Re:Paul Graham on Uber and Lift Ban in Austin
by dragonwriter on Monday May 16, 2016 @01:23PM
(#11707877)
Whether the vote was good, properly representative, or whatever, the fact is that it was not a ban on Uber and Lyft. It was a requirement that to operate such a service, background checks be conducted on drivers. This is a requirement in many types of non-banned operation, and is not anything like a ban.
If Uber and Lyft prefer to not operate in Austin rather than comply with this rule, that's their choice and their service will be unavailable there, but not because of any "ban".
Actually, it was a vote on whether on not to repeal some rules passed by city council on their own, and I think also add some rules favorable to uber/lyft. The vote result was "change nothing".
Re:Paul Graham on Uber and Lift Ban in Austin
by flubert on Monday May 16, 2016 @01:31PM
(#11707940)
>I just don't want to have to wake up a loved one at 5am to get a ride to the airport (which I had to do Friday).
For next time...
https://www.google.com/#q=austin%20tx%20taxi&rflfq=1&rlha=0&...:
I would love to know where people get the impression that taxis are a reliable, cost-effective service in the USA. Having lived in several major cities that were not NYC I've certainly never experienced it.
Re:Paul Graham on Uber and Lift Ban in Austin
by Justsignedup on Monday May 16, 2016 @03:50PM
(#11709081)
In many parts of Brooklyn, NY the car service companies are great. Some are reliable, some not. I have had so far positive experiences with companies I know are good. However Lift Line makes a very competitive price with these car service companies. The airport is a perfect example of when I use them. But service quality varies greatly -- some are always massively late and don't communicate, some are fantastic and cheap. Lyft has a more consistent experience feel, and that is valuable.
Re:Paul Graham on Uber and Lift Ban in Austin
by flubert on Monday May 16, 2016 @04:30PM
(#11709362)
We'll I can only relate my experience by living in non-major U.S. cities. As for the cost, yes I only take a taxi to the airport when I get reimbursed for it as a business expense. As for reliability, I've never had the taxi show up late for a previously scheduled pickup (say ~15 times in the last 20 years). Your mileage apparently varies.
Taxis are not an option worth considering - too unreliable.
Re:Paul Graham on Uber and Lift Ban in Austin
by calbear81 on Monday May 16, 2016 @03:14PM
(#11708817)
Many taxi services are catching up in technology so you can be more confident of their reliability. For example, Flywheel here in the Bay Area has an app that lets you track your driver and pay them from within the app just like an Uber/Lyft.
Re:Paul Graham on Uber and Lift Ban in Austin
by ecobiker on Monday May 16, 2016 @01:40PM
(#11708014)
I disagree. People were given a chance to express their opinion. If they cared enough, they should have voted. While that I don't necessarily agree with the ban, it's very important to note that the decision didn't happen in a closed door meeting.
It could be argued that these sort of regulations are not needed at all in the first place - as long as companies are transparent about it and people can vote with their wallets. However, there is a line. Where that line is drawn is decided by the society. I'd be happy as long as that decision is transparent.
Democracy is by no means perfect - transparency and an involved populace would make it work better. If either is found lacking, we should try to make it better.
Voters have, in multiple instances, voted to deprive minorities of civil rights.
There is also a strong bias in what sorts of people vote. This "special election" had no other ballot items. Few people voted, probably because not a lot of people cared enough to go to a polling place. One of the demographics most likely to use uber/lyft is also least likely to vote.
On a personal note, I moved to Austin from the SF Bay Area a few months ago so that my spouse could pursue a PhD, and did vote on the issue. I don't really care about politics. I just don't want to have to wake up a loved one at 5am to get a ride to the airport (which I had to do Friday). I don't know who's more to blame, but I wish the city council and uber/lyft would stop their petty bickering and come to an agreement.
Edit: Also note that the vote result was actually "change nothing" - the rules uber/lyft don't like were passed by the city months ago, but aren't in effect yet.