Uber simply started to appear on streets of Las Vegas about a year ago, in complete utter defiance of Nevada's laws regulating the operation of taxi cabs. The online debates were hot and heav, and Uber's public relations people were profoundly arrogant and delusional in their argument that they didn't have to comply with Nevada law
As a result, I started to investigate who actually runs Uber. There appear to be 3 key people: A surfer type, a former D.C. political insider, and an arrogant foreigner who graduated from Stanford Law School but never bothered to take the California Bar exam where he lives and where Uber operates (despite the fact that you don't have to be a citizen to be a California lawyer). It was clear to me that the later man had complete and utter contempt for Nevada law, and for the laws of other states, despite his having "wasted up a seat" at Stanford Law School which really should have gone to a more deserving person who would respect the American legal system
Soon after it opened, the Nevada legal system ordered the business shut down.
However, Uber's management got smart, made "friends" in the Nevada Legislature (probably in the usual way), and at the end of Nevada's 2015 Legislative Session allowing Uber to operate in Nevada and not be regulated by the much maligned Taxi Cab commission, but instead be regulated by Nevada's Public Utilities Commission, a totally useless anti-consumer body
I bet Uber will follow the same path in NY too
As a result, I started to investigate who actually runs Uber. There appear to be 3 key people: A surfer type, a former D.C. political insider, and an arrogant foreigner who graduated from Stanford Law School but never bothered to take the California Bar exam where he lives and where Uber operates (despite the fact that you don't have to be a citizen to be a California lawyer). It was clear to me that the later man had complete and utter contempt for Nevada law, and for the laws of other states, despite his having "wasted up a seat" at Stanford Law School which really should have gone to a more deserving person who would respect the American legal system
Soon after it opened, the Nevada legal system ordered the business shut down.
However, Uber's management got smart, made "friends" in the Nevada Legislature (probably in the usual way), and at the end of Nevada's 2015 Legislative Session allowing Uber to operate in Nevada and not be regulated by the much maligned Taxi Cab commission, but instead be regulated by Nevada's Public Utilities Commission, a totally useless anti-consumer body
I bet Uber will follow the same path in NY too
4
Regulation of cabs for the public good. Insurance of cabs. Insurance for drivers. Oh, sorry, a great new app—like AirBnB?—that benefits some, and damned be the consequences for the city and society.
Let's bring back forced servitude, get rid of all those homeless cluttering the streets.
Let's bring back forced servitude, get rid of all those homeless cluttering the streets.
1
They can yack all they want about dominance, 'surge pricing" and congestion. I want a choice. I have no pity for the wealthy taxi fleet owners, who flood the streets of Manhattan with dirty cars that have no place for your legs, drivers whose knowledge of the city and it's laws is questionable, and whose communication seems directed only at those on the other end of their cell phones. This is America, ladies and gents, and we have business choices in America. If I prefer a nice clean car that shows up in minutes, where the driver treats me like a customer instead of a non-entity, and it's availability has nothing to do with how much money Mr. DeBlasio pocketed for his radical political future, give it to me please.
3
I have another idea...
On Monday Tuesday Thursday and Friday mornings, 50% of all parked cars in Harlem, the upper east side, upper west side, Chelsea, and other residential neighborhoods are forced *into* traffic and *onto* the streets to make way for a fleet of high speed low, polluting street sweepers that are I search of sucking up a wayward candy wrapper or some other small barely noticed piece of urban detritus.
In the 70s when the city was a hellhole and filthy and the lack of civic engagement was at an all time high, sweeping the streets of middle class and upscale residential neighborhoods four times a week may have made sense, but in 2015 is the street litter problem in these neighborhoods at such a priority that thousands of cars need to be forced *into* traffic at weekday mornings?
Sweeping the streets of clean stable residential neighborhoods once a week will take hundreds of thousands of cars off the streets and keep them parked and inactive where they should be.
On Monday Tuesday Thursday and Friday mornings, 50% of all parked cars in Harlem, the upper east side, upper west side, Chelsea, and other residential neighborhoods are forced *into* traffic and *onto* the streets to make way for a fleet of high speed low, polluting street sweepers that are I search of sucking up a wayward candy wrapper or some other small barely noticed piece of urban detritus.
In the 70s when the city was a hellhole and filthy and the lack of civic engagement was at an all time high, sweeping the streets of middle class and upscale residential neighborhoods four times a week may have made sense, but in 2015 is the street litter problem in these neighborhoods at such a priority that thousands of cars need to be forced *into* traffic at weekday mornings?
Sweeping the streets of clean stable residential neighborhoods once a week will take hundreds of thousands of cars off the streets and keep them parked and inactive where they should be.
It is interesting to read an article that features David Plouffe, and which neglects to mention that he served as the campaign manager for the Obama 2008 campaign. How cynical that he set his Uber pitch in Sylvia's.
As for the De Blah Blah administration -they are losing the spin on this because they fail to focus on the insurance issue. Legislation requiring specific third party passenger coverage on the insurance card of anyone picking up strangers for fares would allow TLC to crack down on Uber by summoning drivers, then fining them and confiscating their vehicles for being inadequately insured. Protecting the public should be paramount. The insurance should include a rider provision whereby the insurance companies contribute to the CIty for its enforcement and regulation. Uber could afford it, they have fat margins built into their fare structure. If the public doesn't like it they can vote with their wallets.
As for the De Blah Blah administration -they are losing the spin on this because they fail to focus on the insurance issue. Legislation requiring specific third party passenger coverage on the insurance card of anyone picking up strangers for fares would allow TLC to crack down on Uber by summoning drivers, then fining them and confiscating their vehicles for being inadequately insured. Protecting the public should be paramount. The insurance should include a rider provision whereby the insurance companies contribute to the CIty for its enforcement and regulation. Uber could afford it, they have fat margins built into their fare structure. If the public doesn't like it they can vote with their wallets.
3
The idea that Uber should be able to operate without any public accountability only makes to Ayn Rand's love children. Uber's head honcho Travis Kalanick proudly counts himself in that number. Uber has been extremely successful in raising huge capitalization in a very short time a la Groupon (remember Groupon? Bubble anyone?) The pattern is to strong arm local pols in every market they enter in part by mobilizing Uber's clientele and drivers whose naivete and desperation are tailor made for the game that's being run. Of course the taxi industry has been its own worst enemy because of its well deserved reputation for poor service, etc. The question is why should anyone believe that a new unaccountable monopoly run by 21st century robber barons be any better than what we've got?
4
Seeing Uber corporate PR trolls defending their criminal tax-evading multibillion dollar enterprise at the expense of thousands of local law-abiding transportation businesses, at the expense of our residents who can't find parking and are forced to breeze polluted air with 26,000 Uber cars driving all around non-stop, one must realize - that this criminal enterprise is the most despicable lowlife corporate entity ever existed lying 24/7 while overcharging passengers are deceiving those naïve still believing and using it.
If you have Uber - get rid of it. Plus, you won't be tracked.... or Uber-ed.
If you have Uber - get rid of it. Plus, you won't be tracked.... or Uber-ed.
8
Yes, the constant tracking of customers by Uber, even when the customers are not is Uber vehicles is very Orwellian, especially given the personality and attitude of the one Uber top executive from Stanford I mention in my comment above.
2
If it were possible to order a taxi and have it arrive at my location in 10 minutes, I would do that. If it were possible to walk outside my apartment and stand on the street and have any sort of guarantee that a taxi would come by and pick me up, I would do that too.
But guess what... I can't do either of those things. So Uber, for me is great when I need a ride home from work or to the airport from home.
The green borough taxis are nice, but there aren't enough of them milling around that you can just go put your hand up on the street and expect to get a ride within a certain time frame. I live in Inwood, and although I see plenty of green taxis go by, I have no guarantee there will be one available when I need to get somewhere fast... and one of the main reasons I would take a car versus riding the subway is because I am running late.
Being able to request a ride on my phone and know that someone will be available in 10 mins or so is the main reason I use Uber.
The other reason is that I don't have to tip separately and I don't even have to get out my credit card or cash. I hate it that when you use a credit card in a taxi, it defaults to a 20% tip... seriously? When the driver is often surly and smelly, the car dirty? I can and do sometimes change the tip to be less, but I dislike the implication that I'm being cheap by lowering the tip from the default. Plus Uber is almost always cheaper than a cab, so double win.
But guess what... I can't do either of those things. So Uber, for me is great when I need a ride home from work or to the airport from home.
The green borough taxis are nice, but there aren't enough of them milling around that you can just go put your hand up on the street and expect to get a ride within a certain time frame. I live in Inwood, and although I see plenty of green taxis go by, I have no guarantee there will be one available when I need to get somewhere fast... and one of the main reasons I would take a car versus riding the subway is because I am running late.
Being able to request a ride on my phone and know that someone will be available in 10 mins or so is the main reason I use Uber.
The other reason is that I don't have to tip separately and I don't even have to get out my credit card or cash. I hate it that when you use a credit card in a taxi, it defaults to a 20% tip... seriously? When the driver is often surly and smelly, the car dirty? I can and do sometimes change the tip to be less, but I dislike the implication that I'm being cheap by lowering the tip from the default. Plus Uber is almost always cheaper than a cab, so double win.
3
What will happen when these Uber drivers tire of this “fad” and move on to more popular apps?
It is estimated that Uber Drivers average ~$10/hr! Seems that a part of the population wants to only ride with a similar class of drivers. Giving each other “yelp” type ratings-5 stars for both passengers and drivers. High school all over again.
Just as AIrBnB wants to take over for hotels. Running hotel and travel industries by apps is insane. Someone is making billions of dollars and it sure isn’t the Uber and Lyft drivers.
We’re back to .01% making money and the rest making pennies.
Personally I want taxi service and hotels that have rules and regulations.
It is estimated that Uber Drivers average ~$10/hr! Seems that a part of the population wants to only ride with a similar class of drivers. Giving each other “yelp” type ratings-5 stars for both passengers and drivers. High school all over again.
Just as AIrBnB wants to take over for hotels. Running hotel and travel industries by apps is insane. Someone is making billions of dollars and it sure isn’t the Uber and Lyft drivers.
We’re back to .01% making money and the rest making pennies.
Personally I want taxi service and hotels that have rules and regulations.
8
They can stick it uber their...you know what I mean. They make millions on the backs of licensed, tested, cabmen everywhere. If you need a ride, ask a friend. If you need a friend to ask, make friends with others you like/like you. Leave you phone at home.
4
The clear solution to all of this is congestion pricing. Less traffic, less pollution, and more funding for transit. Seems pretty straightforward to me.
1
Less congestion? Let’s do what Rome does.
Tourists in Rome and other Italian cities know that the cities have restricted driving zones to reduce traffic congestion. If you drive there without a permit you will be fined as much as 99 euros ($136). If your hotel lies within such a zone and you need to drive there to park or unload luggage, you are exempt from the fine but need to ask the hotel to send your license number to the traffic police to avoid a citation.
For tourists the best option is the BTI, Biglietto Turistico Integrato, which for € 11 gives you unlimited travel for 3 days on Rome underground trains, buses, trams, trolley buses, and on some regional railway trains.
The USA needs to understand that transport by private car is completely outdated. It makes NO sense to have this type of car congestion. Cable cars, trolleys, bicycles, and natural gas buses that we had in Honolulu. Free Wi-Fi, clean, A/C, and EVERY bus is a “kneeling” bus that allows the disabled easy access. The only individual vehicles are hand-vans for the very disabled that require the driver to help people on and off in wheelchairs and gurneys.
The .01% just can’t have long dark limos anymore...just leads to more congestion. Even allowing Hummers and Escalades is just bizarre.
Tourists in Rome and other Italian cities know that the cities have restricted driving zones to reduce traffic congestion. If you drive there without a permit you will be fined as much as 99 euros ($136). If your hotel lies within such a zone and you need to drive there to park or unload luggage, you are exempt from the fine but need to ask the hotel to send your license number to the traffic police to avoid a citation.
For tourists the best option is the BTI, Biglietto Turistico Integrato, which for € 11 gives you unlimited travel for 3 days on Rome underground trains, buses, trams, trolley buses, and on some regional railway trains.
The USA needs to understand that transport by private car is completely outdated. It makes NO sense to have this type of car congestion. Cable cars, trolleys, bicycles, and natural gas buses that we had in Honolulu. Free Wi-Fi, clean, A/C, and EVERY bus is a “kneeling” bus that allows the disabled easy access. The only individual vehicles are hand-vans for the very disabled that require the driver to help people on and off in wheelchairs and gurneys.
The .01% just can’t have long dark limos anymore...just leads to more congestion. Even allowing Hummers and Escalades is just bizarre.
1
In roughly 40 years of living in Manhattan I think I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I have been seriously inconvenienced or upset by my inability to get a yellow cab. In outer boroughs I have sometimes had to call a car service, but again, I don't recall any outrageous waits. I'm sure there are people who have had to endure worse, though I sure would like to hear their stories.
As far as the congestion in Manhattan is concerned (I live in Turtle Bay, in east midtown), there are several other things I would like to see done to reduce that congestion before we start banning Uber cars, including (1) ENFORCING laws we already have that prohibit driving , stopping and standing in bus lanes, (2) enforcing laws we already have that prohibit double and triple parking, (3) if we don't have laws that prohibit it, we need laws that prohibit taxis and other for-hire vehicles from picking up and dropping off passengers in the middle of the street, (4) no more driving over the East RIver bridges for free -- it just encourages people from the outer boroughs to needlessly drive into Manhattan, and (5) I don't care what Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his muscle-car loving buddies from upstate think, WE NEED CONGESTION PRICING IN MANHATTAN!
As far as the congestion in Manhattan is concerned (I live in Turtle Bay, in east midtown), there are several other things I would like to see done to reduce that congestion before we start banning Uber cars, including (1) ENFORCING laws we already have that prohibit driving , stopping and standing in bus lanes, (2) enforcing laws we already have that prohibit double and triple parking, (3) if we don't have laws that prohibit it, we need laws that prohibit taxis and other for-hire vehicles from picking up and dropping off passengers in the middle of the street, (4) no more driving over the East RIver bridges for free -- it just encourages people from the outer boroughs to needlessly drive into Manhattan, and (5) I don't care what Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his muscle-car loving buddies from upstate think, WE NEED CONGESTION PRICING IN MANHATTAN!
4
It would be nice to take the fake "congestion" issue out of this discussion. We have MORE congestion on our streets because Bloomberg decided to make it that way - he just called it "traffic calming" when it was anything but!!
He eliminated the use of Broadway (which has been a useful street for centuries, but hey, Bloomberg knows everything) by putting in those damned planters & seating areas. He narrowed the streets with bike lanes, and then buffer lanes for the bike lanes.
And now we get a renewal of red-themed "bus only" lanes (in complete defiance of the reality of the need to ever get out of a car or taxi on the right-hand side of an avenue).
Why is anyone surprised that it's now much harder (and takes much longer) to get around Manhattan, whether by bus, taxi, or car? Uber just adds to the congestion by flooding the streets with THEIR cars, when everyone is busy decrying private car "congestion." Here's the news: Uber cars ARE private cars!
He eliminated the use of Broadway (which has been a useful street for centuries, but hey, Bloomberg knows everything) by putting in those damned planters & seating areas. He narrowed the streets with bike lanes, and then buffer lanes for the bike lanes.
And now we get a renewal of red-themed "bus only" lanes (in complete defiance of the reality of the need to ever get out of a car or taxi on the right-hand side of an avenue).
Why is anyone surprised that it's now much harder (and takes much longer) to get around Manhattan, whether by bus, taxi, or car? Uber just adds to the congestion by flooding the streets with THEIR cars, when everyone is busy decrying private car "congestion." Here's the news: Uber cars ARE private cars!
2
This is fundamentally untrue. Turning Broadway in the Times Square area into a pedestrian only zone has actually improved traffic flow in the area, while simultaneously improving pedestrian congestion. It was actually a great idea, just as it was down in Herald Square. It has been a benefit to both drivers and pedestrians.
The bus only lanes are only in force during rush hour and if you've ever taken one of those buses you would know that those lanes have produced a substantial improvement in travel times. I can't understand why you would complain about how it may be slightly more difficult for you to exit a taxi on the right side of the street, a selfish act that is actually a huge cause of substantial congestion by backing up all of the traffic behind you, while ignoring the fact that those bus lanes, such as for the M15 which carries 15+ million riders a year, have produced actual improvements for the millions of regular NYers who use public transportation as their primary means of travel around town.
The bus only lanes are only in force during rush hour and if you've ever taken one of those buses you would know that those lanes have produced a substantial improvement in travel times. I can't understand why you would complain about how it may be slightly more difficult for you to exit a taxi on the right side of the street, a selfish act that is actually a huge cause of substantial congestion by backing up all of the traffic behind you, while ignoring the fact that those bus lanes, such as for the M15 which carries 15+ million riders a year, have produced actual improvements for the millions of regular NYers who use public transportation as their primary means of travel around town.
2
@Brett: You could not be more wrong about Broadway! It has NOT improved traffic flow one iota to block it off, and you can ask any taxi or Uber driver about that if you want confirmation. There *used to be* bus service extending down Broadway - a very convenient way to get from Lincoln Center or Times Square or Macy's to Union Square and environs. That's GONE now. What NYC doesn't bother to calculate are things like: How many people (esp. older people) who USED TO go to Lincoln Center and take the bus home down Broadway afterward, now DON'T go to Lincoln Center because there's no good way home that doesn't involve the subway late at night or an expensive taxi ride?
Further, you presume everyone is young and able-bodied. You think exiting a taxi on the right hand side of the street is a "selfish act"? Try getting across an avenue (esp. in bad weather) if you are elderly, disabled, recovering from surgery, on crutches, need a walker, have bad arthritis, etc. I guess all those people are supposed to go throw themselves in the East River and die?
Further, you presume everyone is young and able-bodied. You think exiting a taxi on the right hand side of the street is a "selfish act"? Try getting across an avenue (esp. in bad weather) if you are elderly, disabled, recovering from surgery, on crutches, need a walker, have bad arthritis, etc. I guess all those people are supposed to go throw themselves in the East River and die?
1
The one question I'm surprised more people aren't asking: Why on earth is NYC not releasing their own app, enabling riders to digitally hail yellow and green cabs?
3
An app for yellow cabs was blocked when they let Uber in. The man most responsible for doing that, Ashwini Chhabra, left the TLC to work directly for Uber. He still works at Uber, as 'head of policy development.' The TLC is developed an app but it seems to have gone silent. You do the math.
3
I never thought I'd see the day when nail care and peeing in the streets would become a reform issue. What kind of people have we become?
If you were one of the Southeast Asian women who were being slowly killed with toxins in the hair care and nail care industries you might care.
You ask what kind of people have we become? I would hope that we are more concerned with caring for our fellow citizens instead of only being concerned over “How does THIS concern ME!” Harummphh!
You ask what kind of people have we become? I would hope that we are more concerned with caring for our fellow citizens instead of only being concerned over “How does THIS concern ME!” Harummphh!
4
How about adjusting yellow cabs' shifts so that there are actually cabs available between 5 and 7 pm when we need them most? At that hour they all seem to be off duty or only willing to pick you up if you happen to be headed in the direction they want to go? That's when I use Uber most.
Furthermore, don't target Uber when there are so many other issues with congestion in the city. This feels like another symptom of deBlasio's inherent bias against UES 1 per centers who maintain the city's tax base.
Furthermore, don't target Uber when there are so many other issues with congestion in the city. This feels like another symptom of deBlasio's inherent bias against UES 1 per centers who maintain the city's tax base.
5
Realize that Uber is charging x3, x5, x7 and even x10 times more(!) using it's surge-pricing model. What's fair? Charging New Yorkers x10 regular fair? Or having standard fares across the board?
5
So-called "black cars" are licensed by the city and can be hailed by calling a base station.
An Uber car is a "black car" that is licensed by the city and that can be hailed by calling the Uber base station.
Everything else is just political noise and a blatant attempt to protect an entrenched system (the Taxi medallion system) solely because it is making political contributions to the Mayor.
It has happened before - the 19th century Luddites vehemently protested the introduction of the power looms. Why? Because they could provide the same product but more efficiently and with less cost.
