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Lyft Carpool: A New Way to Commute

blog.lyft.com

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Re: Lyft Carpool: A New Way to Commute

#181

Post by venomsnake »

nxzero wrote: post #114
chockablock wrote: post #19

No driver background checks or vehicle inspections, per the TOS [0]: "The Carpool Platform is operated by Clara Rides, Inc., not Lyft, Inc. Clara Rides, Inc. is not a Transportation Network Company or a transportation service. Clara Rides and Lyft do not conduct criminal background checks on Carpool Drivers, perform vehicle inspections on vehicles used for Carpool Rides, or provide insurance for Carpool Rides." [0] h…

Most people are more concerned about getting somewhere than reading contracts, seeing proof of insurance, etc. -- this based on seeing how commuter sharing systems work in the wild. If you're super concerned, next time you flag down a taxi make sure you make sure they're not a "rogue" cabbie; them being uninsured is the the least of your concerns.

That is why I always call taxi on address. And when I can't I usually use cars of big reputable companies.

Re: Lyft Carpool: A New Way to Commute

#182

Post by jerguismi »

whoopdedo wrote: post #166
rdtsc wrote: post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

DC has had a carpooling system since 1975 (it is called slugging, drivers pick up "slugs" ;-) so they can drive on I-66 during rush hour). And guess what, nobody checks drivers' backgrounds. Granted state of Virginia already has vehicle inspections (mandatory every year) so maybe the answer is to just have those in each state. But yeah the system works fine. An acquintance working for the DHS hasn't driven herself to…

Sluggers also don't exchange any money. http://slug-lines.com/Slugging/Etiquette.asp

Sounds a little stupid to me: "No money, gifts, or tokens of appreciation are ever offered or requested. A driver doesn’t expect the riders to help out with gas money. The relationship between the driver and rider is mutually supporting. The driver needs the slugs just as much as the slugs need the driver. If a driver wants help with the gas, he should organize his own car pool. He shouldn’t ask a slug to pitch in for helping him access the HOV!"

Car costs money, gasoline costs money. How do the drivers need the riders? Sounds like just plain stupid to me. Money is a good invention and tool, why not to use it.

Edit: realized that this allows the drivers to use express lanes, which are common in US. (Don't have those in my country).

Re: Lyft Carpool: A New Way to Commute

#183

Post by jacalata »

Cookingboy wrote: post #44
loco5niner wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The "up to" parts make me think they will be taking a cut ;-)

Well the math says they won't. If the most a rider can pay is $10, and if Lyft takes a cut, then the max the driver will receive will be less than $10, which is not what they say.

If 3 riders paid $5 each and Lyft took one third of that, the driver would get $10.

Re: Lyft Carpool: A New Way to Commute

#184

Post by eru »

Spooky23 wrote: post #139
dmix wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Most people are more concerned about getting somewhere than reading contracts Indeed. I'd also add "Getting somewhere cheap ..." as a primary incentive for these rides. I've used Craigslist "ride shares" between Montreal Toronto ($30) on a number of occasions. I fully understood the risks I was taking compared to paying 3x as much for a safer train ride ($100). The vehicle is advertised as being a Mercedes mini-bus…

My brother does regulation of motor carriers for a living. The answer to "how do they do it" is -- the companies are run by organized crime, use illegal immigrant labor, and do zero maintenance. When I say "no maintenance", I don't mean ripped carpets and dirty windows. We're talking no functioning brakes. When there's an accident, the bus driver just runs off.

Just like for drugs, we should probably legalize this form of transport.

Re: Lyft Carpool: A New Way to Commute

#185

Post by eli »

bduerst wrote: post #135
eli wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So... create another new platform?

A network, not a platform. Being platform agnostic makes a difference. Think of it as building an ad auction network for multiple websites and advertisers, rather than just trying to build an ad network for just your own website.

Wouldn't that require active participation of existing platforms? Seems like it'd be a tough sell.

Re: Lyft Carpool: A New Way to Commute

#186

Post by tomjen3 »

putlake wrote: post #169
crdb wrote: post #167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Background checks? I had 2 UberX/Grab (the Singaporean Lyft) drivers who openly admitted to being ex-cons - and that in Singapore too. One even laughed that British prisons were like a 5* hotel compared to Asian ones. If these companies perform background checks, what are they checking for?

Being an ex-con should not disqualify you from driving a cab. Especially in a country like the US that has obscene incarceration rates, and where who ends up in prison is a factor of race and wealth more than the seriousness of the crime. An ex-con has paid his or her "debt to society" by being in prison. If we don't let them get a job and earn a living, how will they get rehabilitated in society? Edit: typo/car/cab.

I agree if they fiddle with some numbers on a spreadsheet and payed less in taxes or smuggled drugs or something. If they beat somebody up or raped somebody I don't ever want to be near them, much less trust my life to them. I don't give a hoot if they can't get a job or be integrated in society. As far as I am concerned they are permanently broken people - probably like their victims.

Re: Lyft Carpool: A New Way to Commute

#187

Post by tomjen3 »

jdmichal wrote: post #39
philip1209 wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No insurance is a huge red flag to me

Insurance and regulation arbitrage is basically the name of the game for Uber, Lyft, and Airbnb as far as I can tell.

I spend two nights with Airbnb hosts. Both had a spare room, one was home writing her thesis the other a single mother. Both could use the additional money more than the few minutes of bathroom/kitchen time that I used.

I also spend a couple nights with family - they don't have any special insurance or taxes for me either. I don't really see any difference, I didn't annoy the neighbours in any case.

Re: Lyft Carpool: A New Way to Commute

#189

Post by rdtsc »

jerguismi wrote: post #182
whoopdedo wrote: post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sluggers also don't exchange any money. http://slug-lines.com/Slugging/Etiquette.asp

Sounds a little stupid to me: "No money, gifts, or tokens of appreciation are ever offered or requested. A driver doesn’t expect the riders to help out with gas money. The relationship between the driver and rider is mutually supporting. The driver needs the slugs just as much as the slugs need the driver. If a driver wants help with the gas, he should organize his own car pool. He shouldn’t ask a slug to pitch in fo…

Instead of just calling the system stupid you could have spent 30 seconds searching for it and seeing how it works. It is right there in the first paragraph on the wiki:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slugging

---

[...] frustration over failures of public-transport systems and high fuel prices, led to the creation in the 1970s of "slugging", a form of hitchhiking between strangers that is beneficial to both parties, as drivers and passengers are able to use the HOV lane for a quicker trip. While passengers are able to travel for free, or cheaper than via other modes of travel, and HOV drivers sometimes pay no tolls, "slugs are, above all, motivated by time saved, not money pocketed".

---

It would have taken you less time to read that than to write your comment.

Re: Lyft Carpool: A New Way to Commute

#190

Post by bastawhiz »

huac wrote: post #12

I expected a feature similar to UberPool but having the limitations on this being your daily commute is very cool. Encourages a different set of drivers and seems friendlier.

This isn't a response to UberPOOL, it's a response to UberCOMMUTE:

http://www.uberpartnerschicago.com/ubercommute/

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