Live data from Hacker News

Taxi industry lawsuit against Uber transferred from state to US court

universalhub.com

21–30 of 84 posts

Re: Taxi industry lawsuit against Uber transferred from state to US court

#21
> The companies also charge the company discriminates against cancer patients because it does not accept city coupons for discount rides for them.

Wow... nice play on cancer issue there. Very dirty too. One could argue that city discriminates against non-cancer patients by discounting only on specific illness. Since city is not controlling Uber, they are not forced to honour any city-issued coupons.

Re: Taxi industry lawsuit against Uber transferred from state to US court

#22

One thing of many in Uber's favor is that its customers are of relatively high socio-economic status, and the company treats them well. When they hear that the company is being sued by the taxi industry, they take note. It's personal. Taxi service has been bad for years, and everyone's been a victim of the absurd regulations which have lead to this sorry state. Elected officials have been accustomed to taking advanta…

Umm i think regulations came because the of the sorry state of taxis. I don't know how many times i've been ripped off in a taxi. I assume people complained and the taxi industry got heavily regulated. Just look outside the US for comparison.

Re: Taxi industry lawsuit against Uber transferred from state to US court

#24

I love the comments in the article: people from East Boston saying that it's the only way they can get a cab. I took an Uber in Boston today. I never call cabs any other way. It's faster, more convenient, they're more accountable, and when I'm in Cambridge it allows me to get a Boston cab as opposed to the horrible, horrible Cambridge cabbies. The drivers seem to like it too- every Boston cabbie I've taken an Uber wi…

[deleted]

Re: Taxi industry lawsuit against Uber transferred from state to US court

#25
post #22

One thing of many in Uber's favor is that its customers are of relatively high socio-economic status, and the company treats them well. When they hear that the company is being sued by the taxi industry, they take note. It's personal. Taxi service has been bad for years, and everyone's been a victim of the absurd regulations which have lead to this sorry state. Elected officials have been accustomed to taking advanta…

Umm i think regulations came because the of the sorry state of taxis. I don't know how many times i've been ripped off in a taxi. I assume people complained and the taxi industry got heavily regulated. Just look outside the US for comparison.

Nope, the medallion systems exist to block new competition. Sure there are some regulations that seem to favor consumers-- such as price controls-- but these are a short-term benefit, and at the cost of reduced innovation. Far better to allow competition, and customer service will improve through market action rather than government rule-making.

Re: Taxi industry lawsuit against Uber transferred from state to US court

#26
post #6

In New York, cabbies are not allowed to refuse you ride a particular neighborhood either. I never announce where I want to go before I get in (I have some friends in BKLN). One time I did get a driver who bitched about having to take me somewhere. So I made an overt stretch to look at his details posted inside the car, and then pretended to be taking a note of it. He VERY quickly complied. I didn't have to say a word…

It wouldn't be a problem if taxi's weren't limited by the government. Personally I think a taxi should be able to go wherever/whenever they want, even if that includes turning down fares or charging a surcharge to go somewhere they don't want to go.

If it's profitable to go from manhattan to brooklyn that need will be served, if it's not profitable then they need to raise the price - why should manhattan riders subsidize brooklyn?

Re: Taxi industry lawsuit against Uber transferred from state to US court

#27
This is just a side note, but on april 2 every cab in my city was suspended from service for safety violations.

http://www.wmur.com/news/nh-news/All-Manchester-taxis-suspen...

The taxi industry is not a good thing to leave unregulated. If you think uber wouldn't operate just like the rest of them because they're a trendy startup, you're delusional.

I acknowledge the call for regulation is over travel destination, but in general I sense some free market idealism here that needs to be squashed.

Re: Taxi industry lawsuit against Uber transferred from state to US court

#28
post #24

I love the comments in the article: people from East Boston saying that it's the only way they can get a cab. I took an Uber in Boston today. I never call cabs any other way. It's faster, more convenient, they're more accountable, and when I'm in Cambridge it allows me to get a Boston cab as opposed to the horrible, horrible Cambridge cabbies. The drivers seem to like it too- every Boston cabbie I've taken an Uber wi…

[deleted]

Why do you assume the regulated entity will be better? Private carriers UPS and FedEx deliver to the doorstep of my farm, whereas the "universal service" US Postal Service won't come near us and requires we have a PO Box in town.

Re: Taxi industry lawsuit against Uber transferred from state to US court

#30
post #19

I felt I got burned by Uber the first time I used them during Hurricane Sandy when I was charged a hefty fee because of their dynamic pricing. I gave them another try a month back and now find myself using the service no fewer than 5 times a week. It literally eliminates every thing I hate about calling a cab. I love it now and almost rely on it at times. I make sure to ask every single new driver about their experie…

I've had the exact same interactions with Taxi drivers. Half of them are completely unprompted by myself, and the driver will bring up Uber and ask me if I like it. Our discussion is always about the benefits of Uber, and invariably after we exchange thoughts about how great it is, and how everybody loves it, one of us brings up, "Everyone, that is, except the dispatchers and Taxi companies".

The drivers know, the customers know that this is changing the industry, many of the old models are being cast aside, and the only way some of the old guard can attempt to combat this is via lawsuits. Predictable, if sad.

(note: I took an Uber cab to work today :p)

Post reply on HN