The alternative is to have a government that controls everything, such as a prohibiting stores from being open on Sunday, or the maximum number of pharmacies that can exist on a block, or the maximum opening hours of a store. Wait - that's Greece! And Russia.
The only concern of the City should be that an Uber driver is as licensed and insured as any other "black car" driver.
Congestion is tackled with congestion charging and improvements in public transportation, not by arbitrarily limiting the number of taxis that the market is asking for.
An Uber car is a "black car" that is licensed by the city and that can be hailed by calling the Uber base station.
Everything else is just political noise and a blatant attempt to protect an entrenched system (the Taxi medallion system) solely because it is making political contributions to the Mayor.
It has happened before - the 19th century Luddites vehemently protested the introduction of the power looms. Why? Because they could provide the same product but more efficiently and with less cost.
The alternative is to have a government that controls everything, such as a prohibiting stores from being open on Sunday, or the maximum number of pharmacies that can exist on a block, or the maximum opening hours of a store. Wait - that's Greece! And Russia.
The only concern of the City should be that an Uber driver is as licensed and insured as any other "black car" driver.
Congestion is tackled with congestion charging and improvements in public transportation, not by arbitrarily limiting the number of taxis that the market is asking for.
4
I'm sorry but I do have a problem with 30,000 Uber cars cruising all around Manhattan 24/7 and not paying even a penny for the right to operating thus benefiting some California oligarchs. Sorry. Your California views may differ but perhaps YOU SHOULD KEEP UBER TO YOURSELF?
5
If the Mayor really wants to cut into Uber's increasing share of the riding public, how about this: fix the bus situation! I get on the M79 bus at East End Ave., the first stop on the east side. This past week the line of people waiting for the bus during rush hour was at least 30 people--and this happened three times in one week! And every crosstown stop on the east side had similar long lines. Under these circumstances, who wouldn't want to call an Uber car if that's what gets them across town in a reasonable amount of time?
The crosstown bus system is broken, Mr. Mayor. Fix it.
The crosstown bus system is broken, Mr. Mayor. Fix it.
4
@emiriamd: The bus system is broken partly b/c Bloomberg dictated that if a bus or train wasn't 85% full, it was being underutilized - and therefore service was cut back until the 85% level was reached.
Meantime, how many more thousands of people have been added to Manhattan's population via the construction of so many new "luxury" buildings - with NO increase in infrastructure? That is one of the biggest failures of Bloomberg's administration: ignoring the need to increase infrastructure to support the additional people being shoehorned into Manhattan.
That's why you can barely get ON a bus or train; forget getting a seat.
Meantime, how many more thousands of people have been added to Manhattan's population via the construction of so many new "luxury" buildings - with NO increase in infrastructure? That is one of the biggest failures of Bloomberg's administration: ignoring the need to increase infrastructure to support the additional people being shoehorned into Manhattan.
That's why you can barely get ON a bus or train; forget getting a seat.
3
Yes! And how about resurrecting the wonderful 104 crosstown which brought people from the UN area all the way across town and then onward west and back again without having to switch buses OR make subway connections? There had been some effort to reinstate it but it seems to have died. Guess it was simply too good to last.
2
MTA decision to elimate that part of the M104 route, but Bloomberg also wanted space for pedestrian plazas at Times Square/42nd Street.
Former M104 bus route and eastbound turn plus space needs for westbound bus stop hampered plan for Bloomberg's pedestrian plaza.
Thus Bloomberg supported route elimation.
Former M104 bus route and eastbound turn plus space needs for westbound bus stop hampered plan for Bloomberg's pedestrian plaza.
Thus Bloomberg supported route elimation.
1
If I go Uber does the driver know how to get to my destination?
I have heard of drivers asking the "fare" for directions.
True/False?
I have heard of drivers asking the "fare" for directions.
True/False?
2
False. Unlike Taxi drivers EVERY Uber driver has a smartphone which automatically provides him with directions. Therefore as a long term Uber customer I've NEVER been asked directions by an Uber driver.. On the other hand, I am frequently asked by NY taxi drivers for directions. because many of them DON'T have smart phones, and the claim that NY taxi drivers are required to know how to get to every address in the city is, in my experience, a myth.
3
Please. That so untrue. I have witnessed Uber driver circling around clueless how to approach Lincoln center here in NYC. Uber literally took anyone - with experience, no experience AND it literally took one form to be filled online to get a license to drive for Uber. Yes, GPS are good - and you can see ALL drivers using them. But even GPSs make mistakes.
4
From my experience, Uber is far better with directions for two reasons.
1. They know where your destination is before they pick you up because you input it into the app when you request a car. There is no room for communication error.
2. Their GPS system is linked up with Google Maps, which provides live traffic/closure/accident analysis and automatically picks the fastest expected route.
And since Uber is app-driven, all their drivers must have a smartphone with this system.
1. They know where your destination is before they pick you up because you input it into the app when you request a car. There is no room for communication error.
2. Their GPS system is linked up with Google Maps, which provides live traffic/closure/accident analysis and automatically picks the fastest expected route.
And since Uber is app-driven, all their drivers must have a smartphone with this system.
1
Wasn't it the one of the last things Bloomberg said before leaving office to the TL&C, "If I had more time, I would have crushed you."
Everyone I talk to loves Uber. Truly loves it. My experience is nearly always better. Better cars, AC that works, cleaner...
And I agree with the Uber commercial trolling. It does create jobs. What's not to love? Safety? Aren't we adults here?
Everyone I talk to loves Uber. Truly loves it. My experience is nearly always better. Better cars, AC that works, cleaner...
And I agree with the Uber commercial trolling. It does create jobs. What's not to love? Safety? Aren't we adults here?
2
They're not insured, so it's nowhere near safe. They treat their employees as disposable and don't warn them of the many legal complications ahead for them. Uber is loved by the affluent who use it because they like the feeling of being waited on hand and foot. It is not beloved by all, nor should it be, and it is run by thugs concerned only with maximizing their personal profits. Uber is also not loved by the women who have been hit on, stalked, and raped, by Uber drivers.
7
Dan, how many times do you need to be corrected before you stop lying?
I'd like to skip to that point now.
I'd like to skip to that point now.
I live in Manhattan. You would have to be blind not to have noticed how traffic congestion has skyrocketed, and how at least half the cars you see are Ubers, mostly Toyotas.
8
Besides having trust in anything Mr. Plouffe has to say, I mean literally - they guys has discredited himself too many times all over the world. As a small business owner, I assure you that any small- to medium size business, that has as many law-violations, regulatory non-compliance issues, plain unethical and deceiving business practices as Uber, would long have been closed down no negotiations and no questions asked.
It's mind-boggling that uber's bullying unethical fraudulent behavior is allowed in our legal business society. I have known small local transportation businesses that had their licenses revoked and businesses closed for far far less than what uber does day after day after day...
Mind-boggling, and sends a dual message, first - that our authorities do not fully comprehend the bullying ego-centric law-breaking nature of the said enterprise, and second - is that "money talks" and that uber likely has few unethical politicians and regulators in its deep multi-billion dollars untaxed pockets.
It's mind-boggling that uber's bullying unethical fraudulent behavior is allowed in our legal business society. I have known small local transportation businesses that had their licenses revoked and businesses closed for far far less than what uber does day after day after day...
Mind-boggling, and sends a dual message, first - that our authorities do not fully comprehend the bullying ego-centric law-breaking nature of the said enterprise, and second - is that "money talks" and that uber likely has few unethical politicians and regulators in its deep multi-billion dollars untaxed pockets.
11
Just to reiterate, this is about the City's need to do a study related to the effect of Uber flooding the streets with thousands of cars. Historically an environmental impact study has been done when adding new Medallions. Uber can't handle playing by the rules, period.
8
There has been a growing parking problem in recent years in my neighborhood, and it's not Uber cars. There are more cars in general in the city because public transportation service has been declining. Also, many of the cars parked daily on the streets have out-of-state license plates, which the city could crack down on if it wanted to. When I drive to work every day, I sit in traffic caused not by Uber cars, but by city buses, NYPD vehicles stopped for no apparent reason, and private delivery trucks double-parked, taking up an entire lane. In the wake of last winter's snowfalls, city workers held up traffic on 86th St. clearing slush during the height of morning rush hour that they could have cleared overnight. Then there are the crosswalks where cars compete with pedestrians -- such as the one at 79th St. and Fifth Ave., just south of the Met Museum, where only one or two cars on Fifth can make a right-hand turn before the light changes. These are real, demonstrable causes of congestion that the city could control but does not. So forgive me if I fail to see the public policy basis for targeting Uber and Lyft cars, which have been a godsend to upper Manhattan neighborhoods like mine.
1
Why no equivilant concern over airbnb's impact on the city's economic landscape? After all, aren't they doing the same thing? Namely, flooding the commercial (and regulated) market with private vendors who leverage their own assets? And while it's true one can't claim airbnb is responsible for an over abundance of vehicles clogging the streets, you can suspect the influence the taxi lobby has is due to having swollen DiBlasio's campaign coffers.
1
Unless you've been stuck in traffic on the FDR, West Side Highway, Madison Ave., 7th Ave., 11th Ave., etc., between 8AM and 9PM, everyday of the week, the romantic view of the little guy bucking the system and sticking it to the fleet owners would quickly dissipate. Being a frequent commuter who drives into the City, fully two-thirds of all vehicles below 96th St. are either yellow cabs, green cabs, black cars or Uber/Lyft drivers. Add the delivery trucks that are critical to the city's economy and you have endless traffic jams.
The issue seems to be the apparent targeting of Uber. Why not propose congestion pricing and cut back on issuing new medallions?
The issue seems to be the apparent targeting of Uber. Why not propose congestion pricing and cut back on issuing new medallions?
Taxi drivers are required to have city issued medallions, city specified cabs, etc.
1
The traffic slowdown is caused by the BIKE LANES, that should be REMOVED.
2
An Uber taxi is a "black car", licensed like any other "black car" that can be hailed by calling a base station.
2
And a rug dealer who has an app is just a "modern and friendly" pharmacist, right ?
Apps do not make your above laws and regulations.
The fact that TLC refuses - thus far - to regulate Uber they way it SHOULD be regulated - doesn't mean it won't be.
As someone else pointed out - Banks have apps - and what? Banking regulations stop because of that? Banking laws no longer apply? Seriously, this "I have an app - let me rob others and pay no taxes" nonsense has got to end!
Apps do not make your above laws and regulations.
The fact that TLC refuses - thus far - to regulate Uber they way it SHOULD be regulated - doesn't mean it won't be.
As someone else pointed out - Banks have apps - and what? Banking regulations stop because of that? Banking laws no longer apply? Seriously, this "I have an app - let me rob others and pay no taxes" nonsense has got to end!
Perhaps the reason that travel speeds have dropped is because of city actions that have reduced the number of travel lanes available to general traffic, i.e., turning traffic lanes over to bikes and buses.
A comprehensive traffic study would be useful, reporting the percentage of vehicles by category: extremely large trucks (over 80,000 pounds), very large trucks (over 18,000 pounds), large trucks (10-18,000 pounds), small trucks, buses, taxis (by class: yellow, green, TLC, unlicensed (eg. Uber)), government vehicles, vehicles with government sanctions or placards (police, teachers, etc.). private passenger vehicles (identify the percentage looking for parking). I would suggest that the results would be revealing -- perhaps even shocking.
A comprehensive traffic study would be useful, reporting the percentage of vehicles by category: extremely large trucks (over 80,000 pounds), very large trucks (over 18,000 pounds), large trucks (10-18,000 pounds), small trucks, buses, taxis (by class: yellow, green, TLC, unlicensed (eg. Uber)), government vehicles, vehicles with government sanctions or placards (police, teachers, etc.). private passenger vehicles (identify the percentage looking for parking). I would suggest that the results would be revealing -- perhaps even shocking.
7
I'm pretty sure Ubers are licensed the same as any other black car in the city. The only difference is they are hailed using an app rather than dialing 666-66666 or 777-7777, etc.
2
Has anyone checked on the expensive car loans Uber's partner Santander is making? From what I've read, a whole loft of their drivers are barely treading above water paying off these loans, since Uber has a bad habit of cutting it's rate while raising it's cut. By demanding the 'right' to keep flooding NYC with cars, they don't have to worry about the drivers who started at a higher rate but can't make it at a lower rate. They drop out and default. The new crop of Santander loan drivers don't know how much less they're making than the last group. Repeat ad infinitum.
10
I have spoken to a number of Uber drivers and taxi drivers regarding this issue. I have been told that taxi drivers rent their cars for about $1500 a week, Uber about $500.
That's because Uber pays 0 to the City of New York for the right to operate while polluting our air even more than taxis.
1
Wiki- "There are currently 13,605 taxicab medallion licenses in existence, 368 of them having been auctioned by the City of New York between November 2013 and February 2014. "
Do you have any idea how much 1 of those medallions sell for? This was bit-coin before bitcoin! THIS is why there is such push back from the Mayor's office over Uber's expansion.
Do you have any idea how much 1 of those medallions sell for? This was bit-coin before bitcoin! THIS is why there is such push back from the Mayor's office over Uber's expansion.
1
There are 13,000 cabs because NYC was the wild west before the Medallion system. 70,000 drivers who couldn't make a living it was bad for pedestrians, bad for the city, bad for drivers. Uber has brought it all back and wants the right to flood NYC with an unlimited number of cars.
6
@Jim -- Uber does not simply "flood NYC with an unlimited number of cars." In fact, they do the exact opposite. Uber's business model is to optimize the allocation of cab supply in order to perfectly meet cab demand at any given time and place. That means Uber's entire existence is based on the fact that they do not do precisely what you say they want to do.
Long story short, there is an enormous difference between 70,000 cabs roaming the streets trying to hunt down/fight for fares at random and Uber dispatching 70,000 cabs because 70,000 customers specifically demanded their service.
You can't just look at cabs on the street as a metric.
Long story short, there is an enormous difference between 70,000 cabs roaming the streets trying to hunt down/fight for fares at random and Uber dispatching 70,000 cabs because 70,000 customers specifically demanded their service.
You can't just look at cabs on the street as a metric.
Because Uber is a criminal parasitic enterprise that doesn't compete fairly and unlawfully monopolizes the whole industry. Ask yourself - why should taxicabs be paying the City of New York for the right to operate on the streets of New York, and Uber shouldn't? Claiming a "different" business model is ABSURD in this case. Banks have an app - does it void banking laws, banking regulations, taxes, FDIC insurance premiums, etc.? Of course, not. Uber has BILLIONS of dollars, it can afford compete in the same exact way as our local taxicabs do. And that's exactly what Uber is - an unlicensed taxi operation.
8
The medallion cab is a product of the Great Depression technology has replaced it like the pay phone. City Government and politicians need to get out of free market and let the consumer decide, especially when they take political donations from the taxi industry it's called conflict of interest....
6
App is a tool. Plus TAXI apps existed here in NYC years before Uber and I personally have used them, A tool doesn't automatically make you legit or lawful. A tool that Uber provides is just that a tool - legality is set to the City and courts to decide.
Sammy how many medallions do you own?
The assumption was that the value of New York City Taxicab Medallions would only go up. After all, they started out at $10 apiece in 1937 and have frequently changed hands at more than $1 million. So what this is really about is that the medallion taxi industry is starting to feel the pinch from the competition by Uber. The value of their medalllioin has been dropping. Too bad. It's not 1937 anymore. Time marches on.
The big losers here are going to be the medallion owners and their lenders. Very few medallion owners own medallions which are paid off. In order to buy their medallions the owners routinely mortgage them, just like real estate. They take out 5-yrear loans at 15-year amortization rates with balloon payments due after 5 years. The medallions need to be refinanced every 5 years. In fact, up to now, owners usually take a little more than what they owe by tapping into their equity. All of this is based upon the value of the medallions. It's like junkies who are addicted to dope. Medallion owners are addicted to lenders' money. The upshot is that the lenders have a huge equity interest in the medallions which collateralize their loan.
The problem is that the loan-to-value ratio is usually about 80-85%. Uber has caused the value of the medallions to drop. As a result, when you refinance now the loan-to value ratio is applied to a lower value and frequently the medallion owners will find that they cannot borrow enough to cover their balloon payment.
The big losers here are going to be the medallion owners and their lenders. Very few medallion owners own medallions which are paid off. In order to buy their medallions the owners routinely mortgage them, just like real estate. They take out 5-yrear loans at 15-year amortization rates with balloon payments due after 5 years. The medallions need to be refinanced every 5 years. In fact, up to now, owners usually take a little more than what they owe by tapping into their equity. All of this is based upon the value of the medallions. It's like junkies who are addicted to dope. Medallion owners are addicted to lenders' money. The upshot is that the lenders have a huge equity interest in the medallions which collateralize their loan.
The problem is that the loan-to-value ratio is usually about 80-85%. Uber has caused the value of the medallions to drop. As a result, when you refinance now the loan-to value ratio is applied to a lower value and frequently the medallion owners will find that they cannot borrow enough to cover their balloon payment.
7
Each taxicab added millions to the City of New York revenue.
Each Uber cars pays absolutely nothing - and money is being shifted to California billionaire Uber owners.
Why are you so keen on defending Uber billionaire interests as opposed to our local collective municipal revenue spent on NEW YORKERS ?
Your post sounds like paid propaganda coming straight from Uber corporate offices - a known hotspot for misleading claims and intentional misdirection campaigns. Besides - Uber has to learn to compete fairly. So far multibillion dollar Uber showed zero willingness to do so. Breaking laws as a way of life is NOT what we want to see here on streets of our City.
Each Uber cars pays absolutely nothing - and money is being shifted to California billionaire Uber owners.
Why are you so keen on defending Uber billionaire interests as opposed to our local collective municipal revenue spent on NEW YORKERS ?
Your post sounds like paid propaganda coming straight from Uber corporate offices - a known hotspot for misleading claims and intentional misdirection campaigns. Besides - Uber has to learn to compete fairly. So far multibillion dollar Uber showed zero willingness to do so. Breaking laws as a way of life is NOT what we want to see here on streets of our City.
5
Uber is the best thing to happen to NYC's taxi-seeking residents. Uber has created competition with the Taxi monopoly and given the public other options than sitting behind a taxi driver who is almost always on a phone and almost always driving faster than the mayor's highly promoted new lower speed limit.
Uber drivers just drive more safely because at the end of the ride the passenger can rate them. Can you imagine what would happen to the taxi industry if we
were allowed to rate our taxi drivers (I don't mean to come down on all taxi drivers since there are great ones but yesterday a taxi driver sped off before I had even shut the door. That would never, ever happen with an Uber driver....
de Blasio has lost tons of credibility with this maneuver.
Uber drivers just drive more safely because at the end of the ride the passenger can rate them. Can you imagine what would happen to the taxi industry if we
were allowed to rate our taxi drivers (I don't mean to come down on all taxi drivers since there are great ones but yesterday a taxi driver sped off before I had even shut the door. That would never, ever happen with an Uber driver....
de Blasio has lost tons of credibility with this maneuver.
8
It's not competition, Uber is being allowed to do virtual street hails without paying for a Medallion. It's just lawlessness. Now they want the right to keep flooding the city with cars unchecked.
10
Everything about Uber is lawless. Their vehicles are typically not licensed and not insured, and not registered. Their drivers are not licensed.
A private passenger vehicle used as a commercial taxi is an unregistered vehicle. If there were a crash, the insurance company would undoubtedly refuse to pay since the vehicle was not being used as a private passenger vehicle. And taxis are required to have $1 million liability insurance unlike private cars that carry $20,000.
Taxi drivers must have a higher class of driver's license, too.
And courts have generally held that Uber drivers are employees, but Uber doesn't cover them as employees.
They are just a racketeering organization shifting their costs on to the public.
A private passenger vehicle used as a commercial taxi is an unregistered vehicle. If there were a crash, the insurance company would undoubtedly refuse to pay since the vehicle was not being used as a private passenger vehicle. And taxis are required to have $1 million liability insurance unlike private cars that carry $20,000.
Taxi drivers must have a higher class of driver's license, too.
