have to give directions. p.s., why do people like you want to hate on ride sharing services so much? Is it just that nothing can ever be good enough in your mind?

It's not even just that. I'm not sure about everywhere in the country but in parts of Texas good luck depending on a cab to show up within even an hour+ time frame you called in for it to. Everyone here has cars so there are very few cabs and the service is poor because of it.

I went to college in San Antonio and Uber was banned for about a semester or so after it became the norm. Too many people started drunk driving again. For all intents and purposes, you either found a designated driver or didn't go out. Many choose the illegal third option.

No matter what the price, the fact that you CAN get a timely ride via ride sharing apps is a game changer here.

Re: Ride-hailing apps may help to curb drunk driving

#95

Post by giaour » Thu, Apr 06, 2017, 5:16 AM UTC

jryle70 wrote: post #56

jellicle wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Incorrect. Independent contractors cheerfully 'sharing' their vehicles have made 100% of the difference; Uber does not employ anyone to drive anywhere. The number of drunks driven home by Uber employees is ~0. Thanks independent contractors!

This is disingenuous at best. Before Uber, how many of those "independent contractors" were in the market? It's fair to criticize Uber's aggressive and shady practices, it's also fair to acknowledge the enormous changes that it has brought about to the transportation landscape.

> Before Uber, how many of those "independent contractors" were in the market?

A fair number were. I lived in Harlem from 2008-2011, and we often had to hail off-duty black car service vehicles due to the dearth of medallion cabs outside of central Manhattan. These were commonly known as "gypsy cabs," and the drivers were picking people up to make money on the side. I believe it was technically illegal but very, very common.

Re: Ride-hailing apps may help to curb drunk driving

#96

Post by giaour » Thu, Apr 06, 2017, 5:19 AM UTC

thinkloop wrote: post #29

JohnJamesRambo wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But aren't they just disrupting it temporarily? My understanding is that VC funding is propping up those low fares. I guess it is good until that runs out though.

The medallion is a huge cost, that alone might be enough - not to mention economies of scale, logistics expertise, data collection value, uber pool network effect, etc.

It's not like medallion cabs were the only game in town before Uber came along. Black car services have been popular as taxi alternatives for decades.

Re: Ride-hailing apps may help to curb drunk driving

#97

Post by devdoomari » Thu, Apr 06, 2017, 5:21 AM UTC

...but what about cars left on the parking lot by the drunk ppl? a lot of ppl might choose to drink&drive because they have to go back & get their cars again...

In South Korea they have 'substitute driver service' that drives customer's car (obviously, with customer in it) back to the customer's home.

I'm sure this can be done logistically (have a large bus carry around drivers, etc.)

Re: Ride-hailing apps may help to curb drunk driving

#98

Post by smsm42 » Thu, Apr 06, 2017, 5:28 AM UTC

pm90 wrote: post #47

sergers wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Vancouver, If going out downtown, it's a 80$ cab ride each way atleast. Transit would take atleast an hour but good luck taking it back at 2am when service is very limited. I could drive after drinking and spend 30-40 minutes. There is no ride sharing allowed here yet. I usually don't go out if I don't have a designated driver as it's just not affordable or takes too long. Many friends, and I admit myself when you…

Without great public transportation, it seems rather unlikely for suburban folks to enjoy a lifestyle where you can drink downtown and safely get back home at a decent rate. Ridesharing might be cheaper for now, but I'm not sure what it will be like when the prices truly represent the market value; currently, most ridesharing companies seem to be operating at loss. The ultimate solution might come when autonomous dri…

When new cheaper thing comes to the market, I have heard a lot of sayings along the lines you're saying - they only doing it for now and after they have established themselves they'll jack up the prices. I can't remember any case when it actually happened. I don't mean things like "introductory pricing" when you get short time cheap and then the price rises - you know the deal upfront there. I mean some service company - not protected by some monopoly enforcement from state - jacking up the prices after they decided they have enough market share. Has it happened?

Re: Ride-hailing apps may help to curb drunk driving

#99

Post by kneel » Thu, Apr 06, 2017, 5:30 AM UTC

metafunctor wrote: post #92

jhpaul wrote: post #65

Based on personal experiences this isn't surprising. When I was in college in a small town in the late 00's, many friends and acquaintances would drive across town after heavy drinking. 10-15 minutes, straight roads, little traffic. Other than not going out, or not getting home, you didn't have many options. It was a hour long walk or a $20-40 cab ride, if you could get one. I was recently back in town for a wedding…

It has always amazed me how casually people drink and drive in some countries; the US especially springs to mind. Over here, drinking and driving is an extremely shameful and embarrassing thing to do. I would say it's on par with hitting a child. You just don't do it, not to save 20 bucks, or to save you from walking an hour.

>It has always amazed me how casually people drink and drive in some countries; the US especially springs to mind.

Drinking and driving is still very taboo in the US. It's just that most areas of the country require an automobile to get around and most people have a car.

One more thing, no one should be surprised that people drink and drive anywhere. People make all sorts of terrible decisions when they're intoxicated, they're drunk after all.

Re: Ride-hailing apps may help to curb drunk driving

#100

Post by johncolanduoni » Thu, Apr 06, 2017, 5:34 AM UTC

smsm42 wrote: post #98

pm90 wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Without great public transportation, it seems rather unlikely for suburban folks to enjoy a lifestyle where you can drink downtown and safely get back home at a decent rate. Ridesharing might be cheaper for now, but I'm not sure what it will be like when the prices truly represent the market value; currently, most ridesharing companies seem to be operating at loss. The ultimate solution might come when autonomous dri…

When new cheaper thing comes to the market, I have heard a lot of sayings along the lines you're saying - they only doing it for now and after they have established themselves they'll jack up the prices. I can't remember any case when it actually happened. I don't mean things like "introductory pricing" when you get short time cheap and then the price rises - you know the deal upfront there. I mean some service compa…

It's one thing to increase your profit margin after becoming established, it's another thing if you aren't able to even have a profit margin at current pricing.