Taxis & Ridesharing - articles, discussion ...

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Uber using technology to avoid fines from Queensland government

[ozbob]

The Guardian --> Victorian taxi industry abandons campaign against Uber in favour of reform

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> UberX slams 'out-dated laws' in Katter Bill submission

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Uber reaches out to Sunny Coast drivers

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Uber sends almost a quarter of fares offshore

[ozbob]

PYMNT.com --> Is Pricing Uber's Achilles Heel?

[ozbob]

Daily Telegraph --> Uber given the green light in NSW under new deal

[Mozz]

I heard a story recently from a very credentialled and valid source.

This individual was travelling from Oxley to the Monier Hotel in Darra recently on a weekend... a trip which was previously able to be taken on public transport via a bus ... however decisions were made to not run this service anymore ...so the alternative is approx $20 taxi ride or an approx $9 uber ride.

The individual chose uber and was successfully transited to the Monier Hotel where they caught up with friends for a long lunch... fast forward to the ride home and an uber was summonsed however this time a first time uber driver was engaged and didn't really know the system very well thus the trip back from Monier Hotel to Oxley was charged/debited for the amount of $45 ...

My source explained that they sent an email off to uber shortly after realising they had been debited $45 and explaining the situation.

Within an hour a response email was provided and a refund of $36 was applied to their account.... well done uber.

[ozbob]

Twitter

3AW Melbourne ‏@3AW693 1 hour ago

"With the greatest respect to Uber, we'll do them like a dogs' dinner." http://bit.ly/1HgKfOk 

[ozbob]

The Queensland Government has commissioned an independent review of taxi, limousine and rideshare services in Queensland.

>> http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/business-industry/Taxi-and-limousine/Industry-review.aspx

The first public survey for the review is now open. This is the first opportunity for the public to have their say on what's most important for the review, and will help shape the review's guiding principles.

The guiding principles survey will be open until Sunday 13 December on the Get Involved website.

More public consultation opportunities, including surveys, quick polls, and face to face sessions, will be available in the first half of 2016.

[ozbob]

New Daily --> Uber loses crucial test case  (Vic)

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Uber driver Nathan Brenner fined $900 for driving hire car without licence or registration

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Uber drivers who claim to be earning below minimum wage preparing to fight back

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Beware the Uber surge price: $260 for one-way trip

[verbatim9]

People can now ride together with Uber at nearly the same price as the bus or train

http://www.theverge.com/2015/12/8/9873544/uber-hop-commute-mass-transit-seattle-chicago

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Uber fails to break taxi cartel: expert

[verbatim9]

Business Insider - http://www.businessinsider.com/seattle-will-be-the-first-city-in-the-us-to-let-uber-drivers-unionize-2015-12

Seattle will be the first city in the US to let Uber drivers unionize

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Uber customers in legal limbo over complaints

[ozbob]

Telegraph --> Uber legal in NSW, taxi owners to be compensated

[verbatim9]

10 years later in Qld? Labor LNP in Qld still coasting ! Where is the progression in QLD on many TOPICS! Does Qld need a Federal Administrator to intervene?

[ozbob]

The Queensland review is not due for completion until August 2016 ...

[ozbob]

Mike Baird  > https://www.facebook.com/mikebairdMP/posts/1012387028889538

[ozbob]

TfNSW --> New reforms for a modern point to point transport industry


Point-to-point transport covers services that take passengers from their nominated point of departure to their destination, at a time of their choosing. It includes:

Taxis, Hire cars, Tourist services, Ridesharing services, Community transport and Courtesy transport

The NSW Government response to the taskforce report (pdf 131KB)

New reforms

A new regulatory framework for the point-to-point industry will be introduced that will focus on customer and driver safety, reduce red tape and costs for service providers. Customers will benefit with lower fares, shorter waiting times and access to new and innovative services.

The NSW Government will maintain current standards for safety and security, and the industry will be better able to decide the best and most cost-effective means of meeting those standards.

Taxi and booking companies will be accountable for ensuring their services are safe.

A new dedicated regulator and graduated penalty regime will be introduced in 2016 – the toughest regulator the NSW transport industry has ever had – to promote a culture of safety in the industry.

Regulatory Regime fact sheet (pdf 68KB)

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Uber tells Queensland to tweet as NSW law changes

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Uber legal in NSW, but impact on trips between states unclear as Qld review continues

[verbatim9]

WA next in line to announce legalisation of Uber today

http://m.watoday.com.au/wa-news/taxi-reform-to-legalise-uber-in-western-australia-20151217-glqkkz.html

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Victoria dragging its feet on ride-sharing laws, says Uber

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Uber is winning its war with the Australian taxi lobby

[ozbob]

Huff Post Blog --> History Shows UberHop's Transit Competition Will Cost Riders

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Victorian taxi industry should hail deregulation and follow NSW lead

[#Metro]

Huff Post Blog --> History Shows UberHop's Transit Competition Will Cost Riders

I didn't think the article was that compelling. If it were, we would ban cars, ban walking and ban cycling just so the transit agency could turn a profit....

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Uber fault leaves Brisbane passenger overcharged

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Uber is raising prices this New Year's Eve: here's how to avoid paying the increased fare

[longboi]

Huff Post Blog --> History Shows UberHop's Transit Competition Will Cost Riders

I didn't think the article was that compelling. If it were, we would ban cars, ban walking and ban cycling just so the transit agency could turn a profit....

That's not the point of the article.

It's about governments being better aware of these developments and starting early to understand how something like UberHop can fit within the transit mix. If done right, something like UberHop could reduce cost to government by operating some welfare services, operating local feeder services or absorbing some peak demand.

[ozbob]

Twitter

The Age ‏@theage 7h

Australian #Uber prices surge by 800 per cent on #NYE: http://bit.ly/1P4Alwm 

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Uber says most New Year's Eve passengers not hit with massive surge pricing

[ozbob]

9 News --> WA govt won't regulate uber price hikes

[ozbob]

Uber Surge Pricing: $300 fare turned into a $1,000 fare. https://t.co/yQa0KCFrQ6 #Uber #7News https://t.co/h48IHSW1ju

— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) January 3, 2016

[ozbob]

Uber is surging itself to oblivion ...   

[verbatim9]

Surge pricing a bit over the top but there was a choice of Public Transport as well as regular taxis. See what happens at the next demand cycle, if there is a repeat of NYE ?