And courts have generally held that Uber drivers are employees, but Uber doesn't cover them as employees.
They are just a racketeering organization shifting their costs on to the public.
15
@Jim & Eugene -- Even if Uber is "lawlessness", a point with which I strongly disagree, it is still increasing competition enormously and attempting to bring the taxi industry into the 21st century.
If it weren't, we wouldn't be having this discussion.
With respect to your more direct points about insurance, licensing, and safety, I suggest you read up on Uber's policies and the changes that have occured within the insurance industry because of Uber.
https://www.uber.com/driver-jobs
https://www.policygenius.com/blog/uber-lyft-and-other-rideshare-drivers-...
The only issue with Uber is that the way they implement technology is light years ahead of our legal system. It's very similar to a Google or a Facebook and the issues that have recently surfaced with respect to privacy. The difference is that Uber's issue is truly tangible, which is why I think the backlash is so much greater.
The laws and regulations need to catch up. Trying to force Uber to work within a system created decades ago is simply regressive. It goes against the innovative American spirit.
If it weren't, we wouldn't be having this discussion.
With respect to your more direct points about insurance, licensing, and safety, I suggest you read up on Uber's policies and the changes that have occured within the insurance industry because of Uber.
https://www.uber.com/driver-jobs
https://www.policygenius.com/blog/uber-lyft-and-other-rideshare-drivers-...
The only issue with Uber is that the way they implement technology is light years ahead of our legal system. It's very similar to a Google or a Facebook and the issues that have recently surfaced with respect to privacy. The difference is that Uber's issue is truly tangible, which is why I think the backlash is so much greater.
The laws and regulations need to catch up. Trying to force Uber to work within a system created decades ago is simply regressive. It goes against the innovative American spirit.
to steve 725,
" Otherwise, eliminate the medallion system altogether and refund the purchase price to those who bought them."
good idea to eliminate the medallion system but your solution is a typical left wing solution. when you buy an asset you are subject to price fluctuations, up and down. in your solution the person who bought a medallion last year at 900k would receive 900k even though the market in theory is now at 700k. therefore he is getting a 200kbonus.
the person who bought it years ago e.g. 100k according to you would receive $100k even though the market in theory is at 700k. one person gets a bonus of 200k while the other person loses the entire increase over many decades. then some would argue that the one who bought for 100k should have it adjusted for inflation. then why because he benefited from the income generated.
in a capitalist society there is or there should be RISK to any investment. personally i would let the medallion expire immediately. in reality it is not politically possible. therefore the best and least costly solution would be to let them expire in say 10 years. the price would fluctuate but would decline in anticipation of the expiration date 10 years hence. it one thing to license cab drivers reasonably. it is another thing to regulate prices and the number of taxis. and create all kinds of distortions which benefit owners but not the general public. look at your cable co. for comparative misery high prices and lousy service.
" Otherwise, eliminate the medallion system altogether and refund the purchase price to those who bought them."
good idea to eliminate the medallion system but your solution is a typical left wing solution. when you buy an asset you are subject to price fluctuations, up and down. in your solution the person who bought a medallion last year at 900k would receive 900k even though the market in theory is now at 700k. therefore he is getting a 200kbonus.
the person who bought it years ago e.g. 100k according to you would receive $100k even though the market in theory is at 700k. one person gets a bonus of 200k while the other person loses the entire increase over many decades. then some would argue that the one who bought for 100k should have it adjusted for inflation. then why because he benefited from the income generated.
in a capitalist society there is or there should be RISK to any investment. personally i would let the medallion expire immediately. in reality it is not politically possible. therefore the best and least costly solution would be to let them expire in say 10 years. the price would fluctuate but would decline in anticipation of the expiration date 10 years hence. it one thing to license cab drivers reasonably. it is another thing to regulate prices and the number of taxis. and create all kinds of distortions which benefit owners but not the general public. look at your cable co. for comparative misery high prices and lousy service.
3
The Uber company breaks a law and tries not to be caught. Recently around 500 Uber's cars were ceased by police in New York for illegally taking fare from the passengers on New York streets during one month in April. It means that a huge number of drivers in the Uber's company don't follow a law. So did the Uber The Uber's attitude is to encourage their drivers to break a law. It is immoral!! Currently Uber is suspended in California for refusing of its drivers to take blind passengers with dogs or wheelchair passengers. Without solving its problems at their home initial business the Uber tried to put unlimited number of cars on the New York streets by lobbying the City Hall by former assistant of the President. The Uber does not allow City Hall effectively functions by spending a lot of money on lobbying New York City government in Uber's favor. Nobody thinks about what happened if one million or ten million Uber's drivers will drive on New York streets. The streets will be overcrowded and everybody will be late because there will be no traffic on the streets. It will also create a pollution disaster in New York. Look at China capital. The people can not breath there. Will people in New York enjoy if they be late for meetings or are not able to breath fresh air or law will be broken. The answer is no. New York City government in the Uber's favor. It put the president Mr. Obama in bad light.
Uber isn't the world's cuddliest company. Folks who argue that it should be more closely regulated have a point. And they've manufactured a few real PR nightmares for themselves. Where there's a better alternative available (London black cabs), I take it, and eat the difference in cost with a smile.
But yellow cabs in NY are atrocious, and it's typical De Blasio to come out in defense of one of New York's worst institutions. When I lived in the city full time pre-uber, I would go months without taking a cab out of sheer frustration. Cars that are rickety and smell awful, drivers who have no idea where they're going, let alone which avenue to take to make lights, or whether the park cutthrough is open. And my personal favorite - the off-duty troll, who leaves his light on, rolls up, asks where you're going, and drives on without a second glance if it's inconvenient. (Sidebar: report these guys to the TLC! I do it routinely.). Want to talk about driver exploitation? In a time when taxi medallions have six figure price tags, do you think those recent immigrants who pick you up on 5th are all successful small-business owners? Guess again. The same bulk operators who have enough cash to go toe to toe with uber in the mayor's office aren't people I'd like to work a 14 hour shift for...
If you're gonna try your hand at a command economy, Mr. Mayor, don't do it on behalf of a broken monopoly that could barely compete with walking in my view, even when it was the only game in town.
But yellow cabs in NY are atrocious, and it's typical De Blasio to come out in defense of one of New York's worst institutions. When I lived in the city full time pre-uber, I would go months without taking a cab out of sheer frustration. Cars that are rickety and smell awful, drivers who have no idea where they're going, let alone which avenue to take to make lights, or whether the park cutthrough is open. And my personal favorite - the off-duty troll, who leaves his light on, rolls up, asks where you're going, and drives on without a second glance if it's inconvenient. (Sidebar: report these guys to the TLC! I do it routinely.). Want to talk about driver exploitation? In a time when taxi medallions have six figure price tags, do you think those recent immigrants who pick you up on 5th are all successful small-business owners? Guess again. The same bulk operators who have enough cash to go toe to toe with uber in the mayor's office aren't people I'd like to work a 14 hour shift for...
If you're gonna try your hand at a command economy, Mr. Mayor, don't do it on behalf of a broken monopoly that could barely compete with walking in my view, even when it was the only game in town.
8
People who don't like things that are "rickety and smell awful" shouldn't live in New York, so thank goodness you live in beautiful, sweet smelling Palo Alto.
from an economic point of view it is absurd that taxi medallions were changing hands at a million dollars apiece, obviously the taxi business was making excessive monopoly profits and providing lousy service,
4
What is the reasoning behind Uber's predilection for big SUVs?
It is incredible seeing the proliferation of huge SUVs as basic "taxi" vehicles, ferrying around just 1 passenger.
No concerns about the environmental implications of reliance on big SUVs?
It is incredible seeing the proliferation of huge SUVs as basic "taxi" vehicles, ferrying around just 1 passenger.
No concerns about the environmental implications of reliance on big SUVs?
8
it sounds like a good idea to curb the uber driver explosion. haven't all the deserving drivers already become one?
3
Today I got a robocall from Uber. If that's the mentality that Uber brings, I don't want it. If they call me again, I'll sue them. My phone number is on the FCC do-not-call list.
8
Good luck with that suit, RW!
If anyone has ever tried to get a yellow cab to take them from Manhattan to one of the other boroughs during rush hour then they know what a waste of time that can be. Despite TLC regulations, most yellow cabbies will simply refuse to leave Manhattan if it doesn't suit them. This has been going on for years - for generations actually - and the city and the TLC refuse to do anything substantial about it. What recourse do folks like me have? Take an entire day off of work to go to a TLC hearing? It's utter and complete garbage!
The mayor and the TLC should insist on enforcement of existing rules and regulations before they start proposing new ones. Until that happens, please don't insult my intelligence by blaming Uber for the traffic congestion in this city. Do your jobs by enforcing existing rules, Mr. Mayor! At least then you'll have some credibility when it comes to this issue.
The mayor and the TLC should insist on enforcement of existing rules and regulations before they start proposing new ones. Until that happens, please don't insult my intelligence by blaming Uber for the traffic congestion in this city. Do your jobs by enforcing existing rules, Mr. Mayor! At least then you'll have some credibility when it comes to this issue.
6
That's just because of shift change, they need to get the car back to the garage and can't be late. Not a justification for allowing Uber to do illegal virtual street hails all day without paying a cent for a medallion and claiming they have the right to keep flooding the city with an unlimited number of cars. Cabs are limited to 13,000. He's also using the predictable like that yellow cabs don't go to the outer boroughs or pick up minorities. That might happen rarely but it's not common. You don't sell the right to street hails for hundred of millions then hand that right to uber for nothing. Uber is an illegal gypsy cab 'company.' It's also crushing many individual Medallion holders, who cant be framed as an 'evil taxi cartel.'
3
@Jum. It's not an illegal street hail. It's a pre-arranged pickup like with any other black car. I can call a "black car" to any location in the city by calling that car's base. I do the same thing with Uber - I call Uber and they come to pick me up at a specified location. I am not flapping my arms around (hailing) Uber - I am calling Uber to come and get me.
Simply because my "signal" is being sent by an app should make no difference. It's not an "hail" - it's a pre-arranged pickup, only very efficient.
Simply because my "signal" is being sent by an app should make no difference. It's not an "hail" - it's a pre-arranged pickup, only very efficient.
1
So you consider it more important to protect the equity of the Medallion holders then to enable New Yorkers to get cars quickly and efficiently?
Classic regulatory capture by economic rent seekers.
Why let Greece have all the fun, open corruption, and profiteering by undeserved people who are chummy with local politicians?
de Blasio, I'm disappointed in you. For shame.
Sure, there are always arguments as to why they should curtail what's clearly a good for society. "More congestion," they say. Well, the real story is that you were deliberately starving supply of transportation in NYC so that the supply-demand balance would always favor cabbies. These cabbies paid ever-increasing prices for the right to drive streets, which meant that medallion holders could continue to get richer and richer while harming the NYC citizen.
If you were really concerned about congestion, you'd implement policies like in London that charges people to drive into city core. That's the logical response. But no, that would prevent ordinary folks from driving in for their commutes, but it wouldn't prevent Uber drivers from coming into town. So de Blasio is doing what crooked politicians do - ignore the logical public policy and instead do the bidding of those who have him in their pockets.
Why let Greece have all the fun, open corruption, and profiteering by undeserved people who are chummy with local politicians?
de Blasio, I'm disappointed in you. For shame.
Sure, there are always arguments as to why they should curtail what's clearly a good for society. "More congestion," they say. Well, the real story is that you were deliberately starving supply of transportation in NYC so that the supply-demand balance would always favor cabbies. These cabbies paid ever-increasing prices for the right to drive streets, which meant that medallion holders could continue to get richer and richer while harming the NYC citizen.
If you were really concerned about congestion, you'd implement policies like in London that charges people to drive into city core. That's the logical response. But no, that would prevent ordinary folks from driving in for their commutes, but it wouldn't prevent Uber drivers from coming into town. So de Blasio is doing what crooked politicians do - ignore the logical public policy and instead do the bidding of those who have him in their pockets.
4
Uber is just breaking the law with virtual street hails and wants to keep flooding the city with cars. The city sold Medallions as the exclusive right to street hails, if you want price gouging gypsy cabs so badly then the city needs to refund 100% of the money. Then you can enjoy no set metered fare and 100,000 uber cars making it impossible for everyone including their own drivers. You can't keep cutting a pie like they're doing the work isn't created out of thin air.
3
Your preference of the interests of Medallion holders over that of ordinary NYers pretty much explains every word of your posts.
Quite a lot of noise and fury here and it seems the pro-Uber comments are boiling down to three basic groups.
1) People being paid to post by Uber. As Uber is in favor of paying people to stalk family members of journalists who write mean things about them, they have no problem with paying blog trolls.
2) People who hate Mayor de Blasio. This includes most of the wealthy and extremely conservative.
3) People who are just mad as heck and aren't going to take it any more, in general, and enjoy being venomous.
So I'm not convinced, and despite all the flak I got earlier, I'm still anti-Uber.
1) People being paid to post by Uber. As Uber is in favor of paying people to stalk family members of journalists who write mean things about them, they have no problem with paying blog trolls.
2) People who hate Mayor de Blasio. This includes most of the wealthy and extremely conservative.
3) People who are just mad as heck and aren't going to take it any more, in general, and enjoy being venomous.
So I'm not convinced, and despite all the flak I got earlier, I'm still anti-Uber.
9
4) People who know the facts.
The vast majority fit in category 4.
The vast majority fit in category 4.
9
Believe it or not, plenty of people like and use Uber - for a variety of reasons. They didn't become a multi-billion dollar company by accident. They did it by providing a service that is very much in demand at a price point that people are willing to pay.
You may be anti-Uber, and that's fine. But that doesn't mean that the many, many people who disagree with you are "blog trolls" or "venomous". That's just silly.
You may be anti-Uber, and that's fine. But that doesn't mean that the many, many people who disagree with you are "blog trolls" or "venomous". That's just silly.
8
They did it by ignoring the costs of business everyone else must pay, like real commercial insurance and a Medallion. You're ignoring the labor side, and ignoring how much harm Uber does to legitimate cab drivers.
2
I am sorry, but it is turning into Free Enterprise (Uber) vs. entrenched monopoly (the city), and am amazed Uber has not died yet.
For the rest of us, more options are better than the one option we have had so far.
For the rest of us, more options are better than the one option we have had so far.
3
I love Uber. Many of my friends have used and sung its praises.
Since I do not own a smartphone, I have never used it.
So where is the love. Since Uber arrived, I have found it much easier and quicker to hail a yellow.
As a consumer everybody wins.
More cabs more choices.
Since I do not own a smartphone, I have never used it.
So where is the love. Since Uber arrived, I have found it much easier and quicker to hail a yellow.
As a consumer everybody wins.
More cabs more choices.
3
UBER - Unfair, Bullying, E-commerce Rides. Now that we've got that out of the way let's talk about congestion. DeBlasio should reverse the insanity of the dedicated bike lanes, which are little used and frequently ignored by the lawless biking bunch. Let's return those lanes to public transportation if there need to be designated lanes so that buses can move fast. And let's stop with the stupidity of a "one speed fits all occasions" for NYC. Not everyplace is Manhattan.
Let's improve the taxi industry and part of that could be an app to get a yellow or other cab. It keeps things legal and controllable. Uber isn't good for the future of any business. It's overvalued, disruptive in a deceptive way (they claim they aren't a cab company), unfair to employees (most are classified as contractors when they are de facto employees) and they try to ignore the law until the authorities catch up with them.
What does this remind you of? Isn't that how Wall Street works? By operating just one step ahead of the law?
Let's improve the taxi industry and part of that could be an app to get a yellow or other cab. It keeps things legal and controllable. Uber isn't good for the future of any business. It's overvalued, disruptive in a deceptive way (they claim they aren't a cab company), unfair to employees (most are classified as contractors when they are de facto employees) and they try to ignore the law until the authorities catch up with them.
What does this remind you of? Isn't that how Wall Street works? By operating just one step ahead of the law?
6
Uber is the epitome of the ruthless and unscrupulous modern corporation.
What am I talking about?
How about Uber deliberately ordering and then subsequently canceling thousands of rides from Gett and Lyft, two competitors?
How about, in the words of the Senator Al Franken, Uber's "troubling disregard for consumer privacy"? (Uber employees can personally track every rider's movement - a feature they've used to record the movements of unfriendly journalists and politicians.)
How about "Operation SLOG", where thousands of Uber employees were given two iPhones and many credit card numbers, to create dummy Lyft accounts and recruit Lyft's drivers' to Uber?
How about the fact that for five months, Uber knew that due to a data breach in their databases, the personal information of over 50,000 drivers was accessed by an unknown hacker - but they didn't tell anyone, including the drivers?
How about the senior vice president of Uber suggesting that Uber spend millions of dollars on investigating journalists who reported negative stories about Uber, as a means to personally discredit them?
The list goes on, but what it definitively shows is that drivers and riders alike should be urging their elected officials to impose regulations on, to use Andrew Leonard's description of Uber, this "living, breathing essence of unrestrained capitalism".
What am I talking about?
How about Uber deliberately ordering and then subsequently canceling thousands of rides from Gett and Lyft, two competitors?
How about, in the words of the Senator Al Franken, Uber's "troubling disregard for consumer privacy"? (Uber employees can personally track every rider's movement - a feature they've used to record the movements of unfriendly journalists and politicians.)
How about "Operation SLOG", where thousands of Uber employees were given two iPhones and many credit card numbers, to create dummy Lyft accounts and recruit Lyft's drivers' to Uber?
How about the fact that for five months, Uber knew that due to a data breach in their databases, the personal information of over 50,000 drivers was accessed by an unknown hacker - but they didn't tell anyone, including the drivers?
How about the senior vice president of Uber suggesting that Uber spend millions of dollars on investigating journalists who reported negative stories about Uber, as a means to personally discredit them?
The list goes on, but what it definitively shows is that drivers and riders alike should be urging their elected officials to impose regulations on, to use Andrew Leonard's description of Uber, this "living, breathing essence of unrestrained capitalism".
9
The yellow cab industry was one of de Blasio's BIGGEST CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTORS before the Democratic primary. Put simply, he's repaying the favor.
One only needs to look at why the traffic has so dramatically increased in Manhattan: the introduction of miles and miles of dedicated bike lanes, express bus lanes and Citibike stations. The Mayor's "Vision Zero" plan has legislated a slower speed limit, so he should be happy with the ridiculous congestion. Of course, the traffic pollution will only vastly contribute to all kinds of health maladies, such as cancers - particularly to our children who are exposed to increased carcinogens all day long.
One only needs to look at why the traffic has so dramatically increased in Manhattan: the introduction of miles and miles of dedicated bike lanes, express bus lanes and Citibike stations. The Mayor's "Vision Zero" plan has legislated a slower speed limit, so he should be happy with the ridiculous congestion. Of course, the traffic pollution will only vastly contribute to all kinds of health maladies, such as cancers - particularly to our children who are exposed to increased carcinogens all day long.
6
That's quite the wild eyed fear mongering there. In fact, cars moving slower does not raise cancer incidence in the slightest, but I assume like 95% of the comments here you are just saying things that sound frightening without having the slightest idea of what the facts are.
3
Yup - because of his taxi industry donations he (Deblasio) tried to curtail green cabs - which for everyone not in Manhattan has been a real plus. That said - UBER has an unfair advantage against everyone else.
2
The yellow cab system is really not working very well and should be complemented by services such as Uber.
Uber will force the city to amend it's taxi regulations so that the yellow cabs can compete effectively with Uber-that will be good for everyone. For example, I don't think it is fair to allow Uber to charge based on demand (surge pricing), while expecting yellow cabs to pick up anyone and drive them to the anyplace anytime for the same price. Its also ridiculous that the cab shifts end at 5:00 pm.
Also, über might solve the problem in the outer boroughs where yellow cabs are scarce.
Uber will force the city to amend it's taxi regulations so that the yellow cabs can compete effectively with Uber-that will be good for everyone. For example, I don't think it is fair to allow Uber to charge based on demand (surge pricing), while expecting yellow cabs to pick up anyone and drive them to the anyplace anytime for the same price. Its also ridiculous that the cab shifts end at 5:00 pm.
