Taxis & Ridesharing - articles, discussion ...

[#Metro]

I think Uber could work around the regulations by not offering service to the general public but to members only. $1, one off membership fee, sign up online once.

That way you're not providing service to the 'general public'.

[ozbob]

The Guardian --> Car sharing service Uber banned in Germany

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Perth taxi drivers challenge new app service Uber, ask WA Government to 'make a choice'

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Uber ride-sharing app opens Gold Coast branch despite Queensland ban

[ozbob]

Wellington Times (NSW) --> NSW Transport Minister sends mixed messages over legitimacy of Uber 'ride-sharing' service

[ozbob]

State governments all over simply cannot handle this.  They bleat it is illegal, but uber is operating with apparent impunity in the main.

Hey ho ...   

[#Metro]

They can't shut it down because too many people are using the service and actually value it.

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> If we had Uber on the Coast would you use it?

[Fares_Fair]

Does anyone have any idea how much a Uber trip would be from Sunshine Coast to City, say 100km?

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Uber drivers risk fines, Qld govt warns

[ozbob]

Buzz Feed News --> Tomorrow's Taxi Commission Hearing Could Limit How Uber And Lyft Operate In New York City

[Mozz]

Experienced my first encounter with Uber Surge pricing yesterday (Saturday afternoon 5.30pm outside Brisbane Convention centre) when leaving the Good Food and Wine event. Travel there cost $25 and was without issue via Uber.

Thus when leaving the event and went to book an Uber ride home I was presented with a "surge pricing" in force notice on the uber app on my smart phone initially 2.5X and then again rose to 3X.... after spending a few minutes trying different booking options - I opted to hail a cab (4 people in the group) and took the $35 dollar option instead of the potential $75 uber pricing......and I have seen internet reports of surge price to 9X .... 

I have to say I didn't realise the concept of surge pricing existed and after googling a few times it seems that uber defend surge pricing in the context of "new years eve" type of demand however the way in which it appears to be implemented in Brisbane is seriously non aligned to this defence... given the Good Food and Wine event is popular ... but maybe 10 - 20k attendance over any one day and we were looking to book a ride around 30 - 45mins after the event had closed for the day and there was nothing in terms of people that you would describe as a crowds hanging around waiting for transport - it took approximately 3 mins to hail a cab once the decision was made not to use uber....

http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/557116/uber-surge-pricing-earns-it-an-f-better-business-bureau-test/

[ozbob]

Thanks for sharing the information Mozz.  All is not always what it seems hey?

[James]

I don't think the surge pricing isn't a bad idea - that being said, I don't tend to use Uber at times when surges are occurring thanks to 412 BUZ, N412 and in really bad cases, CityCycle ($2 to get home is never a bad deal, even if it takes twice as long).

[Mozz]

No real issue here with surge pricing concept - but do have issue with the whole "it's what we do when situations like NYE occur" and then apply surge pricing to an "event" in small town Brisbane.

Do have issue with surge pricing up to 9X where consumers aren't made absolutely and definitively aware of the cost implication .. not just relying on technology but also human input from the driver where it may cost you not $25 but $175 dollars for the same 12km journey.

[techblitz]

im sure that would go down real well with the current cabbies...people use uber to save money when its not "surge time"
then come xmas time etc the uber users decide to go back to using normal cabbies to save money.....riigggggghhhhhht.

[ozbob]

Anti Uber sentiment is building ..

>> http://www.arrestinguber.com/

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

20th October 2014

Uber - what is happening?

Greetings,

We have had reports of ' surge pricing ' for fares for people using Uber car sharing.

See -->  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10673.msg147659#msg147659

It is no wonder the taxi industry is concerned as people are able to use Uber when their price is low and then just revert to taxis when Uber is in a surge price state.

Is Uber actually legal?  We hear constant government rhetoric that it is not, but Uber is operating freely in Brisbane.

I have real concerns with insurance liabilities etc. if an Uber passenger is injured in a vehicle crash.  If Uber is not legal, then are passengers and other road users actually covered by insurance?

This is getting very messy, decisive leadership is needed.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

im sure that would go down real well with the current cabbies...people use uber to save money when its not "surge time"
then come xmas time etc the uber users decide to go back to using normal cabbies to save money.....riigggggghhhhhht.

Taxis provide a lot of local community transport.  They are also very important for transport for mobility impaired and other medical transport tasks.  For example Veterans transport to and from hospitals for medical appointments, treatments and so forth.

Taxis are highly regulated.  Fares are essentially the same whether it be News Year Eve or today.

