Uber has defeated Bill de Blasio’s plan to rein them in • Hacker News Board

Re: Uber has defeated Bill de Blasio’s plan to rein them in

#211

Post by vasilipupkin » Thu, Jul 23, 2015, 12:42 PM UTC

tzs wrote: post #115

vasilipupkin wrote: post #83

There is a restaurant in Chicago called El Ideas http://www.eater.com/2015/4/27/8486425/phillip-foss-el-ideas... It's in a neighborhood that has no cabs and driving there not pleasant or convenient. Last night the chef told me if it wasn't for Uber, they probably wouldn't have survived

Why did they put their restaurant in a location that depends on a single, possibly illegal, transportation service to get their customers to them? Was that location easier to get to when they opened?

First of all, it's perfectly legal in Illinois and Chicago in particular, because Illinois and Uber worked it out. Secondly, obviously because rent is significantly cheaper in that neighborhood.

Re: Uber has defeated Bill de Blasio’s plan to rein them in

#212

Post by danieltillett » Thu, Jul 23, 2015, 12:43 PM UTC

pcrh wrote: post #200

morgante wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think that's a viable strategy. If it were, Lyft would be successfully deploying it. Namely, I see 3 primary flaws: 1. A marginally lower price is not by itself enough to achieve market penetration. If it takes 5-10 minutes longer to get a ride on your platform (due to fewer drivers), I'm not going to use it—even if you are 20% cheaper (wiping out Uber's entire margin). 2. You're ignoring the pooling savings…

I can see a competitor using the fast food model to effectively compete with Uber. By having a large enough number of clean, reliable and uniform cars a competitor would provide a more consistent and predictable ride than Uber, which relies on its drivers subsidizing the cost of a variety of different vehicles. Sure, you would be getting a McTaxi instead of an a la carte experience, but at least you would know what y…

You raise a very good point. When it comes to a service like Uber most people just want a McTaxi experience; they want to get to where they want to go efficiently in a safe and friendly manner. They are not looking for more than this.

The reason McDonalds is successful is not because they produce great food, but because they meet a minimum standard in consistent way. The way Uber currently works make this hard to deliver.

Re: Uber has defeated Bill de Blasio’s plan to rein them in

#213

Post by xacaxulu » Thu, Jul 23, 2015, 12:44 PM UTC

No matter what Uber does, they always please me with stuff like this. It makes the anarch-libertarian blood run warm to see government cronies routinely bested and consumers offered superior services in a market that was ripe for innovation. Now we need this type of disruption in health care and education.

Re: Uber has defeated Bill de Blasio’s plan to rein them in

#214

Post by danieltillett » Thu, Jul 23, 2015, 12:46 PM UTC

MaysonL wrote: post #201

danieltillett wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Namely, I see 3 primary flaws: 1. A marginally lower price is not by itself enough to achieve market penetration. If it takes 5-10 minutes longer to get a ride on your platform (due to fewer drivers), I'm not going to use it—even if you are 20% cheaper (wiping out Uber's entire margin). I think you have assumed that I would not have as many drivers on the road as Uber. I would have as many or more - hence the need to…

Another answer to point 3 would be DOJ intervention. They do occasionally prosecute antitrust cases.

This would be the hope, but these cases can take a long time. I am not sure if it is a good idea to rely on the DOJ for your business model.

Re: Uber has defeated Bill de Blasio’s plan to rein them in

#215

Post by soyiuz » Thu, Jul 23, 2015, 1:02 PM UTC

jrockway wrote: post #48

I don't really like Uber's business practices but they do fill an essential niche in New York City. A couple years ago, the city allowed independent car services to paint their cars green and take street hails. They previously did this, of course, but it wasn't legal. And of course, not every "black car" became a green cab, so this still happens. It's the standard way to get around the outer boroughs of New York. I w…

Just to clarify: green cabs are allowed to pick up street hails in Manhattan, North of West 110th street and north of East 96th street. http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/industry/shl.shtml

The city now also promotes its own hailing app called Way2Ride, which has Uber-like features (pay by mobile and request hail to location). https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.verifone.w...