Also, über might solve the problem in the outer boroughs where yellow cabs are scarce.
2
There are 14,000 green cabs for the outer boroughs. 75% of uber trips happen in Manhattan, and always will.
2
Uber wants to continue to grow geometrically without regulation? Their argument sounds a lot like others in the age of economic disruption: Move aside and let the customer decide. But this is New York, and the streets are a limited asset paid for by taxpayers -- we expect the government to do its job and protect this space for everyone. Without meaningful regulation, we'll have a race to the bottom -- and the only ones making any money will be Uber and the medallion owners. Uber can claim the drivers are truly independent, but most of us know many of the drivers are buying their cars through the company. It's time for the tech company to face our physical reality and realize there's no free lunch. Uber needs to become a good citizen.
8
I have worked in Manhattan for nearly 30 years and do not need the fingers on one of my hands to count how many times I have been in a cab. As a pedestrian, I have no love for yellow cabs given how many have come close to hitting me over the years. With that said, I have no love for Uber either. The company just comes off as incredibly arrogant. Any business that adds more cars to Manhattan’s congested streets is something to concerned about.
What I would really like to see is an article, about Uber and other ridesharing services, in this paper that goes beyond the hype in the Technology section or the multi-billion dollar valuations in the Business section. How about an article comparing yellow cabs to the ride sharing services. How much do the drivers make, after expenses? Do any of them get benefits? What about insurance and liability? How will tax revenue be effected with more ride sharing cars on the road?
In any event, all of these services that are part of the so called sharing economy are really a race to the economic bottom for most Americans. How long do you think it will be that most jobs are relegated to some app where the few at the top make billions while those who supply the labor struggle to pay their bills. The world of Uber doctor, lawyer, name your profession, etc is coming.
What I would really like to see is an article, about Uber and other ridesharing services, in this paper that goes beyond the hype in the Technology section or the multi-billion dollar valuations in the Business section. How about an article comparing yellow cabs to the ride sharing services. How much do the drivers make, after expenses? Do any of them get benefits? What about insurance and liability? How will tax revenue be effected with more ride sharing cars on the road?
In any event, all of these services that are part of the so called sharing economy are really a race to the economic bottom for most Americans. How long do you think it will be that most jobs are relegated to some app where the few at the top make billions while those who supply the labor struggle to pay their bills. The world of Uber doctor, lawyer, name your profession, etc is coming.
11
Your comment makes me wonder why Uber escapes paying the 50-cent surcharge given to the MTA from every cab fare. Cabs contributed nearly $90 million last year to the public-transit agency, but that tax is not imposed on livery cars and limousines, including the app-based services like Uber. As Uber mounts a major PR campaign to decry regulation, you'd think the first thing it would do is agree to the MTA surcharge.
5
By the way, for everyone defending Uber here as heartily as if they're paid to do so, y'all seem to be ignoring the true scandal of Uber threatening journalists who were trying to dig up facts on them. Saying they would spend millions to stalk and harass the families of journalists doing stories on Uber.
That, fellahs, is a mafia style thing to do. Would there be any reason to make those threats if Uber was a legitimate business?
If you think Uber is a great alternative to taxis (which, yes, the industry needs to be cleaned up too), then you're blinded by their propaganda.
That, fellahs, is a mafia style thing to do. Would there be any reason to make those threats if Uber was a legitimate business?
If you think Uber is a great alternative to taxis (which, yes, the industry needs to be cleaned up too), then you're blinded by their propaganda.
9
Have you taken a yellow cab in the last few years?
That's a full legalized monopoly, backed up by City Hall, a mafia style business.
It would not matter if the service wasn't terrible, too expensive, and fit for Mogadishu, not NYC.
You would think competition would be welcome, instead the City is fully supporting the Yellow Cab monopoly.
That's a full legalized monopoly, backed up by City Hall, a mafia style business.
It would not matter if the service wasn't terrible, too expensive, and fit for Mogadishu, not NYC.
You would think competition would be welcome, instead the City is fully supporting the Yellow Cab monopoly.
4
Considering how many times you have spread incorrect information on this thread alone, I think you should be questioning your own propaganda.
Are you at a Russian-style troll factory? Ask your supervisors for some new "facts" to spread around.
Are you at a Russian-style troll factory? Ask your supervisors for some new "facts" to spread around.
3
I don't care about what Uner may have done with a journalist. I want a good product at a reasonable price.
1
In Brooklyn I can get a cab anytime I want -24/7. I just call my neighborhood car service. There are many Car services throughout the outer boroughs. And now there are Green cabs too. All are regulated and licensed. Uber is up against the Yellow cabs in Manhattan. Why doesn't the yellow cab industry make their own "APP" and go head-to-head with UBER? And Uber needs to be regulated TOO, like all the others. It seems Uber wants to strong arm the competition with the Obama team's Mr Plouffe lobbying their position. They want to turn the industry upside down. Not so fast Ubeer!
9
Yup - you summed it up right. Including that UBER needs stronger regulation. Those Silicon Valley companies are sharks just like anyone else in business.
2
This city needs Uber, and Lyft and similar services as an alternative to the entrenched yellow cab system. Which is why deBlasio doesn't want it, he owes too much to the cab lobby, but I don't want to get started on him.
Uber will be a competitor to the Yellow cabs and Lyft (and other such services) are needed to offer competition to Uber. I think the competition is good here, and needed. The ones that offer the best service for the best price will be the winners. Don't like Ubers 'surge pricing', well competition will take care of that. The essential thing here is that there is an on going competition between a number of players and that no one or ones comes to dominate, like the yellow cab system has. Thats hard to control, I understand that but thats where we consumer come in. Where the Mayor and the city council can do some good (for once) is to just set some basic standards for the vehicles used, that they are to a high standard of appearance, upkeep things like that. That will have a certain "limiting" effect on the number of vehicles but otherwise get out of the way.
Uber will be a competitor to the Yellow cabs and Lyft (and other such services) are needed to offer competition to Uber. I think the competition is good here, and needed. The ones that offer the best service for the best price will be the winners. Don't like Ubers 'surge pricing', well competition will take care of that. The essential thing here is that there is an on going competition between a number of players and that no one or ones comes to dominate, like the yellow cab system has. Thats hard to control, I understand that but thats where we consumer come in. Where the Mayor and the city council can do some good (for once) is to just set some basic standards for the vehicles used, that they are to a high standard of appearance, upkeep things like that. That will have a certain "limiting" effect on the number of vehicles but otherwise get out of the way.
4
Surge pricing (as Uber calls it) is probably unlawful in New York, The law calls it profiteering. Does Lowe's raise the price of snow shovels when it snows? Of course not. But it's ok for Uber to do it?
4
I haven't use Uber before, but I have used some kind of APP similar to Uber. It is really bring me much convince and changed my way of commute and go out. In the past, my common way to commute are bus, bike and on foot, hardly having the necessity to take taxi. It is a important way for low-income people in developing country to save money. However, after the Uber-like app come out, the cost of taxi fee has been cut down and the price become affordable for me. So It is naturally become my first choice on commute. Yeah, it is a piece of ideal from my view. The government must has some bitter words to say, for a stranger come out suddenly to divide a big part of the cake from the former. So the municipal government wanna a clamp down its size, instead of extinct the whole field. The result would be sad, but inevitable, considering we are on the bottom of food chain.
1
I have little doubt that this comment board is peppered with the voices of Uber's own troll farm now that they're in a high-stakes battle against New York City with billions of easy money to burn. Some of the comments here seem to flow right off the talking-points slide deck their well-paid PR folks have drafted for them.
What surprises me is how easy it is to manipulate people (including many journalists) with their propaganda. Uber is just one of many companies in the Silicon Valley hype machine trying to bulldoze sensible regulations by brainwashing the rest of the world with the term "sharing economy" because of its Kumbaya connotation. The reality is that Uber drivers are given monetary consideration in exchange for a service. (Indeed, this consideration can be astronomical during price surges.) It is an economic exchange at least as old as currency. Any likeness to sharing is a complete fallacy.
Words matter, and Uber management has borrowed at least a few chapters from Soviet-style disinformation strategy books. It is little surprise that the CEO was also caught boasting his intention to spend a million dollars on nefarious ways to avenge a journalist critical of their operation. Remind you of a certain head of state?
What surprises me is how easy it is to manipulate people (including many journalists) with their propaganda. Uber is just one of many companies in the Silicon Valley hype machine trying to bulldoze sensible regulations by brainwashing the rest of the world with the term "sharing economy" because of its Kumbaya connotation. The reality is that Uber drivers are given monetary consideration in exchange for a service. (Indeed, this consideration can be astronomical during price surges.) It is an economic exchange at least as old as currency. Any likeness to sharing is a complete fallacy.
Words matter, and Uber management has borrowed at least a few chapters from Soviet-style disinformation strategy books. It is little surprise that the CEO was also caught boasting his intention to spend a million dollars on nefarious ways to avenge a journalist critical of their operation. Remind you of a certain head of state?
8
Does every move have to be larded with "for your protection" regulation? Uber services are better. If you want to get a whiff of pre-glastnost Soviet nostalgia, by all means, stay with your traditional Taxi experience.
I imagine it's also "for your protection" that 23andme is not allowed to report your own genetic information to you.
And in your mind, the legions of people who disagree with you are coming from an "Uber troll farm?"
I was well on the Left before this started to go down but this kind of gibberish makes me relish the fight to destroy the cancerous sentiment that guides your worldview.
I imagine it's also "for your protection" that 23andme is not allowed to report your own genetic information to you.
And in your mind, the legions of people who disagree with you are coming from an "Uber troll farm?"
I was well on the Left before this started to go down but this kind of gibberish makes me relish the fight to destroy the cancerous sentiment that guides your worldview.
1
Mark, problem is, Uber set itself up with its reputation as brash, aggressive, unscrupulous, etc. It wants this kind of reputation. So, of course many people do not "trust" Uber and can imagine it uses trolls on columns such as this. It has manipulated media before, why not now?
Seriously, this is a blatant political move that is not in the best interests of the citizens of NYC. Uber cars are more comfortable, less dangerous, more economical and more widely available than taxis. They don't drive around looking for fares, while spewing exhaust and adding to congestion, like taxis. They don't cause traffic jams by stopping in the middle of the street to pick up or discharge passengers, like taxis. They allow more people to leave their cars at home and take mass transit into the city because they can be assured of having transportation to their end destination.
If the mayor and city council want to do something about congestion, they should support congestion pricing and do something about the lack of coordination around street closures and lane blockages. There is hardly a crosstown street in Manhattan that is not blocked or narrowed to one lane because no one coordinates construction and utility work to minimize disruption and ensure that some streets remain passable.
If the mayor and city council want to do something about congestion, they should support congestion pricing and do something about the lack of coordination around street closures and lane blockages. There is hardly a crosstown street in Manhattan that is not blocked or narrowed to one lane because no one coordinates construction and utility work to minimize disruption and ensure that some streets remain passable.
5
The current system of hailing a cab in the streets is obsolete and should not be allowed to contnue-Uber is solving that problem. This is a capitalistic society and has prospered because companies were allowed to grow as long as they filled a need so let Uber grow with the proper regulations because it is a far superior product that a cab.
4
What job in this world allow you to work whenever you chose to,while allowing you to make over 50000 or more a year?Uber does.go to their office at Jackson avenue in Long Island city or at west 28th between 11th and 12 th aves,you will see endless numbers of new drivers signing to join because f the good opportunity Uber present for them,let the consumers decide what is good for them not corrupt politicians
8
Will someone please tell me if Uber verifies their drivers‘ insurance? I haven't been able to find the answer.
7
I'm an Uber driver in Houston. Yes, they verified I had personal auto insurance as part of my on-boarding process. I assume that step is part of the process in other cities, too.
What they DON'T tell you, however, is that when you become an Uber driver you risk having your insurance policy terminated, since few companies issue policies that allow "ride sharing".
In my case, my policy language wasn't explicit that ANY ride-sharing, e.g., Uber, would be cause for terminating the policy. Instead, it implied the exclusion was only applicable during the specific times I was Uber-ing.
I think both Uber and insurance companies – along with states' insurance regulators – could do a much better job of helping folks understand what they're getting into.
Yes, I'm ultimately responsible for these things, but whereas I didn't really know what to look for or what the risks MIGHT be, presumably Uber did/does know – they deal with drivers all the time and I can't imagine this hasn't come up before.
What they DON'T tell you, however, is that when you become an Uber driver you risk having your insurance policy terminated, since few companies issue policies that allow "ride sharing".
In my case, my policy language wasn't explicit that ANY ride-sharing, e.g., Uber, would be cause for terminating the policy. Instead, it implied the exclusion was only applicable during the specific times I was Uber-ing.
I think both Uber and insurance companies – along with states' insurance regulators – could do a much better job of helping folks understand what they're getting into.
Yes, I'm ultimately responsible for these things, but whereas I didn't really know what to look for or what the risks MIGHT be, presumably Uber did/does know – they deal with drivers all the time and I can't imagine this hasn't come up before.
2
No. They don't. Vast majority only have personal insurance. Essentially all personal policies forbid use as a paid service. So if you are injured in n accident, or raped or beaten which has happened you will be out of luck on recluse to the non existent policy.
2
Uber is rich enough to start its own insurance company to handle any contingency.
What we need is a younger (in mind) mayor that believes in hi-technology making people's lives better. The mayor claims to be a man of the people but in fact he is supporting legislation that simply helps the multi-million dollar taxi fleet owners (with each Taxi medallion costing around $1 million). Instead he should be for more people having jobs and more residents being able to get a taxi/Uber.
The reason why the taxi medallions cost $1 million is because of politically induced artificial scarcity caused by an artificially low limit on the number of medallions, which in microeconomics is called, "rent seeking." The rent seeking helps the wealthy taxi fleet owners over the needs of people wanting to use taxis and other people wanting to get jobs driving.
The reason why the taxi medallions cost $1 million is because of politically induced artificial scarcity caused by an artificially low limit on the number of medallions, which in microeconomics is called, "rent seeking." The rent seeking helps the wealthy taxi fleet owners over the needs of people wanting to use taxis and other people wanting to get jobs driving.
7
David: hi-technology does not always make people's lives better by definition.
3
Dear David,
Taxi medallions are actually down to about $600,000 and dropping. But I agree that the taxi industry needs an overhaul, unfortunately allowing a fly-by-night outfit like Uber to just push them out of business is not the answer.
Taxi medallions are actually down to about $600,000 and dropping. But I agree that the taxi industry needs an overhaul, unfortunately allowing a fly-by-night outfit like Uber to just push them out of business is not the answer.
3
Can I rate my taxi driver to get his biased, illegal, 'I won't go to Brooklyn' attitude poorly so that he gets kicked off the taxi driver list? No? Okay next.
Charlotte from Sex and the City illustrates the bias in taxis best -- "Sometimes it helps to show a little leg." Taxi drivers choose when they see you standing on the street and refuse fares that take them away from the hot zone. Uber drivers have already accepted you when they come pick you up.
Charlotte from Sex and the City illustrates the bias in taxis best -- "Sometimes it helps to show a little leg." Taxi drivers choose when they see you standing on the street and refuse fares that take them away from the hot zone. Uber drivers have already accepted you when they come pick you up.
9
Actually you can report and have your driver fined or have him/her lose his/her license. I've reported drivers for failing to pick me up and have followed through with the hearings.
It's not a quick click of a button/icon type of solution but it does work.
It's not a quick click of a button/icon type of solution but it does work.
An argument made against Uber is that it exploits its drivers and has an advantage by not paying its drivers a salary or benefits or for gas. But aren't most Yellow drivers, either leasers or owners, also on their own and have to work long shifts just to make money after the lease charge? Funny that the left is defending a bunch of medallion owners who for years got rich while their drivers took all the financial risk. Chickens are coming home to roost.
12
Three cheers for the Old Netminder. The taxi industry, with its close ties to politicians for decades, and apparently now with our current mayor, has ripped off consumers and drivers for decades--witness the soaring price of medallions in the decades before Uber.
4
Uber and the yellow cabs need to overhauled. Both are horrendous.
Uber should be forced to consider all the drivers as employees and provide full benefits. The same for cab drivers.
They should all be paid a salary. If Uber is so wonderful and treats its drivers so well per many comments I read, why does a passenger need to provide a tip? Why would a client receive a poor rating and thus be blacklisted if she doesn't tip well-enough? You don't tip cab drivers in other countries...you may round up the fare but that is all.
With all the money Uber and the Taxi companies make (can't really say "earn" since it is off the backs of the working class), they can afford to provide great service to the public AND a living wage with FULL benefits.
Uber is like so many of my wealthy clients, arrogant and out-of-touch.
Uber should be forced to consider all the drivers as employees and provide full benefits. The same for cab drivers.
They should all be paid a salary. If Uber is so wonderful and treats its drivers so well per many comments I read, why does a passenger need to provide a tip? Why would a client receive a poor rating and thus be blacklisted if she doesn't tip well-enough? You don't tip cab drivers in other countries...you may round up the fare but that is all.
With all the money Uber and the Taxi companies make (can't really say "earn" since it is off the backs of the working class), they can afford to provide great service to the public AND a living wage with FULL benefits.
Uber is like so many of my wealthy clients, arrogant and out-of-touch.
21
If Uber and cab drivers were paid a salary, what incentive would they have to hustle for fares? They would get paid whether or not they picked up customers.
Flabbergasted has clearly never taken an Uber: One does not tip an uber driver. There is no option to tip on the application.
"Uber is horrendous." It is so horrendous that so many people are using the service it's causing extreme traffic congestion.
I wonder how popular Uber would be if it weren't "horrendous". Absurd.
I wonder how popular Uber would be if it weren't "horrendous". Absurd.
If Uber were regulated, recognized its drivers as employees, and paid commercial insurance.. well, they wouldn't exist.
30
Stop with the misinformation. In New York City, TLC requires all For Hire Vehciles with T plates to have commercial insurance.
I do not get the concern re Uber. Current cabs, although owned by 1 or 2 controlling companis, are incorporated individually, so that when the driver runs over some one the liabiloity is limited to $100,000. Many drivers do not know where St. Patrick's etc. is. Can Uber be any worse?
22
I'll tell you my objection to Uber. Their business practices are atrocious, they have no concern for local ordinances and they treat their drivers horribly.
But their most egregious sin is when their operatives flood comment sections with the same negative comments about yellow cabs over and over again - though I have to admit that many driver's not knowing where St. Patrick's is is a new one - assuming that the public is just too stupid to figure out what's going on.
assume the public is stupid and won't know what's going on.
But their most egregious sin is when their operatives flood comment sections with the same negative comments about yellow cabs over and over again - though I have to admit that many driver's not knowing where St. Patrick's is is a new one - assuming that the public is just too stupid to figure out what's going on.
assume the public is stupid and won't know what's going on.
3
I'm not an operstive...just an out of towner who was locked in a cab once because the driver took me to Brooklyn by mistake and was afraid I would not pay for the ride. I kid you not. I had to insist he take me to a police station, at which point he took me where I was supposed to go in Manhattan. Pretty scary stuff.
Yes, Harriet, Uber can be (and is) worse. But then again, you're in Albany, so I'm not sure how you could possibly "get" the concern about Uber.
1
Of course the Mayor wants to restrict Uber. God forbid we should have modern, efficient, successful services where both workers and customers are happy! That would go against everything the Mayor stands for...
6
A simple question--How many Uber drivers have commercial/livery style insurance on their vehicles and their person? That is the most critical issue. Personal automobile and liability insurance do not apply if one of engaged in livery activities. Your Uber driver might be a nice guy, but if he crashes and burns, who are you going to sue? This is just one among the host of issues that Uber executives want to ignore. They want to use the best corporate model available, i.e., ignore regulations you don't like, externalize all the bad stuff, make your employees work like dogs, and take all the profits back to Silicon Valley.
A gypsy cab is a gypsy cab is a gypsy cab.
A gypsy cab is a gypsy cab is a gypsy cab.
19
NYC regulations require a specific amount of insurance for livery cars. All Uber drivers and vehicles have to meet those requirements.
