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LibreTaxi – A free and open source alternative to Uber and Lyft

libretaxi.org

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Re: LibreTaxi – A free and open source alternative to Uber and Lyft

#151

Post by yoz-y »

slowmotiony wrote: post #79
tom_mellior wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As far as I understand, BlaBlaCar has some centralized controls on your identity since payments go through them and changing your payment info is not quite as easy as making up a new nickname. That's a big difference to an anonymous-by-default cash-only network.

They operated for years without accepting payments, the payment is a recent thing.

Their business model is to first expand to a territory by providing a simple connection between passengers and drivers. Then, when their user base is large enough, they introduce the payment system.

However, when I was using the service it was quite common to get the drivers number and contact them directly for the "next" time.

Re: LibreTaxi – A free and open source alternative to Uber and Lyft

#152

Post by germanier »

dclowd9901 wrote: post #110
mschuster91 wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Paying cash is a non-starter. That certainly depends on the country. Good luck living cashless in Europe, especially in Germany where virtually no small store, food vendor etc. has a CC reader.

I went to small towns and big cities there and the only cash I paid was for tolls. Where specifically are you talking about?

Are we talking about the same Germany? There are extremely few toll roads (as in: most Germans will never use one in their life) and uniformly across the country, small shops (such as bakeries and food stalls) operate on cash only. Basically mostly national chains take cards, for the rest it's hit and miss.

In other European countries things look different: On the other extreme is Sweden which I visit regularly. I couldn't even tell you how their cash looks like because I haven't used any for a long time.

Re: LibreTaxi – A free and open source alternative to Uber and Lyft

#153

Post by superquest »

spIrr wrote: post #131

I'll post a comment from ProductHunt, which might give a bit more context to where the founder sees this going, and why cash rides make sense under certain circumstances he designed the app for: […] I have gone to the founder's blog and it provides a better understanding of where he sees it going: Uber (and similar apps) will never reach many remote villages, cities and regions around the world (and don't have to), b…

If they're playing a long-tail game like this, would it make accepting credit card payments more difficult? Maybe that's why they don't handle payment?

I know these Stripe-like APIs advertise that building one integration will allow you to send (to driver) and receive (from rider) money in many different currencies, but I have to believe it would be extremely tough to do. Support overhead alone would be large. Is this accurate?

I also imagine that these more remote communities have more of a cash economy than urban communities, but this is a complete guess.

Re: LibreTaxi – A free and open source alternative to Uber and Lyft

#154

Post by parasanti »

spIrr wrote: post #131

I'll post a comment from ProductHunt, which might give a bit more context to where the founder sees this going, and why cash rides make sense under certain circumstances he designed the app for: […] I have gone to the founder's blog and it provides a better understanding of where he sees it going: Uber (and similar apps) will never reach many remote villages, cities and regions around the world (and don't have to), b…

Uber is trying to address the Credit Card issues after it noticed that lots of Singaporeans, maids and foreign labor do not have credit cards but still needs the service. They accept cash now. https://www.techinasia.com/uber-cash-payments-singapore

Re: LibreTaxi – A free and open source alternative to Uber and Lyft

#155

Post by [deleted] »

coffeedoughnuts wrote: post #3

Re: Credit Card Integration Stripe doesn't really cost that much; you could support card payments and pass the stripe fees along to both parties (50/50 to the passenger and driver) This is a really good idea if it can take off, but I think cash only is a non-starter, though I understand the restriction initially

[deleted]

Re: LibreTaxi – A free and open source alternative to Uber and Lyft

#156

Post by adevine »

antonioevans wrote: post #70
jasode wrote: post #54

>, pay cash upon arrival. Paying cash is a non-starter. I haven't been to a bank ATM in over 10 years. I don't even know what my card's secret PIN is to make a cash withdrawal. Being virtually cashless by using credit-cards for everything is very common in professional circles. A credit-card is simpler and the exact line-item amount showing up on my monthly statement helps me keep track of travel expenses. (Also, man…

That is a first world problem. Majority of the the world does not have a credit card or real access to a card. Majority of world pays with cash. A statement like this is similar to when I see American abroad and shocked that places don't take Amex for purchases. It's a very first world thing to even own an Amex let alone use it for a small purchases below $50.

Places like Kenya have been leading the world in mobile payments.

Re: LibreTaxi – A free and open source alternative to Uber and Lyft

#158

Post by megous »

kkhire wrote: post #12

This is the height of stupidity. If you absolutely refuse to use any products built by C-suite execs that advise and/or support Trump, then go live as a hermit in the wilderness. edit: Uber/lyft are built by smart and motivated technologists who spend everyday making the most sophisticated ridesharing platforms out there. To use an unvetted and unsafe knockoff is inane.

Haha, this was the same argument used by traditional Taxi companies againt Uber. :D This is rich.

Re: LibreTaxi – A free and open source alternative to Uber and Lyft

#159

Post by 6502nerdface »

germanier wrote: post #144
6502nerdface wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wouldn't being uninsured for liability be equally bad whether the driver makes a profit or not? If you injure someone and are at fault or get sued, that's a major civil liability, regardless of whether the person you injured was paying you or not.

As long as you don't make a profit the usual (and legally mandated) liability insurance covers all passengers.

I see, right, because personal drivers' insurance will often have exclusions for business use.

Re: LibreTaxi – A free and open source alternative to Uber and Lyft

#160

Post by slowmotiony »

yoz-y wrote: post #151
slowmotiony wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They operated for years without accepting payments, the payment is a recent thing.

Their business model is to first expand to a territory by providing a simple connection between passengers and drivers. Then, when their user base is large enough, they introduce the payment system. However, when I was using the service it was quite common to get the drivers number and contact them directly for the "next" time.

My point is that since the payments are a recent change, previously the rides were in fact completely anonymous.
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