If UberX were to displace taxis that would not necessarily be a good out come for the community at large. 

[curator49]

Where does a person stand with regard to registration or insurance? If a private individual charges another for a ride to a destination then surely the car is not being used for private purposes and both registration and insurance require notification of that fact. Also if you require a medical certificate to drive I believe it is much tougher if you are a driver who might drive a bus, truck or taxi.

What happens if you are in an accident and your passenger is injured or worse? Will your insurance company or third party insurance pay out?

[ozbob]

I doubt very much if the the drivers normal insurance would cover it.  Insurance companies are experts at getting out of insurance contracts.

UberX itself might have a special or additional insurance cover, but my guess is it would be very expensive and in any case where are the details?

[SurfRail]

God only knows where you would actually sit insurance-wise given Uber has been given cease and desist notices from the authorities.

No thanks.

[techblitz]

http://www.cnet.com/au/news/how-risky-is-your-uber-ride-maybe-more-than-you-think/

interesting article...

[ozbob]

http://www.cnet.com/au/news/how-risky-is-your-uber-ride-maybe-more-than-you-think/

interesting article...

Uh oh ...

[James]

im sure that would go down real well with the current cabbies...people use uber to save money when its not "surge time"
then come xmas time etc the uber users decide to go back to using normal cabbies to save money.....riigggggghhhhhht.

It is simple supply and demand. In a perfectly competitive market, when the demand goes up, surge pricing occurs. Provided this surplus is passed on to drivers in an equal proportion, this will lead to more drivers coming on to the road, which will in turn increase supply. As supply increases, the surge pricing goes down to an equilibrium as the demand is being met. Arguably better than what happens now, where on NYE, people will wait in cab lines for hours, and where individuals face extortionate cab fares to travel short distances.

In the end, this results in an economically efficient outcome. People who do not value the cab trip home more than the cost of the cab trip will just find alternative arrangements. Economics is a wonderful thing.

With regards to disgruntled Uber workers, they can just quit. Again, it's a competitive market. Although being realistic, in Australia the conditions cabbies are forced to work in are far worse than the kind of conditions Uber drivers are subjected to. And crime occurs in both regular taxis and in Ubers - in the end, every day we take a risk. Some people are willing to in order to save time and money, some are not. Again, economics (in respect to both the cost of the trip and the external benefit one gets from having insurance and "peace of mind").

[ozbob]

Letter to the editor Queensland Times published 21st October 2014

Concerns over insurance for people using Uber car sharing

[ozbob]

4BC --> Is Uber legal or not?

[ozbob]

The Guardian --> Uber told to scrap unaccredited drivers service by Victoria's taxi regulator

[ozbob]

The Australian --> Ride-sharing company ordered to stop offering 'illegal' UberX product

[ozbob]

Twitter

Uber Brisbane ‏@Uber_Brisbane

Meet our amazing uberX partners and hear their stories - http://love.uber.com  #uberimpact #qldpol @scottemerson @theqldpremier

[techblitz]

*google* >>>> uber class action lawsuits 

vancouver is nipping it in the bud early by sending out undercover officers to nab new drivers and fine them...
also reports that some sydney/melbourne uber drivers are earning 200-300bux each friday/saturday night after factoring in fuel/fees...

[ozbob]

^ 

Happening in Brisbane too, undercover operatives from TMR booking drivers etc.  Something in the mX earlier this week I recall ..

[ozbob]

Las Vegas Review Journal --> Ride-sharing drivers may face insurance-policy revocation, officials say

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Taxi drivers concerned for jobs

[bcasey]

Taxi driving as an occupation has a fairly limited future anyway, of probably only a decade or two, once automated vehicles become commercially viable. The same could probably be said of bus driving as well.

[ozbob]

The Guardian --> Uber should be keeping women safe, but Uber has a woman problem

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Taxi Council of Queensland declares war on Uber

[ozbob]

The Conversation --> Love it or loathe it, Uber is punching above its weight

[techblitz]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Taxi and hire car drivers plot fight back against uberX

[techblitz]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ellenhuet/2014/10/16/uber-driver-deactivated-over-tweet/

another intersting article about classification of drivers...independent contractors or part-time/full-time employees?


there are reports of current taxi-drivers...you know the "fully insured" ones    ,refusing short trips because they wont earn enough money from said trip......which is illegal but they can simply say "person was drunk/intoxicated so im within my rights to refuse service"
there are solutions for this type of behaviour but if you factor in how long some of the cabbies wait in queue at ranks...you can see why they do it...
stay tuned for the next today tonight undercover story on licensed cabbies refusing fares...