Uber Is Dealt a Fresh Blow in European Legal Case • Hacker News Board

Re: Uber Is Dealt a Fresh Blow in European Legal Case

#11

Post by fiatjaf » Tue, Jul 04, 2017, 9:48 PM UTC

Shivetya wrote: post #2

so can anyone speak to what it entails to gain a taxi license? is this a burdensome requirement on those who want to drive? I have no issue with requiring specific insurance as anyone driving for any ride share service is just risking too much without proper coverage. in the US far too much occupational regulation/licensing only serves now to protect current providers effectively locking out or deterring competition.

Burdensome? Taxi licenses are limited so taxi drivers can keep their cartel against the entry of competitors. It is impossible unless you're politically connected.

That's why Uber is so great: it is destroying this stupidity.

Re: Uber Is Dealt a Fresh Blow in European Legal Case

#12

Post by collyw » Tue, Jul 04, 2017, 9:48 PM UTC

gsnedders wrote: post #6

Shivetya wrote: post #2

so can anyone speak to what it entails to gain a taxi license? is this a burdensome requirement on those who want to drive? I have no issue with requiring specific insurance as anyone driving for any ride share service is just risking too much without proper coverage. in the US far too much occupational regulation/licensing only serves now to protect current providers effectively locking out or deterring competition.

Depends massively between EU states. Some it's relatively easy [edit: to operate as a "taxi" in a general sense, rather than the legal term], such as in the UK (pass a prolonged driving test, have commercial insurance, review of any criminal record as to whether they pose a threat to the public, though there's some variety between councils who are the licensing body especially when it comes to vehicles and equipment)…

Depends on the taxi service as well. Black cabs in London have a fairly tough test (the knowledge) to go through and only those can be hailed from the roadside.

Re: Uber Is Dealt a Fresh Blow in European Legal Case

#13

Post by friedman23 » Tue, Jul 04, 2017, 9:50 PM UTC

What is the saying, "Cutting off the nose to spite the face"? As Europe continues to add laws and regulations targeted at American tech companies they will further prevent any innovative businesses from growing and thriving in Europe. Also before you respond, I am really not interested in legalist arguments, especially when the laws themselves were designed by and for entrenched interests.

It's been 17 years since the internet has become widespread, how many successful information technology companies have come from Europe, a continent with 500 million people, many of them well educated? Maybe it's time to look inward.

Re: Uber Is Dealt a Fresh Blow in European Legal Case

#14

Post by fiatjaf » Tue, Jul 04, 2017, 9:50 PM UTC

collyw wrote: post #8

CamperBob2 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unless you own taxi medallions, I don't really see much cause for celebration. Unnecessary regulation is unnecessary. Edit: due to aggressive rate limiting on HN's part, I'm not able to respond to those who have chosen to reply rather than downvote. What I'd say in such a reply is this: despite all of the advantages of regulated taxi services that people are citing, rideshare services are still winning in the marketp…

In what way is Uber not a taxi service? How do you feel it differs to the end user?

It is not a cartel protected by the government against external competitors.

Re: Uber Is Dealt a Fresh Blow in European Legal Case

#15

Post by greglindahl » Tue, Jul 04, 2017, 9:50 PM UTC

collyw wrote: post #8

CamperBob2 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unless you own taxi medallions, I don't really see much cause for celebration. Unnecessary regulation is unnecessary. Edit: due to aggressive rate limiting on HN's part, I'm not able to respond to those who have chosen to reply rather than downvote. What I'd say in such a reply is this: despite all of the advantages of regulated taxi services that people are citing, rideshare services are still winning in the marketp…

In what way is Uber not a taxi service? How do you feel it differs to the end user?

To any New Yorker, Uber is a black car service... you can't hail an Uber on the street. And the current compromise between Uber and NYC is that Uber cars are licensed exactly like black cars. Done.

(You actually refer to the street hail thing in one of your other comments, surprised you didn't mention that here.)