Re: Uber has defeated Bill de Blasio’s plan to rein them in

#216

Post by vasilipupkin » Thu, Jul 23, 2015, 1:05 PM UTC

eru wrote: post #129

tzs wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why did they put their restaurant in a location that depends on a single, possibly illegal, transportation service to get their customers to them? Was that location easier to get to when they opened?

In theory, they should pay lower rent for a bad location. Uber, in driving up their profits, should in the longer term also drive up their rent. The landlord will eat all the advantage eventually.

it won't drive up their rent, because it's a really not a great neighborhood and doesn't show any sign of improving

Re: Uber has defeated Bill de Blasio’s plan to rein them in

#217

Post by soyiuz » Thu, Jul 23, 2015, 1:05 PM UTC

zschallz wrote: post #59

jrockway wrote: post #48

I don't really like Uber's business practices but they do fill an essential niche in New York City. A couple years ago, the city allowed independent car services to paint their cars green and take street hails. They previously did this, of course, but it wasn't legal. And of course, not every "black car" became a green cab, so this still happens. It's the standard way to get around the outer boroughs of New York. I w…

Even the yellow cabs within Manhattan would not take me places within Manhattan when hailed. They would stop and ask where to-- when I told them where (touristy areas) they'd just drive off.

"It is against the law for a taxi driver on duty to refuse to pick you up because of race, disability, or destination within New York City." http://www1.nyc.gov/nyc-resources/service/2599/yellow-taxi-c...

Write down their licence plate if this ever happens and report. Otherwise, as has been said: get in first then address always.

Re: Uber has defeated Bill de Blasio’s plan to rein them in

#218

Post by driverdan » Thu, Jul 23, 2015, 1:07 PM UTC

backtoyoujim wrote: post #49

Does anyone on HN "work" for either of Uber or Lyft? There seems to be a lot "uber workers this" and "lyft workers that" without much substance.

I spend every Lyft ride I take talking to the driver about what it's like driving for them. The majority also drive for Uber. They always say positive things although that may be due to self censorship.

Re: Uber has defeated Bill de Blasio’s plan to rein them in

#219

Post by arbitrage » Thu, Jul 23, 2015, 1:07 PM UTC

yummyfajitas wrote: post #204

mhaymo wrote: post #193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The road is a limited common resource, and it's difficult to directly charge drivers per their usage of it, so the local government uses other forms of regulation.

It's not difficult at all. Gas taxes pretty much pay for this. Congestion charges also work nicely in cities.

Gas taxes are less equitable now with more electric vehicles.

Re: Uber has defeated Bill de Blasio’s plan to rein them in

#220

Post by soyiuz » Thu, Jul 23, 2015, 1:11 PM UTC

jasonbarone wrote: post #100

Hominem wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As others have said, if the cab has the "on duty" light on, just get in. If, and the happens a lot late at night, the cab does not have the on duty light on you can negotiate. I've gotten steep discounts or even free rides for agreeing to do stuff like pick up the drivers wife off the clock on the way home. Like everything in New York, everything is negotiable.

But don't think you're safe there. If you have the slightest hesitation at all in your tonality, the driver will all of the sudden get a case of "I don't know that location, can you give me directions". I experienced that when I first moved here back to back one night because I didn't understand the "process" of getting a cab in New York. Point is, cabs are completely shady, and nearly all have horrible service. Sinc…

I take cabs daily and my experience does not match yours. Most NYC cabbies are quite friendly. Most are also immigrants with interesting stories.

In Harlem, where I live, cabs will actively honk for any potential fare, especially to the airport. You'll have multiple cabs trying to get you if you have a suitcase. From my conversations with drivers, they prefer airport fares.