How a 30K-member Facebook group filled the void left by Uber and Lyft in Austin

Re:How a 30K-member Facebook group filled the void left by U... by frakkingcylons on Tuesday June 07, 2016 @06:09PM (#11858375)

I live in Austin, and at this time there is still a void, but it's being filled faster than I expected. Fasten launched last week and I've used it four times already and there's not much to say other than it works just like Uber and Lyft.

The price is $1-2 more per ride and a I have to wait a few more minutes, but it does the job. The drivers I've talked to also prefer the compensation structure more than Uber and Lyft. Fasten's cut is fixed at $1 per ride (vs 20-28%), or $12 for the day. And like Uber, they get paid every Wednesday.

It's not available at the airport, but there's a city bus that drives from the airport to downtown (where getting a rideshare is easy) in 30 minutes for $1.75.

EDIT: Clarified Fasten's commission.

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Re:How a 30K-member Facebook group filled the void left by U... by JumpCrisscross on Wednesday June 08, 2016 @03:17AM (#11860580)

How is liability being addressed? For example, if a Fasten et al rider is injured in a car accident, who is liable?

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Re:How a 30K-member Facebook group filled the void left by U... by frakkingcylons on Wednesday June 08, 2016 @11:08AM (#11862713)

From their page on rider safety (https://fasten.com/safety):

"""

From the moment your ride starts, our goal is to provide the maximum level of protection for both you and the driver. Fasten provides coverage in the following areas during your ride:

* Commercial auto liability and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage up to $1,000,000 per occurrence (this covers you as a rider)

* Contingent comprehensive and collision coverage up to $50,000 per occurrence

"""

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Re:How a 30K-member Facebook group filled the void left by U... by jessriedel on Tuesday June 07, 2016 @06:48PM (#11858630)

> compensation structure

Do you mean fee structure?

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Re:How a 30K-member Facebook group filled the void left by U... by frakkingcylons on Tuesday June 07, 2016 @07:01PM (#11858709)

No the compensation structure for drivers. I'll edit my post for clarity.

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Re:How a 30K-member Facebook group filled the void left by U... by jessriedel on Wednesday June 08, 2016 @08:56AM (#11861903)

Ah yes, much clearer now.

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Re:How a 30K-member Facebook group filled the void left by U... by ericabiz on Tuesday June 07, 2016 @07:15PM (#11858810)

I flew out of the Austin airport 2 weeks ago, and used Wingz to get a driver to drive us there. He gave me his cell # and I just texted him for the ride back home when we got back last week, and paid cash. Super easy.

I think it's pretty amazing, as an Austin resident, how fast the void is getting filled with comparable apps.

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Re:How a 30K-member Facebook group filled the void left by U... by mrcodedude on Wednesday June 08, 2016 @12:56AM (#11860125)

Wingz works for getting to the airport. But the two hour advanced reservation system doesn't work well for a regional airport like Austin where the majority of flights are routed through a major hub.

If my connecting flight is delayed an hour, I'm SOL because my original reservation is no longer valid, but I can't make another reservation because I'm within two hours of my (new) expected arrival time.

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