Re: Uber Is Dealt a Fresh Blow in European Legal Case

#16

Post by fiatjaf » Tue, Jul 04, 2017, 9:51 PM UTC

k-mcgrady wrote: post #10

CamperBob2 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unless you own taxi medallions, I don't really see much cause for celebration. Unnecessary regulation is unnecessary. Edit: due to aggressive rate limiting on HN's part, I'm not able to respond to those who have chosen to reply rather than downvote. What I'd say in such a reply is this: despite all of the advantages of regulated taxi services that people are citing, rideshare services are still winning in the marketp…

Taxi drivers in my European country are subject to some requirements that make a lot of sense and help keep people safe. I've user Uber a lot and it's great but anything to up the quality of drivers is good. I've been down one way streets multiple times in Uber's, I've been in multiple near-misses, I've never had these things happen to me in taxi's. Not all taxi drivers are great either but the even the bad ones are…

So use taxi, if you like it so much. Keeping people "safe" against their will and with money from their own pockets is evil, to say the least.

Re: Uber Is Dealt a Fresh Blow in European Legal Case

#17

Post by rickpmg » Tue, Jul 04, 2017, 9:51 PM UTC

k-mcgrady wrote: post #5

Shivetya wrote: post #2

so can anyone speak to what it entails to gain a taxi license? is this a burdensome requirement on those who want to drive? I have no issue with requiring specific insurance as anyone driving for any ride share service is just risking too much without proper coverage. in the US far too much occupational regulation/licensing only serves now to protect current providers effectively locking out or deterring competition.

Depends on the country probably but it can include things like: - Holding a regular driving license for n years - First aid training - Taxi specific theory/practical driving test - Passing extra vehicle tests (I know where I'm from they used to require taxis to be fitted with small fire extinguishers for example). - Background check

I heard in London that cabbies also have to know all sorts of landmarks/touristy types of attractions by heart.

Re: Uber Is Dealt a Fresh Blow in European Legal Case

#18

Post by celticninja » Tue, Jul 04, 2017, 9:51 PM UTC

friedman23 wrote: post #13

What is the saying, "Cutting off the nose to spite the face"? As Europe continues to add laws and regulations targeted at American tech companies they will further prevent any innovative businesses from growing and thriving in Europe. Also before you respond, I am really not interested in legalist arguments, especially when the laws themselves were designed by and for entrenched interests. It's been 17 years since th…

It's not anti American though, it just so happens that US firms are the first of these types of companies. The rulings that are set apply to all companies equally so Chinese and European firms are bound by the same rules.

Re: Uber Is Dealt a Fresh Blow in European Legal Case

#19

Post by orf » Tue, Jul 04, 2017, 9:52 PM UTC

Shivetya wrote: post #2

so can anyone speak to what it entails to gain a taxi license? is this a burdensome requirement on those who want to drive? I have no issue with requiring specific insurance as anyone driving for any ride share service is just risking too much without proper coverage. in the US far too much occupational regulation/licensing only serves now to protect current providers effectively locking out or deterring competition.

In London they have to pass a test called "the knowledge"[1]. It's the "hardest taxi test in the world" and quite impressive. It ensures taxi drivers actually know what they are doing and where they are going, not just blindly following their GPS.

> To become an All-London taxi driver or Green badge holder you need to master no fewer than 320 basic routes, all of the 25,000 streets that are scattered within the basic routes and approximately 20,000 landmarks and places of public interest that are located within a six-mile radius of Charing Cross.

> It takes the average person between 2 and 4 years to learn the knowledge, a lot however depends on how much time and effort they are willing to dedicate in learning it.

1. https://www.theknowledgetaxi.co.uk/

Re: Uber Is Dealt a Fresh Blow in European Legal Case

#20

Post by supergirl » Tue, Jul 04, 2017, 9:52 PM UTC

friedman23 wrote: post #13

What is the saying, "Cutting off the nose to spite the face"? As Europe continues to add laws and regulations targeted at American tech companies they will further prevent any innovative businesses from growing and thriving in Europe. Also before you respond, I am really not interested in legalist arguments, especially when the laws themselves were designed by and for entrenched interests. It's been 17 years since th…

> innovative businesses

what's innovative about pirate taxis? they're as old as taxis