The disruptive nature of Uber will make policy makers eventually doubt who to support: should they keep protecting the jobs of the taxi industry while Uber is creating jobs at a much higher pace?
Uber sign-ups soar by 850 percent as cab drivers protest
51–60 of 76 posts
Re: Uber sign-ups soar by 850 percent as cab drivers protest
#52Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes, because the only reason those regulations are in place is a lobbying industry trying for a monopoly. Care for the safety and treatment of the actual passengers would never enter the mind of a politician. And of course this is true for every country affected.
I think you're being sarcastic, but as a first approximation it's so close to what many actually think that the sarcasm might be lost. :)
I didn't think it was sarcasm - I'm one of those people you're talking about.
edit: reading again - yeah it's a pretty black and white statement and the truth is always grey-er, but I'm an American who has absolutely no faith in most of our govt anymore so it hits home.
Re: Uber sign-ups soar by 850 percent as cab drivers protest
#53The disruptive nature of Uber will make policy makers eventually doubt who to support: should they keep protecting the jobs of the taxi industry while Uber is creating jobs at a much higher pace?
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Re: Uber sign-ups soar by 850 percent as cab drivers protest
#54With both the taxi and hotel industries being disrupted (technical meaning), I wonder if there's a pattern here... Is it a direct consequential of the web, enabling new ways to connect customers and providers? Or, deeper societal forces at work, making this a general time of change for other, non-technological reasons? Or just coincidence...?
The web started as a distributed system. It is turning these industries into distributed systems (A car from a person with time and a car at a time when a consumer needs a car as opposed to strict 8 hour shifts. A bed from a person with a bed when a consumer needs a bed as opposed to a centralized location with many beds). It will be interesting if we see these newly distributed systems consolidate in the future. And I wouldn't be surprised to see realtors with house hotels rented through air BnB. And I've noticed there are already plenty of people with cars looking for uber drivers.
I think it is a direct consequence. When people can so easily access and post information regarding availability of luxuries and commodities it relieves the need for centralization. The question should be, what's the cost? Do I go to the hotel which will be able to put me in another room when there are problems? Or go for the quaint feeling of a person's home. Homes are generally in residential areas, but if I'm touring I might want the luxury of staying in downtown. Hopefully these two industries can live side by side to provide the greatest good for the greatest number of consumers.
(This doesn't even include the possible costs in terms of flimsy insurance guidelines for Uber drivers in some municipalities or locales, or property value depreciation for neighborhoods that become AirBnB traps with many units being turned essentially into mini hotels.)
The valuations are insane, so it looks like these companies are here to stay. It will be interesting to watch.
Re: Uber sign-ups soar by 850 percent as cab drivers protest
#55Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is a misrepresentation. Taxi drivers are not protesting against the regulation. In fact, in most places taxi drivers and their unions are strong supporters of the said regulations and have worked for decades to get it in place. It's a typical situation where a bunch of "insiders" have striven for years to keep "outsiders" away with the goal of reducing competition. Another typical aspect to this situation is how…
Yes, because the only reason those regulations are in place is a lobbying industry trying for a monopoly. Care for the safety and treatment of the actual passengers would never enter the mind of a politician. And of course this is true for every country affected.
Funny enough, I feel much safer in an uber car than a taxi.
Technology has succeeded where the government has failed.
Re: Uber sign-ups soar by 850 percent as cab drivers protest
#56The disruptive nature of Uber will make policy makers eventually doubt who to support: should they keep protecting the jobs of the taxi industry while Uber is creating jobs at a much higher pace?
They are protecting tax revenues, not the taxi industry.
Re: Uber sign-ups soar by 850 percent as cab drivers protest
#57This seems like an extremely risky move by the "official" cab drivers. Angering their potential customers and removing themselves from the pool of drivers for the strike just seems like it would send people running into Uber's open arms.
Re: Uber sign-ups soar by 850 percent as cab drivers protest
#58I saw that the protest cost London something like ~650 million pounds. Seems like the Police should just block the front of the line, arrest all the drviers and tow their cars one by one. Would clear up traffic and would send a pretty clear message that fucking everyone in a city because you're upset is not okay.
Re: Uber sign-ups soar by 850 percent as cab drivers protest
#59Earlier quoted context omitted.
They pay income taxes. The primary intent of medallions is not to raise funds for infrastructure. Their goal is to keep people out of the business. You can tell by the fact that they're regressive: they burden lower-income persons more than higher-income thereby preventing new competition from low-skilled workers and guaranteeing safety to the incumbents.
Income taxes for drivers likely do not benefit the municipalities where the cars are driving. e.g. The drivers would be consuming space and wear and tear in NYC, but living in Jersey. NYC roads and services necessary to support increased congestion get burdened, but no tax dollars help support them. A regressive policy has nothing to do with the goal of the medallions. They cost what market forces will support. The g…
Medallions are meant to regulate supply with demand, nothing more. Other fees go to road maintenance (gas tax, tab tax, tolls, etc...) and are actually sort of related to usage.
Uber is doing what it can disrupt the status quo, the laws are ambiguous enough that they can get away with it. Admirable in my opinion.
Re: Uber sign-ups soar by 850 percent as cab drivers protest
#60Earlier quoted context omitted.
Why don't they become uber drivers, then? I guess that keeping the taxi driver status is quite expensive also.
They've already invested an average of 34 months learning the London streets. You'd get a similar reaction if itw ere possible, say, for someone to become a doctor by signing up with a startup rather than going to medical school. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxicabs_of_the_United_Kingdom#...
Well, medical school is useful. 34 months of learning the London streets is an artificial barrier to entry for new competitors.