2
Yes, and it has to be commercial grade insurance. My State Farm policy would be cancelled if I wanted to engage in fares for hire. Just one more "added" expense that the Uber driver/worker has to do on their own. But why would Uber execs pay for anything unless we make them? And then...they're a cab company with an app.
In New York city TLC requires all For-Hire Vehicles i.e Uber and other car bases to have commercial insurance. You can't get T- plates without having a commercial insurance which is 3 - 4 times your regular insurance rates.
Uber is not a responsible nor a good company. I hired them in Paris for a ride to the airport. Their driver left a piece of my luggage on the street with goods valued at over $4000 and they are saying it was my fault. They have no phone number and they charged me $235 for an estimated ride of $40. New York should outlaw them just like Paris did.
23
It IS your fault if you delegated responsibility for your luggage getting into a cab to the driver. I may have the driver do the heavy lifting, but since it's MY luggage, I make sure he/she puts every piece in.
3
You base this on one bad experience? I've lived in NYC my entire life...do you have any idea how many horrendous cap drivers I've had? Why don't we ban all cabs? How about cable as well?
3
You should take a ride in a Yellow Cab here. For fun, I used to take my out of town friend on a taxi ride from like Central Park to SoHo. When they would get out, they were scared for their lives. And about $40 short.
This is what happens when the set up is a monopoly with no competition. The Major is just siding with the people who donated to his campaign.
This is what happens when the set up is a monopoly with no competition. The Major is just siding with the people who donated to his campaign.
1
Utter garbage. DeBlasio is really showing his true colors slowly but surely. Slave to the donors. How about a study of how many cars are being removed from the eco system because the affordable prices and convenience of a service like uber allows people to get rid of their cars???
8
does uber work in the neighborhoods no yellow cab will go? does uber pick up people of colour?
since all the cabs are in the same place, seems like there is an uber abundance of room for competition.
since all the cabs are in the same place, seems like there is an uber abundance of room for competition.
2
Yellow cabs absolutely pick up people of color, and go to all boroughs. Uber operates without a Medallion, and could not exist if required to play on a level playing field.
1
2 good points. I've had yellow cabs refuse to take me to Brooklyn or Queens on more than one occasion. Sure, you can report them, but it keeps happening. Uber, Lyfft, and other ride-sharing services are doing what yellow cabs refused to do.The green cabs help, too. As far as I'm concerned, the yellows bheaved badly when they had a monopoly & are now reaping what they sowed. And as for hailing while Black, the yellows have long made that problematic, as well.
Try getting a taxi outside of Manhattan! Those green cabs are few and far between and I have yet to see one in my neighborhood in the Bronx. My only option is a black livery vehicle or Uber if I want to get to one an NYC airport--or take 3 hours on public transportation to get to one. Don't see any talk of better public transportation to meet the public's need to get around our crowded city.
4
Nobody is really against Uber, it's how the operate that is the issue here. Why should Uber drivers not have go through the same process that all other cab and livery service drivers had to do in order for their service to be legit? By allowed to bypass this will be an insult to all of those that did. Some can call it a bunch of red tape, but until that gets repealed or amended, it's the law and it must be followed whether anyone agrees with it or not. I could never understand what Uber has against going through the tests that so many taxi and car services go through and why they are fighting to avoid it so much. Last time I checked, unregistered taxis otherwise known as gypsy cabs are illegal, and hearing that Uber is against the registration process does draw a lot of suspicions. Also, many of their drivers have been known for mistreating customers in numerous areas, and it's not just in NYC but across the country as well as different places in the world. Overall, nobody really hates Uber, just the fact that they don't want to play by the rules when it comes to passenger service.
8
I have little sympathy for Uber, which can handle itself, but I have even less sympathy for medallion cab drivers, in whatever city I have ever been in. They have had a monopoly and most of them acted like the knew and liked it. My aged parents can no longer rely on cabs to get them to medical appointments, as cabs show up late or not at all. I have hobbled on crutches trying to get a cab, once walking a half a mile to my destination, while looking in vain for one on a busy street. Yet there will be a line of 25 or so at any given moment at a train station. The idea that congestion in New York is due to Uber though is past laughable. The fact that medallion cabs are trying to regulate, and not compete, says it all.
6
de Blasio must resign now. Playing favorites on behalf of wealthy and well funded donors and hurting the folks he claims to care the most about. This is a rinse and repeat from Charter Schools. We did not have this problem with Bloomberg. I am only surprised that he was unable to read the transit successor plan on one of his trips to Iowa or New Hampshire.
6
If congestion in Manhattan caused by larger numbers of for-hire vehicles on the streets is really the concern here, then the mayor and the TLC should actually support congestion pricing, as the article notes.
If the mayor doesn't want to do that, the city could also limit the number of weekdays a cab can be on the street, i.e. on Mondays, taxis with licenses starting with 1 or 2 must stay in the garage. On Tuesdays, 3 or 4, etc. Then, the traffic reduction would be across the board.
Medallion owners could be compensated by paying them a reasonable return on the original cost of the medallion. Assume a 5 percent rate of return, reduced by one fifth due to the limited days on the road, so pay out 1 percent of the original purchase price of the medallion annually as compensation.
If the mayor wants to achieve all of his congestion reduction goals by blocking the growth of Uber, it will be very clear that he actually has no interest in reducing congestion, but only cares about helping his contributors.
If the mayor doesn't want to do that, the city could also limit the number of weekdays a cab can be on the street, i.e. on Mondays, taxis with licenses starting with 1 or 2 must stay in the garage. On Tuesdays, 3 or 4, etc. Then, the traffic reduction would be across the board.
Medallion owners could be compensated by paying them a reasonable return on the original cost of the medallion. Assume a 5 percent rate of return, reduced by one fifth due to the limited days on the road, so pay out 1 percent of the original purchase price of the medallion annually as compensation.
If the mayor wants to achieve all of his congestion reduction goals by blocking the growth of Uber, it will be very clear that he actually has no interest in reducing congestion, but only cares about helping his contributors.
3
Ubers great, it's friendly, affordable, easy to use, and gives the trying to get ahead, non-american born, hard working, now more financially satisfied back-server who just drove me home extra income when he wants it.
And I was treated well. Boom.
And I was treated well. Boom.
3
Uber is crushing it's drivers and many of them are trapped in santander car loans they cant pay off because uber lowers its per mile rate and raises its own cut at will.
2
From the article: "“I didn’t just fall off the turnip truck,” a top operative, David Plouffe, said this week. “I think this is less about traffic congestion than it is about political contributions.”"
No, Mr. Plouffe, but you did fall off of the centrist Democrat bandwagon when you decided to go for the gold, and offer your political shilling services to noted libertarian and formerly foot-in-mouth CEO, Travis Kalanick, who used be the one defending his company in the face of allegations it is a dishonest and reckless outfit in need of state and local regulations.
I'm for regulating Uber. Just because the old cab medallion system has problems in it doesn't mean Uber shouldn't have to follow similar state, country and city regulations in order to make for a more level playing field, AND earn the city some fees while doing.
Uber says its drivers are not hired employees, but are contract worker, I.E. temporary employees with no rights other than to be exploited by Uber. California says they are company employees. I hope other states see it this way as well.
10
Exactly. The real issue is that Uber's low cost comes from exploiting by the ridiculous myth that drivers are
"contractors" who bear the capital cost of the car, depreciation, fuel, insurance (if they have it all). Their huge valuation is built on exploitation, thuggish behavior, and riding on the back of the drivers. This is why they hired a political hack to bully cities into allowing this company to run roughshod over laws and regulation. Their Obama political shill also perpetuates the falsehood that drivers routinely make $50,000 a year.
"contractors" who bear the capital cost of the car, depreciation, fuel, insurance (if they have it all). Their huge valuation is built on exploitation, thuggish behavior, and riding on the back of the drivers. This is why they hired a political hack to bully cities into allowing this company to run roughshod over laws and regulation. Their Obama political shill also perpetuates the falsehood that drivers routinely make $50,000 a year.
2
“I mean, at some point, there’s a public good here, which is a restricted capacity of the streets of Manhattan,” Mr. Shorris said.
******
Since when is limiting competition a public good? What next? Limiting new jobs in NYC because they would attract too many people?
******
Since when is limiting competition a public good? What next? Limiting new jobs in NYC because they would attract too many people?
11
Jobs are one consideration. Surely it is reasonable to wonder whether too many cars could be a problem.
2
so then perhaps we ought to also limit the number of college degrees in poli sci, or English Lit, or History too?
2
RDeanB:
Who gets to decide which cars are "acceptable" and which fall into the category of "excessive"? The government's role is to deal with congestion but not handpick which cars are allowed on the road.
I'm surprised de Blasio would even try to implement something this poorly thought out and wield government power so sloppily. He really isn't up to the job of managing a big, complex city.
Who gets to decide which cars are "acceptable" and which fall into the category of "excessive"? The government's role is to deal with congestion but not handpick which cars are allowed on the road.
I'm surprised de Blasio would even try to implement something this poorly thought out and wield government power so sloppily. He really isn't up to the job of managing a big, complex city.
1
Ten years, driverless cars. Capital wins again, while labor argues over steaming piles of nothing.
8
Driverless cars would be perfect for Uber - even less responsibility.
2
Frankly, I wouldn't take an Uber if there's any way around it. I think the CEO and his creepy "libertarian" we don't need no "gubbimint" attitude stinks. Too many reports of bad behavior, no recourse for problems, doesn't want to pay any taxes, takes advantage of the people working for it, etc., etc.
20
How ironic. Yellow taxi drivers are among the most disadvantaged, underpaid, and under-appreciated workers in the city. But you're fine with that.
2
Quoting from another article in today's NY Times:
"In the same breath that Mrs. Clinton worried about the financial fate of ride-sharing drivers, she praised the service’s owners for “creating exciting opportunities.”
Two-faced Clinton shows the underlying battles being written about in this article also. Should a $40 billion private company only interested in maximizing its profits have its way by pretending to benefit the people of NYC, or should duly elected public officials be given some leeway to protect the public and the drivers? What is paramount: getting the votes of neo-liberals only interested in their own comfort or the working conditions of drivers? Politicians do need contributors to get elected, but at what price? If, as I suspect, de Blasio is looking at the bigger picture, then eventually his response will also take into account the greedy exploitative yellow cab owners too. Perhaps he already has and the real problem is biased reporting and, even after all this time, misinformation from Christine Quinn supporters still sulking over her being soundly trounced?
"In the same breath that Mrs. Clinton worried about the financial fate of ride-sharing drivers, she praised the service’s owners for “creating exciting opportunities.”
Two-faced Clinton shows the underlying battles being written about in this article also. Should a $40 billion private company only interested in maximizing its profits have its way by pretending to benefit the people of NYC, or should duly elected public officials be given some leeway to protect the public and the drivers? What is paramount: getting the votes of neo-liberals only interested in their own comfort or the working conditions of drivers? Politicians do need contributors to get elected, but at what price? If, as I suspect, de Blasio is looking at the bigger picture, then eventually his response will also take into account the greedy exploitative yellow cab owners too. Perhaps he already has and the real problem is biased reporting and, even after all this time, misinformation from Christine Quinn supporters still sulking over her being soundly trounced?
3
I have taken cabs in 12 states over the last 5 years. None have ever hd working air conditioning. Taking a cab from Oakland to San Francisco, the cab driver managed to stick me with 2 toll fares, since he got "lost" and had to double back. In L.A., the cab drivers take the surface streets even when you ask them to take the freeway- at that point all English ceases. The only remotely honest cab rides I had were in Reno, Nevada. I have taken Uber and Sidecar, and would happily never take another cab again.
16
The last taxi I took was in San Fran 3 years ago. Needed to go to the Omni Hotel; the driver had no idea where this major hotel was. I then explained that it was on California Street; he asked, "How do you spell that?"
1
It's like trying to hold back the ocean by standing in the surf with your hands outstretched. Uber is disruptive to the old taxi model and will continue to be, just as newly invented television disrupted the radio networks. You can't stop the technology.
15
"Über"
It says it all in the name ... Go Blasio!
It says it all in the name ... Go Blasio!
15
Uber is simply the dominant incarnation of an idea whose time has come. With pricing on par with traditional yellow cabs and an experience that's incomparably superior to the status quo (clean cars, friendly drivers who are competing for good reviews, smartphone convenience) of course users are flocking to the service. The laws are outdated and have to change with the times.
More transportation options in New York City means less car ownership, which is always a net gain in my book. Cars that are used infrequently are a massive waste of resources in pretty much every way, not to mention requiring parking at each end of every journey. I imagine a more efficient future with fewer unused cars, fewer wasted parking spaces, a net gain in pedestrians and lower priced fares.
Bloomberg was remarkably forward thinking on transportation and introduced many ambitious programs to improve city life: ubiquitous and protected bike lanes, Citibikes, pedestrian zones. I see none of this imagination from De Blasio, simply tired old obstructionism in transportation (leaving Citibike high and dry, cracking down on ride sharing) and seems mainly interested in introducing new poorly designed handout programs.
More transportation options in New York City means less car ownership, which is always a net gain in my book. Cars that are used infrequently are a massive waste of resources in pretty much every way, not to mention requiring parking at each end of every journey. I imagine a more efficient future with fewer unused cars, fewer wasted parking spaces, a net gain in pedestrians and lower priced fares.
Bloomberg was remarkably forward thinking on transportation and introduced many ambitious programs to improve city life: ubiquitous and protected bike lanes, Citibikes, pedestrian zones. I see none of this imagination from De Blasio, simply tired old obstructionism in transportation (leaving Citibike high and dry, cracking down on ride sharing) and seems mainly interested in introducing new poorly designed handout programs.
8
You might have a valid argument if you also recognized that the NYC metro area has problems providing additional options for people using mass transit compared to other cities that have put in bike lanes and such. There aren't always good options for areas that are not right on public transit lines or that are from borough to borough outside Manhattan.
To date, while London, Paris, Amsterdam and other cities constantly improve their public transportation infrastructure, in NYC we are left with the same options and decreased car lanes. And bicyclists who bike lawlessly much of the time and don't even use the designated bike lanes contribute to the traffic chaos and congestion.
When a company like Uber, that is a de facto cab company, tries to pass itself off as a new "tech" company, bully and surveil anyone that questions that deceptive spin, I know that you don't care about laws, insurance, training or other important reasons why cabs are regulated. But I do. And I expect that laws need to be followed first, and then challenged and changed if the public demands it.
It's not the right of Uber or its customers to say that they don't want to obey laws because they are "outdated." It's arrogance, pure and simple.
To date, while London, Paris, Amsterdam and other cities constantly improve their public transportation infrastructure, in NYC we are left with the same options and decreased car lanes. And bicyclists who bike lawlessly much of the time and don't even use the designated bike lanes contribute to the traffic chaos and congestion.
When a company like Uber, that is a de facto cab company, tries to pass itself off as a new "tech" company, bully and surveil anyone that questions that deceptive spin, I know that you don't care about laws, insurance, training or other important reasons why cabs are regulated. But I do. And I expect that laws need to be followed first, and then challenged and changed if the public demands it.
It's not the right of Uber or its customers to say that they don't want to obey laws because they are "outdated." It's arrogance, pure and simple.
Anyone can see that the writing is on the wall for the end of the traditional Taxi Industrial Complex (and the huge bureaucracy it supports). Regulation is needed, yes, but medallions are going to continue to go the way of the passenger pigeon.
8
Something is dramatically wrong when a permit (aka taxi medallion) to earn $50,000 a year driving a $50,000 car costs over $1,000,000. The city needs more and better taxi/limo service which Uber and others provide. The idea that there is too much congestion is simply a red herring. NYC has dramatically reduced auto traffic lanes replacing them with lightly traveled bus and bicycle lanes as well as reducing the speed limit. No wonder average traffic speed is down. Rather the "excessive congestion" idea is just a way to keep the yellow cab medallion owners lining the pockets of Bill DiBlasio and the like. If he was truly for income equality, he'd be championing Uber and its drivers, rather than wealthy medallion owners....
8
I saw at least 10 Uber commercials (definitely aimed at the battle detailed in the article) during the Today Show on NBC this morning. I am pretty sure that kind of money is not trickling down to the drivers. However, I have had to visit a relative at a Bronx hospital over the last 10 days, almost every day. There is no viable subway/train service to that area on the weekend (almost 2 hours from the UWS to E. 180th St), for which the city of New York should be wholly ashamed. Without Uber, I would have been flagging down black cars in the street. A thing I never do, ever. Everybody should straighten up. The boroughs need these kinds of car services. We live and die on mass transit; if you can't provide it (all over the city, for all the people, rich and not so rich), then you have to learn to get the subways/buses running reasonably or get cabs in the other boroughs. The people are also suffering in this war.
6
It is very reasonable to ban Uber. How can a city license cab drivers and require they have an expensive medallion and then allow a profusion of pseudo-cabs to enter without regulation or a medallion? That is patently unfair to the cabbies who have worked through the system. Uber's competitive advantage is derived by breaking the law.
13
Generally it's fleet owners who own the medallions and monetize them by leasing out their monopoly cars to drivers.
Perhaps because the real reason is the city sees these absurdly over priced medallions as just another cash cow, unconnected to their actual value, and owned by a handful of wealthy owners who often treat their drivers like chattel and passengers as a nuisance. Spare me too, the law breaking line, when any number of taxi drivers will unlawfully refuse fares if they don't think it's far enough, isn't where they want head, etc, Yea, there's a model that focuses on public need.
Exactly correct.
Uber has eased significant pain. Ever come back on a flight from JFK, land at 1a in the bitter cold only to have to sit in the taxi line for 45 mins after a 10 hour flight? Uber solved that problem. However, the rise of SUV's is disconcerting and that feels where the regulation is needed...standardizing the type of vehicle used, making sure livery cars are fuel efficient, etc. BUT, the much bigger concern as it relates to safety, congestion and the public - when is City Hall and the NYPD going to do something about the delivery guys on motorcycles masquerading as bicycles, who are breaking the law on a moment to moment basis? That's a truly dangerous situation in need of serious oversight.
7
To travel in the 5 boroughs is a painful task. If any company is able to improve on a service many of us need on a daily basis, they should be welcome. Protecting the taxi lobby at all cost is like impeding the introduction of smartphones to protect those making flip phones (without a qwerty keyboard). The reality is in a country where competitiveness can often breed progress, I say let the best provider win. The truly arrogant parties here are the taxis and their perceived god-given privileges.
19
Remember when the taxi lobby fought tooth and nail when credit card machines were being installed. That was in 2007. If they had their way we'd still be counting out ones and asking for cash back. Let's take our cues about how things should run from those guys, De Blasio.
9
They fought because it was a play to steal their money. The CC companies tried hard to take a larger cut out of driver transactions but thankfully drivers with the help of the NYTWA fought back. They're still taking too big a cut.
The real issue if the Uber drivers on the road are unsafe. Making left turns from the right side of the road, cutting off drivers, running lights, blocking cross-walks. Plus a hazard to pedestrians as they drive round like a Dominos delivery vehicle to rush to pick-up within a certain time frame. NYPD needs to crack down on bad drivers, especially UBER drivers.
8
Preach on brother. Because those yellow cab drivers are the poster children for safe driving. This topic is an interesting one but those making ridiculous points to favor one side or another need a good long look in the mirror. If for no other reason than to question their own intelligence...
1
Right....because we all know how safe and accommodating the regular cab drivers are, never cutting people off, not honking at or creeping up on pedestrians lawfully in crosswalks, never speeding, never darting from one lane to another. Sure, poster children for safe driving. NOT.
1
Are you seriously saying Yellow drivers are paragons of safe driving?
2
If Mayor de Blasio wants to maintain the status quo he had better focus on the deteriorating conditions in the NYC Subway System. As more and more people shun the System due to lack of safety, reliability, and overall cleanliness they are seeking viable alternatives like Uber.
Furthermore, the caliber of the average Yellow cab service is woefully deficient and overpriced. Being a man of the people, he needs to dramatically improve the existing transit system before he applies the brakes to alternatives that the consumers clearly want and deserve.
Stop kowtowing to your monied backers Mr. Mayor and start focussing on the constituents of your City.
