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Show HN: Real-time Fare Estimate Comparisons for Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, and Taxi

whatsthefare.com

51–60 of 66 posts

Re: Show HN: Real-time Fare Estimate Comparisons for Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, and Taxi

#51

Uber API TOS says: "You may not use the Uber API in any manner that is competitive to Uber or the Uber Services, including in connection with any application, website or other product or service that also includes, features, endorses, or otherwise supports in any way a third party that provides services competitive to Uber’s products and services, as determined in our sole discretion." https://developer.uber.com/v1/t…

I get the impression from the site that they have the fare rates, but are calculating distance and drive time using google maps and estimating the cost of the service. If this is true, they wouldn't need to use the API to run the site.

Re: Show HN: Real-time Fare Estimate Comparisons for Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, and Taxi

#52

I love products like these. Slices right through all the promotional noise like "fun drivers," "fast pick-up times," "clean cars," etc and gets right to chase -- price. At the end of the day, they are all taxi services in my book. Whichever gets me from point A to point B the cheapest wins my dollars. Fast pick-up times, a sexy functional app, and other common sense differentiators are expectations now, not selling p…

the quality of the car actually matters to me. in my experience Uber cars tend to be clean and well-maintained internally. i've only tried one Lyft and it was fine, but just not as pleasant to ride in. I'm not saying that's always the case with them, but I still consider that more than cost when deciding which one to use.

Re: Show HN: Real-time Fare Estimate Comparisons for Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, and Taxi

#53
post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It shouldn't matter one bit. They're legally obligated to take you anywhere in the five boroughs. Just get in before telling them your destination. If they give you flak (and you feel like fighting them), just take note of their medallion # and state clearly that you will report them if they fail to fulfill their obligation.

Or, you know, pay an extra $3 to Uber and avoid that situation all together. It shouldn't matter, but it does.

There are even fewer regulations preventing Uber drivers from declining a fare based on location - or race, or gender, or they don't like your sports team, or anything.

Re: Show HN: Real-time Fare Estimate Comparisons for Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, and Taxi

#54
post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> At the end of the day, they are all taxi services in my book. Unless you live in New York, and are trying to get from Manhattan to one of the outer boroughs, in which case getting a yellow cab is a total crapshoot.

It shouldn't matter one bit. They're legally obligated to take you anywhere in the five boroughs. Just get in before telling them your destination. If they give you flak (and you feel like fighting them), just take note of their medallion # and state clearly that you will report them if they fail to fulfill their obligation.

You're absolutely right, but it's still a crapshoot. You being right doesn't mean that the cabbie won't argue with you, and won't just flat out refuse to take you anyway, despite the risk of being reported.

In a perfect world, etc.

Re: Show HN: Real-time Fare Estimate Comparisons for Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, and Taxi

#55
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or, you know, pay an extra $3 to Uber and avoid that situation all together. It shouldn't matter, but it does.

There are even fewer regulations preventing Uber drivers from declining a fare based on location - or race, or gender, or they don't like your sports team, or anything.

Does that actually happen?

Re: Show HN: Real-time Fare Estimate Comparisons for Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, and Taxi

#56
For NYC to New Jersey the fare estimate does not take into account bridge and tunnel tolls. I was getting $19, $23 and $23 for Taxi, Uber and Lyft respectively, which is very low for all of those services. A typical taxi will cost $45-$55 from Manhattan to Jersey City or Hoboken.

Re: Show HN: Real-time Fare Estimate Comparisons for Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, and Taxi

#57
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are even fewer regulations preventing Uber drivers from declining a fare based on location - or race, or gender, or they don't like your sports team, or anything.

Does that actually happen?

This article claims that Uber is actually better than cabs because the drivers don't know your race when they agree to pick you up. http://www.racialicious.com/2012/11/28/cab-drivers-uber-and-...

Re: Show HN: Real-time Fare Estimate Comparisons for Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, and Taxi

#58
post #47
post #12

Nice. Now just give me an iPhone app where I push a button and it sends me the cheapest, closest car from any of those companies.

One of my buddies tried this idea. It seems to have failed (their website is now down). Archive: http://appcrawlr.com/ios/red-ride-ride-sharing-car-picku

They ended up getting a C&D from Uber.

Re: Show HN: Real-time Fare Estimate Comparisons for Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, and Taxi

#60
This is alarmingly inaccurate. Says it'd take $71 to take a taxi from Alexandria, VA to NE Washington, D.C.

If you live in the area, you'd know that's a bold-faced lie. It'd probably cost $25-$30 bucks, the same price being quoted for Lyft and Uber.

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