Furthermore, the caliber of the average Yellow cab service is woefully deficient and overpriced. Being a man of the people, he needs to dramatically improve the existing transit system before he applies the brakes to alternatives that the consumers clearly want and deserve.
Stop kowtowing to your monied backers Mr. Mayor and start focussing on the constituents of your City.
16
I agree completely, however the Mayor has very little control over the MTA, which operates the subways and buses. It is a state organization, so the right person to appeal to is Givernor Cuomo. He is failing his constituents on this issue.
2
There is a limit to what the mayor can do about the subway, funding is at the mercy of Albany, which sees NYC as a cash cow to fund upstate.
Also, if so many people are shunning the subway system, why is ridership at an all time high, and why has it been growing faster than the city population?
Also, if so many people are shunning the subway system, why is ridership at an all time high, and why has it been growing faster than the city population?
1
Uber is like Wal-Mart. It's great if you don't mind stepping on people's lives for your convenience.
36
Actually quite the contrary. Yellow cabs pay starvation wages. Uber gives the drivers a much fairer deal. The reason the medallion cab owners are lobbying de Blasio to stop Uber isn't because they're worried about losing passengers; it's because they're worried about losing drivers. If you watch closely, the drivers want Uber. You don't see Yellow Cab drivers demonstrating to defend the current system -- the competition from Uber means they might get a raise someday.
14
Articles like this never point that out. They act like Yellow drivers are well-paid employees like the loveable bunch in "Taxi."
pretty terrible analogy. I won't even bother elaborating...
1
Uber is obnxious.
Uber obnoxious.
It is a "symbol". Of aggression, arrogance, "destruction."
For those reasons alone, I would not use it.
Uber obnoxious.
It is a "symbol". Of aggression, arrogance, "destruction."
For those reasons alone, I would not use it.
12
Is this the ride-hailing service you are talking about or something else?
1
Fine, you don't have too. But by what right do you or the mayor get to impose your personal preference (in his larded by campaign money, no less) and subject the rest of us to lousy, rude and dirty service when a better alternative is available??
7
George: Exactly how is my expressing myself here "imposing my personal preference...subjecting the rest to lousy.....service."? Stating an opinion imposes nothing. Free speech, et al.
As to de Blaiso, yes he is trying to impose on others. But he is the mayor, that's what mayors do.
As to de Blaiso, yes he is trying to impose on others. But he is the mayor, that's what mayors do.
1
If the concern is traffic congestion, simply implement congestion pricing for all vehicles in heavily congested areas, as Bloomberg proposed.
23
A unethical business (see the myriad past stories about their sexism, privacy violations, and dirty competitive practices) reaping huge profits off the back of drivers with no benefits or other security, operating in spite of regulations that make ride-hailing fair and equitable (not the least of which is the mandate for a medallion driver to pick up every passenger regardless of race or gender)...
No thanks.
No thanks.
15
I've never used Uber but I've read about it. I think it's 80-90% a good thing. That last 20% is where doing the right thing might cut into the big boys' profit. If they had a little higher standards and compensated the drivers better, I'd have no problem; but, it's like that joke about a kid's reaction to a room full of horse manure promising a pony, the fact that the executives and original investors are rolling in dough tells me that people lower on the food chain should be getting more. Thank you Saint Ronnie.
4
Absurd. There is one reason Uber is still in existence, because people want it to continue to operate. Every argument about what the people of New York or any other city may want is undercut by the plain reality of what's happening (and NO I am not an Uber driver or any other kind of driver). The very SECOND people were given a choice between Uber and taxis, they jumped ship in droves. I recall that the same article in the New York times asserting that drivers were turning on Uber also said that Uber was signing up tens of thousands of drivers per week. On the consumer's side, let's face it, cabs are awful. We stand around on the sidewalk with our arms in the air, competing with a dozen other people, praying that a random driver deems us worthy enough to stop (maybe if we're lucky they'll even do their JOB and take us to Brooklyn or wherever else we might want to go). Only after Uber started destroying their monopoly did all taxi lobbies start expressing concern for consumers. And now we're to believe that DeBlasio's new agenda is unrelated to the financial concerns of a century old (or more) former monopolistic institution so backwards it resisted CREDIT CARD payments for years?! What a transparent manipulation of public office.
40
"We stand around on the sidewalk with our arms in the air, competing with a dozen other people, praying that a random driver deems us worthy enough to stop"
As I noted in another comment, such behavior on their part is illegal. Cabs are required to take any passenger. Interestingly, Uber drivers can discriminate as they please, refusing passage on the basis of gender, ethnicity, or age (all of which are evident from the rider's profile photo).
As I noted in another comment, such behavior on their part is illegal. Cabs are required to take any passenger. Interestingly, Uber drivers can discriminate as they please, refusing passage on the basis of gender, ethnicity, or age (all of which are evident from the rider's profile photo).
14
Profile photo? My Uber account doesn't have a profile photo. Adding one is entirely optional. Until you mentioned it, I didn't even know the possibility existed.
1
Drivers don't see riders' photos at all. All we see is the rider's location and rating. No photos, no names, no clues re: gender/ethnicity/age.
So Plouffe earned his stripes working for Obama, mobilizing apathetic Millennials to vote for CHANGE. Now he's at the helm of a company that enables affluent Millennials to keep partying like it's 1999. Is this the CHANGE we HOPEd for? No, and thankfully, DeBlasio is doing something about it.
2
As a driver and motorcyclist in NYC, I take my riding and driving seriously. The only problem I have with Uber in NY is the lack of driving talent by all of these new T&LC cars all over the city. They spend their time driving while looking at their phones, to see where their next pick up is and then abandoning all sense of rules, sensibility and decorum while behind the wheel. They, like our traditional yellow cabs so zero consideration for anyone else on the street, be it drivers, riders, cyclists or pedestrians. If you want to make NYC streets safer, only give livery drivers a license if they successfully complete a NYC driving course and hold them accountable when they drive dangerously.
2
So Plouffe earned his stripes working for Obama, mobilizing apathetic Millennials to vote for CHANGE. Now he's at the helm of a company that enables affluent Millennials to keep partying like it's 1999. Is this the CHANGE we HOPEd for? No, and thankfully De Blasio is doing something about it.
8
What the --- are you talking about? Uber is providing an alternative to a corrupt, arrogant monopoly.
In autumn of last year, I was told to my face by several cabbies that they'd refuse to pick me up. Others just drove away and shook their heads when learning of my destination (from Grand Central to Penn Station). My wife gave up, called Über (or Lyft), and a couple minutes later a large black SUV pulled up, no questions asked (except where we wanted to go, and if he could help,with our luggage). Fighting Über is a losing battle, and presents a potential loss for NY.
39
"In autumn of last year, I was told to my face by several cabbies that they'd refuse to pick me up. Others just drove away and shook their heads when learning of my destination (from Grand Central to Penn Station)."
That is illegal and you should report any such evidence to the city.
That is illegal and you should report any such evidence to the city.
The mayor has fought with (i) horse drawn carriage drivers on behalf of PETA, one of his big donors, (ii) the charter schools, on behalf of the teacher's union, another of his big donors, (iii) the governor, again on behalf of the teacher's union, (iv) the police department, on behalf and standing with Al Sharpton, another of his big supporters and now (v) UBER, apparently on behalf of the medallion owners, yet another campaign contributor. This dispute seems less about congestion than it seems to be part of a pattern of rewarding campaign contributors without any regard for what is best for New York. The city has taken a strong turn for the worse since this mayor took office, astoundingly fast. Crime is up, the homeless have taken residence in the subways again and the mayor wants to increase taxes. Good luck to UBER!
32
Exactly, people who think de Blasio is for the average New Yorker are fooling themselves.
1
Not just PETA ( which may have the interests, albeit misguided, of the horses, in mind) but NYCLASS the organization behind the ban whose real estate developer backer has only one interest in mind - his own and the valuable real estate now used as stables. Corruption smells, and it's getting bad here in NYC.
1
De Blasio can't even pretend to be a mayor of the people anymore, because of all of these issues.
I really hope he's a one-term mayor.
I really hope he's a one-term mayor.
1
If one class of taxis, yellow cabs, are required to purchase a medallion to ply their trade, then it only seems fair that other classes of taxis should also purchase a medallion. If the difference is that Uber, Lyft, et al. are not roaming the streets for fares, then at least offer/require the purchase of a different class of medallion. Otherwise, eliminate the medallion system altogether and refund the purchase price to those who bought them.
9
Get rid of the medallion system. It's an outdated method of creating a municipal revenue stream that stifles innovation and competition; and therefore precludes the prospect of improvements in transportation for the public. The medallion system is a dinosaur. It's time for it to become a fossil.
2
Agree with your last sentence, abolish the medallion system. It's wrong to restrict competition, inflating the incomes of a few while blocking opportunities for the many. Require standards for safety, insurance, etc., but beyond that let anyone offer transportation services to willing customers.
who are new yorkers going to yell at and give the finger to when a driver-less vehicle does something really stupid?
6
Billy.. we're New Yorkers, we'll find someone, don't worry. :P
Wealthy medallion owners vs workers trying to make a living, and our Mayor de Blasio sides with the wealthy medallion owners. Wonder if that has something to do with their campaign contributions. Not surprised de Blasio could be bought and paid for.
26
These bullies have run roughshod over regulations across the country, and think they are above the law. In addition they have perpetuated the "big lie" that their drivers are "independent contractors" and not employees. However California has ruled the opposite. I also avoid using them as they do not carry commercial level insurance. If you're injured in one of the "contracors" cars, you are out of luck.
21
You are wrong ,the taxi industry insurance policy is one of the most strict ,I don't know where you get your information from but in New York City every taxi operated vehicle has 1000000 physical liability coverage and 100000 damage coverage ,so riding Uber is safe ,and where is the wrong to let consumers decide how they want to move around?i use uber all the time and I haven't met a driver who is unhappy
CABS have insurance by regulation. UBER is NOT required to carry insurance.
Revisiting Bloomberg's idea of congestion pricing is a good idea. So, too, is it a good idea to ask the taxi industry to clean the cabs, improve service, and, in general, enter the twenty-first century. That being said, Uber, an unregulated mega-monster-in-waiting is not the answer.
15
If taxis are actually providing a service that people want, Uber would not be successful.
78
If Uber were paying the same sorts of insurance premiums that are required of taxis, then Uber would not be successful. Good luck to you, Dan, when you are seriously injured in an Uber car. It's like AirBnB telling someone injured in a room they booked they they bear no responsibility because they're just a internet information company. You want an even competition? Let the taxis ride without decent insurance too.
3
Dan - that is rubbish... Uber found a way around the regulations the taxi industry has to deal with... Nothing fair about that.
Taxis have provided excellent service for close to 100 years.
Uber's advantage is in blatant violations of laws and regulations that are followed by ALL other industry participants.
Number of sexual assaults n Uber vehicles in off charts - peaking with the most recent horrific Uber rape incident right here in middle of Manhattan,
Competition has to be fair. Laws must be enforced equally on all.
Uber should NOT be an exception.
Uber's advantage is in blatant violations of laws and regulations that are followed by ALL other industry participants.
Number of sexual assaults n Uber vehicles in off charts - peaking with the most recent horrific Uber rape incident right here in middle of Manhattan,
Competition has to be fair. Laws must be enforced equally on all.
Uber should NOT be an exception.
1
And the street congestion has nothing to do with the 56.4 milion tourists visiting New York each year?
As a Manhattan resident, Uber has been one of the only quality-of-life bright spots. Try getting a cab without it. I dare you, especially in the rain.
Every Uber driver I've had has been courteous and alert, with a nice car that is a source of pride because it belongs to him/her. And many have been former cab drivers, who like this new system much more. As for safety, the driver has details on me (my credit card), and I have details on him (the digital transaction trail). What do you get with a taxi cab? Oh right, that illegible license in the window.
Please do not ruin one of the few things going right for NYC residents.
As a Manhattan resident, Uber has been one of the only quality-of-life bright spots. Try getting a cab without it. I dare you, especially in the rain.
Every Uber driver I've had has been courteous and alert, with a nice car that is a source of pride because it belongs to him/her. And many have been former cab drivers, who like this new system much more. As for safety, the driver has details on me (my credit card), and I have details on him (the digital transaction trail). What do you get with a taxi cab? Oh right, that illegible license in the window.
Please do not ruin one of the few things going right for NYC residents.
88
You mean going right for Uber tax-evading billionaires, right?
Uber DOESN'T compete fairly. It's that simple. It aims at creating an unlawful monopoly something that City was trying to prevent all along for close to 100 years. And no - taxicabs are not a monopoly - 60-70% of ALL NYC taxicabs are either individually-owned or are small businesses.
Uber DOESN'T compete fairly. It's that simple. It aims at creating an unlawful monopoly something that City was trying to prevent all along for close to 100 years. And no - taxicabs are not a monopoly - 60-70% of ALL NYC taxicabs are either individually-owned or are small businesses.
@Ron: Wow, what a great deal: the drive has your CREDIT CARD info, your personal info (including possibly where you live) - and you have a "digital transaction trail"! Hey, what could possibly go wrong?
You ask "What do you get with a taxi cab?" to which I reply: a printed receipt with that "digital transaction trail" AND a driver who is answerable to a City agency. Uber doesn't want to be answerable to ANYONE, ever.
I'm sticking with yellow cabs.
You ask "What do you get with a taxi cab?" to which I reply: a printed receipt with that "digital transaction trail" AND a driver who is answerable to a City agency. Uber doesn't want to be answerable to ANYONE, ever.
I'm sticking with yellow cabs.
couldn't agree more. the taxi cartel owners and the mayor are greedy characters looking to fill their pockets. Let's keep Uber rolling!
This new business model that creates an invading army of unprofessional drivers needs to be regulated out of existance. Stand on a corner in any busy neighborhood in the evening and you will see streets clogged with Uber and other services' cars. They block traffic looking for their fares with illegal and dangerous driving habits. I see these cars habitually going through red lights and stop signs and making illegal u-turns. Does NYC really need thousands of these cars on the streets?
If market demand and creating jobs makes it acceptable for businesses to do what they want then CVS should be allowed to sell drugs and every barbershop, nail salon and bar should have VIP rooms offering prostitution.
If market demand and creating jobs makes it acceptable for businesses to do what they want then CVS should be allowed to sell drugs and every barbershop, nail salon and bar should have VIP rooms offering prostitution.
6
From what I see, the Uber drivers are no worse than the taxi drivers, and generally much better, particularly since they don't suddenly cut across three lanes of traffic when they see a street hail.
1
I am not sure what the city's problems with Uber are. The business model has been around forever.
Take a portion of the revenue off the top for transactional support, setting terms and conditions, while leaving the risks of the transaction on the customer and the service provider.
Pimps have exercised this model since the beginning of time.
Take a portion of the revenue off the top for transactional support, setting terms and conditions, while leaving the risks of the transaction on the customer and the service provider.
Pimps have exercised this model since the beginning of time.
3
Apply some of the positives about Uber to the TLC and the taxi fleet. End the harassment and nickel-and-diming of taxi drivers. As far as I'm concerned, these guys and a few gals have been tortured for decades by the TLC, forced to pay for stupid TVs in their cabs, forced to cover the cost of credit card machines and fees. How can they possibly compete with the unregulated rogues of Uber, et al. New Yorkers need to support their taxi drivers, not fall for the Uber sales job.
4
Why should I support taxi drivers over Uber drivers?
And another thing: I agree that the Bloombergian changes to traffic lanes, all the added bike lanes, the parking lanes that look like a line of stopped cars in the middle of the road, the unnecessary traffic islands plopped down all over are the things clogging up the traffic. Remove all of the pharoah's pyramids and traffic will move much more smoothly.
2
Why would we want a free-market competitive enterprise like Uber offering convenience and on-call capability disrupting our wonderful government regulated, oligopolistic and politician favored NYC taxi system?
C'mon NYC - you love the government - you elected de Blasio, just cue-up and stop complaining.
C'mon NYC - you love the government - you elected de Blasio, just cue-up and stop complaining.
13
Next time I see the Mayor at 5:30 trying to hail a cab, I will support him; in the meanwhile, his purported protection of New Yorkers is nonsense.
This can be compared to NASA failing and SpaceX emerging to save US Space exploration.
The MTA and public transportation in NYC is outdated and failing due to corruption and mismanagement. New ways of innovation will win if they can coexist and work together as NASA is doing with SpaceX. Lyft and other services are right behind Uber ready to kick down this door of inadequacy.
The MTA and public transportation in NYC is outdated and failing due to corruption and mismanagement. New ways of innovation will win if they can coexist and work together as NASA is doing with SpaceX. Lyft and other services are right behind Uber ready to kick down this door of inadequacy.
5
"The MTA and public transportation in NYC is outdated and failing due to corruption and mismanagement."
And your solution is? Privatizing the subway? You do realize that prior to 1940 different operators competed with one another and they built overlapping and INCOMPATIBLE lines! This private sector wastefulness left us with the current patchwork. It's the reason numbered and lettered trains can't operate on the same tracks.
The private sector is enormously wasteful when it comes to public transit.
And your solution is? Privatizing the subway? You do realize that prior to 1940 different operators competed with one another and they built overlapping and INCOMPATIBLE lines! This private sector wastefulness left us with the current patchwork. It's the reason numbered and lettered trains can't operate on the same tracks.
The private sector is enormously wasteful when it comes to public transit.
The whole conflict in a nutshell:
"New yellow taxi medallions, by contrast, cannot be sold without an analysis of potential impact."
Uber refuses to play by the rules that govern existing services. End of story. The rest is smoke.
This entire public/private debate has already occurred and been resolved, and the result was the existing taxi and limousine service. Uber is intent on pretending that this is somehow a new issue, because their brand name is different.
"New yellow taxi medallions, by contrast, cannot be sold without an analysis of potential impact."
Uber refuses to play by the rules that govern existing services. End of story. The rest is smoke.
This entire public/private debate has already occurred and been resolved, and the result was the existing taxi and limousine service. Uber is intent on pretending that this is somehow a new issue, because their brand name is different.
9
Heaven forbid the ever coddled taxi monopoly be challenged in New York (or London, or Paris, or wherever)! Rather than trying to regulate and limit something that saves people money and time Mayor de Blasio should consider actually trying to find a more efficient method of allocating the scarce resource in question here: which is space on NYC streets. Why not a congestion charge like London and Singapore for Manhattan? It would help keep personal vehicles in garages and encourage greater use of all forms of public transport, from the subway to metered taxis to Uber.
14
So it's alright for Uber to be the monopoly of everything that's there goal be careful what you wish for
5
Uber is absolutely not a monopoly. They compete with Lyft and taxis in New York, in London they compete with Hailo, GetTaxi, taxis and minicabs. They even allow their drivers to work for other services (like Lyft). Because of Uber and Lyft I now have options, so I am carefully wishing that politicians don't force me back into dealing solely with the taxi monopoly!
of COURSE Di Blasio is fighting Uber. Of course he is.
This Mayor is union-bought and union paid for. He has no interest in New Yorkers or their needs.
Ever try to catch a cab in Manhattan at 5:30P? Good luck with that...
This Mayor is union-bought and union paid for. He has no interest in New Yorkers or their needs.
Ever try to catch a cab in Manhattan at 5:30P? Good luck with that...
15
The answer to this problem is to license more cabs, not to let a company operate a cab business without license.
1
I have ridden in my share of yellow cabs, although I try to take the subway whenever possible. I've never taken an Uber. From my point of view, the big difference is the regulation of fares; taxis cannot charge more than the metered rate. Uber's surge pricing lets them charge whatever the market of upscale, high-earning customers will bear. What happens if Uber drives the yellow cabs out of business? Then there is no (somewhat) affordable option left for someone like me.
11
The de Blasio administration's claim to be looking out for the public interest is laughable. Uber has grown so rapidly simply because it meets needs of taxi users that the traditional companies ignore: decent vehicles, friendly drivers, the ability to make a reservation and track the progress of your taxi to pick you up when requested, etc. some complaints about Uber are legit, such as them not requiring the same type of drivers license as taxi drivers. Focus on those issues and quit trying to defend campaign contributors. Now that would be in the public interest.
29
I am a former New Yorker and come to the city sometimes once a month.
I use Uber Cars. They are Clean, efficient and all have T&LC plates with licensed drivers. Thus "Black Car Service". The only destination is that I contact them via App. rather than a phone call. I ask every driver how they like Uber and they respond positively . They like it. In June I tried to hail a cab. None would stop as they are all going "off duty" at the same time. In addition, they ask where you want to go. If they do not want to go they just drive off.
As they are all T&LC licensed, this is not congestion, it is political. Who gives the biggest contribution (payoff) to the Mayor and Council. When DeBlasio was elected I thought he would be different. Uber is progress. We are in iPhone world.
Why not let the Taxi's use Uber also. That should level the playing field.
Its called competition. Something the Taxi monopoly does not want.
PS: When you use Uber you get to rate the driver. No so with Taxi's.
When they finish investigating Albany maybe the next stop should be City Hall.
I use Uber Cars. They are Clean, efficient and all have T&LC plates with licensed drivers. Thus "Black Car Service". The only destination is that I contact them via App. rather than a phone call. I ask every driver how they like Uber and they respond positively . They like it. In June I tried to hail a cab. None would stop as they are all going "off duty" at the same time. In addition, they ask where you want to go. If they do not want to go they just drive off.
As they are all T&LC licensed, this is not congestion, it is political. Who gives the biggest contribution (payoff) to the Mayor and Council. When DeBlasio was elected I thought he would be different. Uber is progress. We are in iPhone world.
Why not let the Taxi's use Uber also. That should level the playing field.
Its called competition. Something the Taxi monopoly does not want.
PS: When you use Uber you get to rate the driver. No so with Taxi's.
When they finish investigating Albany maybe the next stop should be City Hall.
51
Uber need to play by the same rules
1
And the drivers get to rate YOU. Wow, what a great business model!
Uber is extremely efficient, effective and helpful. Riding in a taxi after Uber is like going back to a Soviet-era or third world system.
The taxis have brought this upon themselves. Dirty old cars, rude service, no tech. Good riddance.
The taxis have brought this upon themselves. Dirty old cars, rude service, no tech. Good riddance.
66
Uber is extremely efficient at deceptions, lies and lobbying.
I will give you that.
It also extremely efficient vacuuming billions of the streets of New York without paying even a penny back.
I have been working in NYC transportation for many years - and I stand behind every word I just wrote.
If you don't know - if you just believe Uber lies and deception - then you and I - collectively - have a problem. Use some critical thinking - analyze Uber claims - you see that Uber's claim hold no water.
I will give you that.
It also extremely efficient vacuuming billions of the streets of New York without paying even a penny back.
I have been working in NYC transportation for many years - and I stand behind every word I just wrote.
If you don't know - if you just believe Uber lies and deception - then you and I - collectively - have a problem. Use some critical thinking - analyze Uber claims - you see that Uber's claim hold no water.
I am disappointed with Bill de Blasio. It's such an old-school political move, exposing weasely instincts. He's all for progress as long as it's controlled by those in power for the benefit of those in power.
6
Uber is a taxi service, plain and simple, and it should be regulated like every other taxi service in NYC and elsewhere. Let's have competition, but let's have it on a level playing field.
11
But regulated how? The current taxi regulations don't appear to facilitate efficient service or clean vehicles with knowledgeable drivers. They have instead created a monopoly driven by the best interests of the medallion owners rather that the public. Unregulated Uber, on the other hand, is efficient, the vehicles clean, and the drivers courteous. The public has shown a willingness to pay a premium for those services.
The issue really seems to be what regulations are preferable, rules strangling Uber unless it performs like a taxi service and ensuring it is eliminated as a threat to medallion owners, or regulations reforming the taxi business to be more like Uber?
The issue really seems to be what regulations are preferable, rules strangling Uber unless it performs like a taxi service and ensuring it is eliminated as a threat to medallion owners, or regulations reforming the taxi business to be more like Uber?
If the pre-Uber level of service is the result of taxi regulation, than those regulations are doing more harm than good. The real question is: If these regulations are so consumer friendly and great for passengers, how is it possible that Uber has risen so quickly? The answer is obvious: Because the only reason most people used yellow cabs is because there was literally no other reasonable choice if they wanted transportation by car. Consumers never embraced such shoddy service, they tolerated it like they might tolerate lines at the DMV. The medallion system doesn't create a level playing field, it just restricts participation in the business to those who can pay an astronomical entry fee.
Uber is regulated just like every other black car service in NYC.
The field was leveled, now the administration wants to change the playing field to cater to some high-dollar contributors.
The field was leveled, now the administration wants to change the playing field to cater to some high-dollar contributors.
Honestly, what could be funnier than watching David Plouffe fight Bill de Blasio about regulation and free markets?
3
Uber should be regulated within reason. Beyond that, this is just a socialist mayor interfering, once again, with the free market competition. Funny how none of the users of Uber are ever represented by Mayor DeBlazé.
4
Uber is supposed to represent the "sharing economy." I thought the whole idea of Uber was that I'm going someplace in my car, someone else nearby wants to go someplace near where I'm going, so I can give them a ride and we'll share expenses. This whole campaign by Uber puts the lie to all that. The new regulations will cost the jobs of 10,000 Uber drivers? Really? Uber drivers are supposed to be just people with cars. That's not a job. A job is you do something for someone else, and you get paid. If anything in the ads is true, then Uber is just another livery company competing with every other livery company on the streets, and of course they must be regulated and adhere to labor laws.
11
I think the taxi industry gets what it deserves: Competition.
Ever tried to get a taxi after the opera? Ever got your shoes scuffed when entering behind a partition? Ever got sick from too much air fresheners? Ever got driven by a driver who had no idea where to go (and that in a city that basically allows you to drive by numbers)?
The mortgage market has been artificially propped up by keeping the number of Hackney licenses limited. Non-corporate drivers have almost disappeared, the majority of license belong to larger groups. The mortgage companies are the ones who win in this game. Their game has been challenged.
Bring it on Uber.
Ever tried to get a taxi after the opera? Ever got your shoes scuffed when entering behind a partition? Ever got sick from too much air fresheners? Ever got driven by a driver who had no idea where to go (and that in a city that basically allows you to drive by numbers)?
The mortgage market has been artificially propped up by keeping the number of Hackney licenses limited. Non-corporate drivers have almost disappeared, the majority of license belong to larger groups. The mortgage companies are the ones who win in this game. Their game has been challenged.
Bring it on Uber.
7
please. he doesn't like horses or taxi services? how about banning personal cars instead of, what is basically, public transportation.
2
What a disgrace. The increased congestion is due to the removal of significant portions of our roadways.
The express bus service on Madison Avenue alone has removed two (!) lanes in mid-town. 50% of the avenue's capacity has been eliminated. Similar stories are true for 1st and 2nd avenues.
The express bus service on Madison Avenue alone has removed two (!) lanes in mid-town. 50% of the avenue's capacity has been eliminated. Similar stories are true for 1st and 2nd avenues.
4
So you'd rather have less public transit and more private cars on the road?
Uber keeps on adding cars not because they need to but A)so there can be a car 20 minutes away to from their customers
B) To deter potential competitors from entering the market I.e. Lyft car may be 2 minutes away and the ever inpatient spoiler Uberer wants a car to be beamed to him. Woe to the driver who is stuck in traffic and is 1 minute late
3) Uber is over saturating the market and hurting drivers but they will still make money since the umber of drivers won't affect their overhead they also do to want to have a full time professional drivers who might challenge Uber but want to have thousands and thousands of part time drivers
B) To deter potential competitors from entering the market I.e. Lyft car may be 2 minutes away and the ever inpatient spoiler Uberer wants a car to be beamed to him. Woe to the driver who is stuck in traffic and is 1 minute late
3) Uber is over saturating the market and hurting drivers but they will still make money since the umber of drivers won't affect their overhead they also do to want to have a full time professional drivers who might challenge Uber but want to have thousands and thousands of part time drivers
4
I doubt that Uber is the reason that NYC streets are so clogged. I would guess it's more the fault of the many, many car owners who park for free on streets and drive locally when they could take public transportation. I would rather see more cars for hire (including yellow cabs, Uber, Lyft, etc) and fewer private cars.
2
I remember seeing a statistic that in certain neighborhoods, 25% of the traffic is from people circling the block looking for a parking space.
10
There needs to be a cap on/regulation of Uber and ride-hailing vehicles and thorough study of impact on congestion and pollution in NYC.
The number of black cars - particularly big Uber SUVs - in NYC over the past couple of years is astounding. And they seem to pull up anywhere (even in front of fire stations)to to pick up/drop off. They also add to parking/doubleparking congestion waiting for the next job. (Not to mention the social/economic implications as the tech company overlords gain wealth and the rest of us race to the bottom)
In a place like NYC, Uber can only offer "fast" service if there are many vehicles in proximity. It is clear this impacts on traffic congestion.
See Catherine Rampell's excellent Washington Post article "Who will win the ridesharing war"
There have been concerns in Santa Monica and a number of places about Uber-generated pollution and congestion.
The Mayor would be doing the right thing by regulating Uber/ride-hail.
The number of black cars - particularly big Uber SUVs - in NYC over the past couple of years is astounding. And they seem to pull up anywhere (even in front of fire stations)to to pick up/drop off. They also add to parking/doubleparking congestion waiting for the next job. (Not to mention the social/economic implications as the tech company overlords gain wealth and the rest of us race to the bottom)
In a place like NYC, Uber can only offer "fast" service if there are many vehicles in proximity. It is clear this impacts on traffic congestion.
See Catherine Rampell's excellent Washington Post article "Who will win the ridesharing war"
There have been concerns in Santa Monica and a number of places about Uber-generated pollution and congestion.
The Mayor would be doing the right thing by regulating Uber/ride-hail.
4
Here is a quick fix: All yellow cabs become uber drivers.
In NYC (and only NYC) uber is typically more expensive than the local yellow/green cab thanks to always surge pricing. So why doesn't the city/uber just take their cut of the excess cost over the would-be yellow cab fare? Cost's for the hailers stay the same, and costs for the lazy who want to use the app are at a premium. The Driver's salary gets a minor bump due to more rides, and the city/uber get to share the excess.
The yellow cabs in NYC are defacto city employees who see none of the benefits. They provide a service to this city that is paramount to its daily being.
Join forces, fix the issues, and everyone wins.
In NYC (and only NYC) uber is typically more expensive than the local yellow/green cab thanks to always surge pricing. So why doesn't the city/uber just take their cut of the excess cost over the would-be yellow cab fare? Cost's for the hailers stay the same, and costs for the lazy who want to use the app are at a premium. The Driver's salary gets a minor bump due to more rides, and the city/uber get to share the excess.
The yellow cabs in NYC are defacto city employees who see none of the benefits. They provide a service to this city that is paramount to its daily being.
Join forces, fix the issues, and everyone wins.
1
Scratch the surface of other cities where Uber operates, and I have a feeling you'll find a lot of the same thing: under the guise of 'congestion' or whatever else these mayors can come up with, the political influence of the taxi lobby yanking the strings. Of course, no where in the conversation is the consumer considered. Why bother with that?
5
Uber. Is not a "ride share" company .how are you sharing a ride if you are. Working 12 hours six days. Ride share is sharing a ride with someone going your way usually to and from work.Most Uber drivers are former limo andcabdrivers.before we were take advantage by local taxi oligarchs now super uber the global taxi behemoth sir aping us. Kalanick is a threat to the. Free world. Wait until you have uber doctor and uber accountant .no 9-5. Maybe everyone should be on demand .Cop on demand .ypu get paid when you. Get pinged per crime committed basis.murders 5 times surge anyone;)?
8
If there is an issue with congestion, then do what Bloomberg wanted to do and implement congestion pricing for Manhattan, but don't single out a company for retribution just because they didn't line your pockets at election time like the taxi industry did. If taxis are better than Uber / Lyft, then people will use them, if not then they should lose market share. Not surprising coming from a Mayor who never worked in private industry, but still disappointing all the same.
6
It's about time the medallion racket is crushed. Where is Preet Bharara when needed the most? De Blasio is about to scam the consumers and low income workers by colluding with the big medallion owners who financed his campaign. If we are seriously talking about congestion, lets put a cap first on all the delivery trucks operated on diesel making deliveries in Manhattan and worry about the hybrid Camrys later.
16
"From 2010 to 2014, the city said, average speeds in Manhattan fell by 9 percent, to about 8.5 miles per hour."
What a surprise!
Remove traffic lanes to create concrete picnic areas, force trucks and drivers trying to parallel park on avenues with bike lanes to back up traffic, turn West End avenue into one lane, etc etc. Every part of Manhattan has been effected. The problem is not Uber; the problem is the strategy to make congestion worse!
What a surprise!
Remove traffic lanes to create concrete picnic areas, force trucks and drivers trying to parallel park on avenues with bike lanes to back up traffic, turn West End avenue into one lane, etc etc. Every part of Manhattan has been effected. The problem is not Uber; the problem is the strategy to make congestion worse!
36
Spot on!
1
You are describing Bloomberg's legacy.
An ignorant city councillor in Toronto has threatened visitors to our city with fines of $20,000 for using Uber. - nationalpost.com/toronto/toronto-city-councillor-suggests-uberx-passenge...
He is wrong on the law and admits that he gets campaign funding from the taxi industry.
He is wrong on the law and admits that he gets campaign funding from the taxi industry.
4
Sure Technic Ally, but doesn't he smoke a lot of crack and assault people in council meetings? Seems I heard something about that.
1
Rob Ford is ex-mayor, had to withdraw for health reasons.
He has been replaced by John Tory, who yesterday spoke highly of the Canadian musician Kanye West. - citynews.ca/2015/07/15/tory-mistakenly-calls-kanye-a-proud-product-of-torontos-music-industry/
My apologies for a bad link in my original post. It is
news.nationalpost.com/toronto/toronto-city-councillor-suggests-uberx-pas...
He has been replaced by John Tory, who yesterday spoke highly of the Canadian musician Kanye West. - citynews.ca/2015/07/15/tory-mistakenly-calls-kanye-a-proud-product-of-torontos-music-industry/
My apologies for a bad link in my original post. It is
news.nationalpost.com/toronto/toronto-city-councillor-suggests-uberx-pas...
De Blasio's track record on transportation is suspiciously anti-consumer, especially for an ostensibly populist mayor. In addition to this bogus objection to Uber (e.g., congestion is not the only public good; more cars at various times may mean less overall congestion if rides are efficient and drivers are held to higher standards of timeliness that competition imposes), what about his lackadaisical approach to the incessant helicopter traffic above? Again, if congestion is the paramount public good, isn't there obscene congestion in the helicopter traffic above head? Shouldn't Mayor de Blasio object to that? Or is he is beholden to the lobbying arm of the high-income helicopter industry and its riders, just as he seems to be to the TLC?
6
1. It is a ridiculous notion that the mayor of the city could and should be able to put a cap on how quickly a company can grow.
2. The more competition from Uber (and other ride-sharing companies), the better it is for consumers because it increases service, provides tiered-value options, and draws down prices.
3. This is clearly the Mayor and his office protecting the Taxi & Limousine Commission.
4. Restricting capitalism in the name of too much congestion? Couldn't come up with anything better? Couldn't figure out how restricting Uber and helping your TLC buddies would save children or protect New York from terrorists?
Absurd on so many levels. Come on.
2. The more competition from Uber (and other ride-sharing companies), the better it is for consumers because it increases service, provides tiered-value options, and draws down prices.
3. This is clearly the Mayor and his office protecting the Taxi & Limousine Commission.
4. Restricting capitalism in the name of too much congestion? Couldn't come up with anything better? Couldn't figure out how restricting Uber and helping your TLC buddies would save children or protect New York from terrorists?
Absurd on so many levels. Come on.
5
I'm not taking either side (yet) in this dispute, but your point #1 is incorrect. Many, many businesses and industries are properly regulated in the public interest. A mayor's job is, among others, to protect that interest.
4
Being "properly regulated" and being told by the government how many people you can hire each year are two very different things.
The only thing I can find that comes anywhere close to this was a statute put into place in Seattle that capped the number of active rideshare drivers on the road for any company at any given time, but even that makes more sense than telling companies how many people they can employ in general. At least that directly addresses the alleged problem of congestion by ensuring there are less cars on the road.
Either way, it was repealed three months after it was passed.
I'd be completely shocked if any of your proper regulations dictate the number of employees a company can hire or directly cap the rate at which a company can grow and expand.
The only thing I can find that comes anywhere close to this was a statute put into place in Seattle that capped the number of active rideshare drivers on the road for any company at any given time, but even that makes more sense than telling companies how many people they can employ in general. At least that directly addresses the alleged problem of congestion by ensuring there are less cars on the road.
Either way, it was repealed three months after it was passed.
I'd be completely shocked if any of your proper regulations dictate the number of employees a company can hire or directly cap the rate at which a company can grow and expand.
Uber is one of the few things I like less than de Blasio. Curtailing this nuisance is a no-brainer. I have no problem with mobile app-dispatched black cars but the number is out of control and the Uber drivers are amongst the worst - they frequently appear to be unfamiliar with Manhattan driving conventions and are consequently unnecessarily aggressive.
Before Uber is allowed to increase its numbers further, New Yorkers are entitled to some hard facts about how each of these drivers last as Uber employees before churning through. Also, I've seen a non-trivial number of Uber cars with New Jersey and even Pennsylvania plates, which makes me wonder whether Uber is only dispatching to NYC TLC registered drivers. This is such a nasty company with an extensive record of deliberately disregarding the law. They should not be trusted as an honest actor.
Before Uber is allowed to increase its numbers further, New Yorkers are entitled to some hard facts about how each of these drivers last as Uber employees before churning through. Also, I've seen a non-trivial number of Uber cars with New Jersey and even Pennsylvania plates, which makes me wonder whether Uber is only dispatching to NYC TLC registered drivers. This is such a nasty company with an extensive record of deliberately disregarding the law. They should not be trusted as an honest actor.
19
Who should control the streets in a city? Certainly not a company who claims it has no relation to the business from which it makes billions. Corporations need to get back in their proper place. I don't like the Mayor much but UBER has no right to control city streets. Say no to the pirates of UBER!
9
This whole "gig" economy has to be regulated. If Uber were to raise its fares and provide protections for its workers (and riders), I would have no issue with it.
11
Another tech company killing jobs, using "contract" employees and worst is, you never know if your driver is a potential killer.
17
How in the world is a company that is giving people another platform upon which they can make money should they choose to use it "killing jobs"?
Uber is the best employment option for every single Uber driver. If it wasn't, they would be doing something else.
Uber is the best employment option for every single Uber driver. If it wasn't, they would be doing something else.
38
Yeah I thought all these tech companies were supposed to be altruistic nerds...? Well that's what the legend is.
What about THOUSANDS of jobs and small businesses Uber unlawfully and parasitically destroying?
What are BILLIONS collected off the streets of New York City and take offshore?
What about laws and regulations - why are they not enforced on Uber - thus far?? Compete fairly - and stop lying.
What are BILLIONS collected off the streets of New York City and take offshore?
What about laws and regulations - why are they not enforced on Uber - thus far?? Compete fairly - and stop lying.
1
The taxi medallion system is basically an early 20th century model.
It makes absolutely no sense that a taxi medallion costs $200,000. The only way to pay for the medallion is to overcharge the passengers and underpay the drivers. (Make no mistake, the reason the taxi industry hates Uber isn't because they're losing passengers, it's because they're losing drivers who want better than starvation wages).
It also makes absolutely no sense to have giant hordes of taxis, thousands upon thousands, just driving the streets of New York looking for passengers. Smart phone dispatch saves money, gas, pollution and space on the streets.
And waiting in the wings are driverless taxis. That's really going to be the revolution.
So to have the mayor trying to defend a 100-year-old taxi model is as silly as it would have been to try to prevent motor-driven taxis from replacing horses and buggies.
It makes absolutely no sense that a taxi medallion costs $200,000. The only way to pay for the medallion is to overcharge the passengers and underpay the drivers. (Make no mistake, the reason the taxi industry hates Uber isn't because they're losing passengers, it's because they're losing drivers who want better than starvation wages).
It also makes absolutely no sense to have giant hordes of taxis, thousands upon thousands, just driving the streets of New York looking for passengers. Smart phone dispatch saves money, gas, pollution and space on the streets.
And waiting in the wings are driverless taxis. That's really going to be the revolution.
So to have the mayor trying to defend a 100-year-old taxi model is as silly as it would have been to try to prevent motor-driven taxis from replacing horses and buggies.
48
Agree on all points. Two other points to keep in mind:
Taxi driving has long been an employment port of call for recent immigrants and others with limited formal education or language skills. UBER requires an upfront investment that will not be available to many who currently drive cabs. The transition to smart phone dispatch will be painful to these people and their families.
A medallion still costs well over $200k. Little more than a year ago medallions sold for an incredible $1.2 MILLION! The assault by UBER and the new Green cabs has cut that close to half, a collapse akin to sub-prime mortgages.
Taxi driving has long been an employment port of call for recent immigrants and others with limited formal education or language skills. UBER requires an upfront investment that will not be available to many who currently drive cabs. The transition to smart phone dispatch will be painful to these people and their families.
A medallion still costs well over $200k. Little more than a year ago medallions sold for an incredible $1.2 MILLION! The assault by UBER and the new Green cabs has cut that close to half, a collapse akin to sub-prime mortgages.
2
From where do they dispatch these drviers? its ot like they are waiting in a lot. Uber too, has cars driving the streets. more effectivley dispatched, yes, but still out there. We don't have park and rides like other cities
"It makes absolutely no sense that a taxi medallion costs $200,000."
Someone's gotta pay for roads, bridges, and the vastly more eco-friendly subway system.
I'd rather that be at the expense of the wealthy cab-riders in Midtown than on the backs of the working class who have to commute from Queens.
Someone's gotta pay for roads, bridges, and the vastly more eco-friendly subway system.
I'd rather that be at the expense of the wealthy cab-riders in Midtown than on the backs of the working class who have to commute from Queens.
2
DeBlasio is right on this. Uber expansion is as aggressive and unchecked as their drivers. Having been a longtime driving commuter from Westchester I was always wary of too many taxis but in the past year the Uber infestation has made the taxis into the gentlemen of the road. Uber drivers more often than not are tentative and confused coupled with a selfish urgency to get to their pickup. This results not only in congestion on the roads but unsafe driving and more accidents.
44
I disagree with this. Most Uber drivers I've had are significantly more respectful on the road than taxi drivers. I've even had a driver offer to go more slowly because I had my toddler with me.
3
Yes, plus all the infernal late-night honking generated by Uber drivers backing up on Manhattan streets so the revelers can get right in. Plus the Uber drivers honking incessantly themselves. Train them & monitor them or cap them.
2
Yes only you should be allowed to drive in Manhattan. The rest of us must take the subway or walk. That would solve your problem.
Why do you get to clog up the city roads but other drivers cannot?
You just want to ban all other cars so you can get to work faster.
Why do you get to clog up the city roads but other drivers cannot?
You just want to ban all other cars so you can get to work faster.
2
Taxi drivers don't back up, traffic be damned. Educate the Uber drivers or cap the jerks. There has been a noticeable increase in the infernal honking and side-street blockages here on my street in east midtown since Uber got going. You can tell it's Uber drivers (and probably copycats) if you follow the cars (from above) - including backing up on the one-way street, so the revelers can get right in. Taxi drivers don't back up. And the reaction from the other drivers -- sit on the horn or back up into crosstown traffic.
15
If you think taxi drivers don't back up, you haven't been paying attention. How is it that you can tell an Uber from above? Is there a giant U tattooed on the roof or are you just mad because you live in a neighbor where there are drunkards all the time?
4
Typical move for Comrade Mayor.
Pay back political cronies? Check.
Make arbitrary rule about how businesses function based on zero business knowledge? Check.
Show no regard for the reality of NYC? Check.
How much longer do we have to endure the raw incompetence of Comrade Mayor? Please, Fellow New Yorkers, come out and vote for an adult next time.
Pay back political cronies? Check.
Make arbitrary rule about how businesses function based on zero business knowledge? Check.
Show no regard for the reality of NYC? Check.
How much longer do we have to endure the raw incompetence of Comrade Mayor? Please, Fellow New Yorkers, come out and vote for an adult next time.
51
I agree entirely. It is shocking - shocking - that this man is actually the mayor of New York City.
1
Sorry QED but you sound as logical as Joe McCarthy. What's with the 'Comrade'? Communism is long dead buddy, you don't need to fear the Red Menace anymore, no reason to execute treasonous Rosenbergs. Oh there are some totalitarian regimes which claim the name of communism, but they have nothing to do with the concept.
So anyway your jingoism, while it's appealing to the ignorant, indicates your bias is too strong to perceive things clearly. No cronies are being paid back by attempting to make Uber follow the law. As Public Advocate for ages, Mayor de Blasio has plenty of understanding about how business works, and has done nothing thus far that seems arbitrarily against business. He has plenty of regard for the reality of NYC, unlike your comment here. We do not need tons of unregulated, unlicensed, unexamined drivers tearing around like maniacs trying to make a buck, while their hipster overlords get 90% of the profits.
So the mayor has shown no incompetence that I can see, and before you slander him any further, you might want to come up with facts rather than polemic, like an adult.
So anyway your jingoism, while it's appealing to the ignorant, indicates your bias is too strong to perceive things clearly. No cronies are being paid back by attempting to make Uber follow the law. As Public Advocate for ages, Mayor de Blasio has plenty of understanding about how business works, and has done nothing thus far that seems arbitrarily against business. He has plenty of regard for the reality of NYC, unlike your comment here. We do not need tons of unregulated, unlicensed, unexamined drivers tearing around like maniacs trying to make a buck, while their hipster overlords get 90% of the profits.
So the mayor has shown no incompetence that I can see, and before you slander him any further, you might want to come up with facts rather than polemic, like an adult.
6
Dan, Comrade Mayor is entirely appropriate for the strong Leftist bent of De Blasio (see: calling W "shrub"). Nice try, but dismissing this as McCarthyism is, well, awfully McCarthy like. Furthermore, it is well known that the cab companies have funded De Blasio before and are coming knocking for their return on investment.
Now, your peculiar assertion that working in the government somehow gives you an understanding of business. Sorry, but an emphatic "No" to that. Businesses operate in the real world of hard numbers, making money by meeting needs, and making payroll. De Blasio would't know the first thing about running a business, and his record shows that.
On to ignorance. Most Uber drivers in NYC are actually T&LC plated vehicles. So I guess that are actually regulated, licensed, and examined. I can certainly say they drive better than the average yellow cab.
Now, your peculiar assertion that working in the government somehow gives you an understanding of business. Sorry, but an emphatic "No" to that. Businesses operate in the real world of hard numbers, making money by meeting needs, and making payroll. De Blasio would't know the first thing about running a business, and his record shows that.
On to ignorance. Most Uber drivers in NYC are actually T&LC plated vehicles. So I guess that are actually regulated, licensed, and examined. I can certainly say they drive better than the average yellow cab.
1
Somehow you never hear customers complaining about Uber.
87
"Somehow you never hear customers complaining about Uber. "
You're not paying attention. I've heard and read complaints. Also crimes, particularly rape, have been committed by some of the drivers.
You're not paying attention. I've heard and read complaints. Also crimes, particularly rape, have been committed by some of the drivers.
4
No, but you you hear lots of complaints by the drivers. But, alas, something tells me that in this new normal the employees are of the least concern.
4
seriously? I hear plenty, and from millennials mostly.
4
Maybe the reason that traffic has slowed down, is that a lot of lanes were taken away from cars and given to bike riders. I am ok with that, but if you are looking for a reason for slower traffic, (which was the stated purpose of narrowing the roads), there it is.
33
Yeah, but encouraging people to ride bicycles means fewer cars on the street. If it was safer to bike in this city more people would do it. Personally, I'd like to see half of the roads in New York turned into bike-only roads. Biking doesn't need to be so dangerous, and isn't in most other major cities (many of which also have much less automobile traffic than New York as a result).
das623 - you miss Mara's point. Traffic was exacerbated by the conversion of traffic lanes to bike lanes, not Uber drivers. Mar seems quite supportive of bike lanes, just not misattributing causality the way De Blasio is doing it for political gain.
The idea that this is due to "congestion" is laughable. If that were truly the case, the government would reduce the number of yellow cabs along with all other for-hire vehicles. Clearly de Blasio is in the pocket of the taxi commission and medallion owners. If he wants to reduce congestion, just bring back congestion pricing and apply it to ALL vehicles. It has worked well in London and Singapore. Of course, de Blasio does not have such courage. His primary goal should be to help residents, and not protect industries where wealthy investors have speculated (taxi medallions). The best way to help residents is to encourage competition, which by definition reduces prices. The yellow cabs have had a monopoly for much too long, and companies like Uber and Lyft have successfully torn apart this pernicious cronyism. Monopolies are anti-American, and anti-consumer. Is De Blasio anti-consumer? Obviously yes.
42
The Uber drivers are untrained and unmonitored. I was in a Uber car last month and the guy turned left onto 42nd Street and came within an inch of hitting a pedestrian. And the backing up on one-way midtown streets! Have you seen a taxi driver back up halfway down a street - traffic be darned? Of course not. So you're right about monopolies and cronyism, wrong about this particular monopoly-buster.
4
Let them in, but only if they have fully electric cars. Make the change about the environment as well.
18
Uber should, hopefully, go down in flames. It is a get-rich-quick scheme, based on using its employees without giving them paid time off, health benefits, or anything else one deserves from an employer. It is a service only for the affluent, too costly for the lower middle class or below to use on a frequent basis. It's cutting into the business of legitimate, licensed taxi companies. And it doesn't follow the laws, not just employment law, but its vehicles are not inspected, its drivers are not tested, background checks are not done, and it's not insured for accidents. More and more these things have been happening, like the rapes by Uber drivers in India and Los Angeles (and there will be more), that demonstrate why it's not good to have an unlicensed, unregulated business with no oversight, serving the public.
So I hope the city manages to either get them to follow the law, or ban them. I hope people harmed by Uber sue them, employees and customers both. And I hope the business, built by a batch of hipsters hoping to become instant millionaires, dies a messy death.
So I hope the city manages to either get them to follow the law, or ban them. I hope people harmed by Uber sue them, employees and customers both. And I hope the business, built by a batch of hipsters hoping to become instant millionaires, dies a messy death.
69
All these problems need to be dealt with. The bottom line is that a medallion is worth a lot of money. This shows that there is a shortage of medallions and the cost to the rider is too high.
3
"...based on using its employees without giving them paid time off, health benefits, or anything else one deserves from an employer" How is that any different from a cab company?
If something happens to you in a cab, you'll probably never find that cab again. Something happens to you in an Uber, at least you have the license plate of the car and the name of driver. Honestly, it's a lot harder for an Uber driver to commit a crime and get away with it than it is for a cab driver.
Also, have you ever ridden in an Uber? I usually pay less than for a cab, so how exactly is that more for the affluent than a cab is?
I'm not saying Uber is perfect--far from it, they have lots of issues they need to work out. But you need to take a look at another look at the cab industry before you start asking to burn down Uber because the cab companies are a lot worse.
If something happens to you in a cab, you'll probably never find that cab again. Something happens to you in an Uber, at least you have the license plate of the car and the name of driver. Honestly, it's a lot harder for an Uber driver to commit a crime and get away with it than it is for a cab driver.
Also, have you ever ridden in an Uber? I usually pay less than for a cab, so how exactly is that more for the affluent than a cab is?
I'm not saying Uber is perfect--far from it, they have lots of issues they need to work out. But you need to take a look at another look at the cab industry before you start asking to burn down Uber because the cab companies are a lot worse.
6
You act as if Uber drivers aren't free to NOT drive for Uber. They know what they're getting into when they sign up to drive.
14
I can't understand why the City of New York feels it has to interfere in the supply vs demand factors that themselves dictate the number of Uber vehicles on the roads. If people are waiting too long for a ride, there are more vehicles needed. WHy should the city try to make any particular business less efficient and its service slower, by reducing vehicles and thus increasing wait times? Governments are intruding in too many places where they shouldn't be. THere is government overreach and over-regulation all around. Just leave it alone, and if many people find that riding in a vehicle becomes too slow due to too many vehicles on the road, maybe they will be prompted to walk, roller skate, or ride a bike or a skateboard to their destination, one of which might be a great option for their health. Let New Yorkers themselves vote with their pocketbooks regarding what vehicles they want on their streets -- in terms of who they choose to give business to.
78
Have you educated yourself on how the Uber drivers are treated? Uber changes the pay algorithm regularly. They offer predatory loans for drivers to buy new cars. They have a rating system which is arbitrarily tilted towards the customer--and consequences of dropping ratings is firing. It's because of that fear that drivers offer treats, water, and ingratiating treatment to their customers. Most drivers make barely over $10/hour not the $35/hour that Uber dangles in front of them. And the cherry on top is that the drivers are meant to be pushed out eventually for the self-driving car.
2
Oakbranch - Comrade Mayor is just paying back his backers.
People, on the other hand, doesn't understand customer service or business accountability. "Ingratiating treatment" is part of service, unless you want to have a level of service commensurate with the IRS, DMV, or USSR. And accountability for the quality of the service you provide is part of the rations system. Shifting algorithms reflect supply and demand - nothing wrong with that.
People, on the other hand, doesn't understand customer service or business accountability. "Ingratiating treatment" is part of service, unless you want to have a level of service commensurate with the IRS, DMV, or USSR. And accountability for the quality of the service you provide is part of the rations system. Shifting algorithms reflect supply and demand - nothing wrong with that.
1
Supply and demand doesn't mean laws and regulations are void and nill.
Uber operates a taxi service while violating taxi laws and regulations.
The proposals do too little to level the playing field but at least its the first step in the right direction. Btw, high upvotes for pro-Uber posts are HIGHLY SUSPECT - it is a known fact that Uber corporate is involved in literally up-voting their own posts creating an illusion of mass support. Normal people want fairness and equality. Uber has BILLIONS of dollars - Uber can and SHOULD be made follow same laws and regulations as the rest.
Uber operates a taxi service while violating taxi laws and regulations.
The proposals do too little to level the playing field but at least its the first step in the right direction. Btw, high upvotes for pro-Uber posts are HIGHLY SUSPECT - it is a known fact that Uber corporate is involved in literally up-voting their own posts creating an illusion of mass support. Normal people want fairness and equality. Uber has BILLIONS of dollars - Uber can and SHOULD be made follow same laws and regulations as the rest.
We do not need Uber in Manhattan.
We have good public transportation options, in addition to taxis, bicycles, and we can walk. They are just flooding our streets with more cars and lowering the income of taxi drivers.
This is just a race to the bottom for income to the drivers while a few investors rake it in -- and I am angry at Obama's Plouffe for using organizing skills to profit by flouting the intent of NYC laws instead of doing something more important with his time.
I don't like the Taxi fleet owners either-- -but I support our hard-working taxi drivers, a path to the middle class for generations of new New Yorkers,-- and so will not use Uber in Manhattan. ( I assume with their well-funded publicity, a paid communications person will respond to my post. )
We have good public transportation options, in addition to taxis, bicycles, and we can walk. They are just flooding our streets with more cars and lowering the income of taxi drivers.
This is just a race to the bottom for income to the drivers while a few investors rake it in -- and I am angry at Obama's Plouffe for using organizing skills to profit by flouting the intent of NYC laws instead of doing something more important with his time.
I don't like the Taxi fleet owners either-- -but I support our hard-working taxi drivers, a path to the middle class for generations of new New Yorkers,-- and so will not use Uber in Manhattan. ( I assume with their well-funded publicity, a paid communications person will respond to my post. )
73
"We have good public transportation options, in addition to taxis, bicycles".
I often work late and where I work few taxis are available. I can't ride my "bicycle" home.
I often work late and where I work few taxis are available. I can't ride my "bicycle" home.
2
So Uber drivers are not also on the path to the middle class? Are you suggesting firing the 20,000 Uber drivers will help the drivers attain middle class status?
4
You mean as opposed to our hard-working Uber drivers who provide a much needed service.
3
Yes, there are many problems with Uber, and with labor conditions, but there are FAR more problems with the old-style taxicab system. The old medallion system is open only to small-time oligarchs, truly exploits the worker who is unable to own his own medallion, and results in poor service by limiting taxis and by not providing an effective means for customer ratings.
Clearly, Uber-style transportation is what is needed. Regulation should of course smartly regulate Uber, and open competition to other Uber-like companies, but should also dismantle the old-style medallion system to empower every one-person-entrepreneur to become a driver should they desire to do so if they have clean driving and criminal records.
Clearly, Uber-style transportation is what is needed. Regulation should of course smartly regulate Uber, and open competition to other Uber-like companies, but should also dismantle the old-style medallion system to empower every one-person-entrepreneur to become a driver should they desire to do so if they have clean driving and criminal records.
105
There are still many individual Medallion owners. As of now, Uber is operating an illegal service which does virtual street hails without a Medallion. they have no plan on capping their numbers, and their drivers are making less and less. That is what Medallions prevent, as well as the massive amount of traffic Uber is creating, which will only get much worse.
Laws must be enforced equally on all industry participants. Clearly, Uber's deception campaign can't just go on forever. Uber violates laws and regulations followed by thousands of small businesses worldwide including here - in New York City. operate lawfully, compete fairly - and no, I'm not a Luddite (favorite Uber counter-argument coming from Uber corporate offices). I'm FOR technology BUT for fair ethical and lawful application of it for the benefit of all - not just billionaire owners of Uber Inc.
Illegality of Uber's operations, and its deceitful bullying practices - must END.
Yes, you can dig whatever - app, iPhone, some other temp gig - BUT - you must follow SAME rules like everyone else in business.
Uber doesn't. And what's more - actively refuses to do so, I'm sure for a $50 billion dollar company any compliance would NOT be a problem. The will is that lacking, not the funds.
Yes, you can dig whatever - app, iPhone, some other temp gig - BUT - you must follow SAME rules like everyone else in business.
Uber doesn't. And what's more - actively refuses to do so, I'm sure for a $50 billion dollar company any compliance would NOT be a problem. The will is that lacking, not the funds.
I can't get worked up over this--in my world, cabs are for tourists, people using expense accounts, and trips to the airport only.
16
And for those of us who live in the city, for commuting to work, going to restaurants, visiting people, on and on...
1
Paying $15 to save a half hour of my time, remain dry, or not deal with a crowded, sticky, delayed subway is often money well spent.
Cabs certainly have a time and a place for us normal folk.
Cabs certainly have a time and a place for us normal folk.
2
Congestion affects everyone, including bus riders. Bus lanes are not always useable, or enforced.
1
de Blasio must think we are all fools. Just follow the money from the taxi industry to the Mayor the City Council and the Mayor's shady (PAC Campaign for One New York). de Blasio and company are perfectly fine sacrificing the convenience for riders and job opportunities for drivers at Uber at the alter of the special interest taxi industry money that sustains the Mayor and City Council's political power.
99
hear, hear. The TLC is basically the mob.
And you thnk New Yorkers are fools believing Uber lies? Why don't you start competing fairly? Why does Uber hide behind the veild of deception claiming that laws and regulations do not apply to it while competing with thousands of local businesses that DO follow same laws and regulations daily?
Something Enough is Enough. And the critical point where lies by Uber, and for Uber, must end. No one is gonna believe Uber if that deceitful behavior doesn't change. You play fair - or you don't - and Uber doesn't.
Something Enough is Enough. And the critical point where lies by Uber, and for Uber, must end. No one is gonna believe Uber if that deceitful behavior doesn't change. You play fair - or you don't - and Uber doesn't.
I'm with De Blasio on this one NO MATTER how many paid Uber 'recommends' your post gets. Sometimes corporate corruption is beyond repair... I'm afraid that's the case with Uber.
The biggest concern I would have with using Uber is insurance. The drivers are probably no better or worse than those used by the taxi companies in regards how they might harm a passenger.
Just hole Uber drivers to the same insurance standards and let the market place sort it out from there.