Uber's Smart Route: Really, it's a fucking bus
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RT @JackSmithIV: A bus. This man is describing a bus. http://t.co/Mfbx4Y9TeL http://t.co/H7yYSVLQ43
This week in San Francisco, Uber took a first step toward realizing the vision that Kalanick described. The ride-hail company began experimenting with a new ride option called Smart Routes. The idea is drivers will be able to both pick up and drop off passengers along a specific route, which in turn allows them to quickly pick up their next passenger.
“If you can get 10 people trips on this perpetual ride, this UberPool ride, and the driver needs to make 25 euro an hour, you’re now looking at a situation where each person-trip costs 2 euro and 50 cents,” Kalanick told DLD attendees. “And that’s sort of the vision of where Uber wants to go.”/facepalm
The bus company literally does this here. It's called MOBY. As long as you live within a certain distance of a bus route, a bus-taxi comes and gets you and takes you to a destination near a bus route.
Program has existed for like, decades. So this is Uber just imitating a government program.
Program has existed for like, decades. So this is Uber just imitating a government program.
By DY_nasty Go To PostI still don't get why Uber is a thing.Lots of cities have terrible public transportation.
For example, my job is around 4 miles a way. If I wanted to get there by bus I'd take 2-3 different busses(that are never on time) depending on the day and at least an hour commute while still having to walk a half mile in Florida heat.
Uber? 6 dollars and a 10 minute drive in a clean ass car(that's always on time) while the driver is giving me bottled water and asking if he/she should blast the ac?
Taxi would charge me 15-20.
You ever try taking a taxi at night? Call the taxi company, wait for someone to answer and have them write down the wrong address, then they tell you the taxi is on the way, only for you to wait an hour, call back, and then they tell you "Oh, you need to call every 30 minutes for the taxi driver to eventually arrive." Yea, no.
Taxis' in AU are fairly reliable. If a touch expensive. Uber isn't A LOT cheaper, but slightly cheaper.
Uber has become popular in AU with the drivers as much as the passengers. The taxi industry in AU is heavily protected monopoly that is ... insidious. The licensing fee's are massive, only a certain number of them are allowed, annual fee's, then the company takes a cut of fares. Controls number of people that can be on at a given time etc etc.
Uber doesn't care about that and lets anyone get in and drive.
There are obviously downsides to Uber. But it is forcing the taxi industry here to have to start competing for the first time in decades. And they are using everything in their capacity to not have to compete. Challenging them on every front with legislative / legal battles.
(Note, there are technically 2 taxi companies in brisbane, but they haven't actually competed against each other in a very long time).
As for the passengers? Clean cars, not having to stand in taxi ranks, and not having to worry about payment (automatically deducted from your account).
Uber has become popular in AU with the drivers as much as the passengers. The taxi industry in AU is heavily protected monopoly that is ... insidious. The licensing fee's are massive, only a certain number of them are allowed, annual fee's, then the company takes a cut of fares. Controls number of people that can be on at a given time etc etc.
Uber doesn't care about that and lets anyone get in and drive.
There are obviously downsides to Uber. But it is forcing the taxi industry here to have to start competing for the first time in decades. And they are using everything in their capacity to not have to compete. Challenging them on every front with legislative / legal battles.
(Note, there are technically 2 taxi companies in brisbane, but they haven't actually competed against each other in a very long time).
As for the passengers? Clean cars, not having to stand in taxi ranks, and not having to worry about payment (automatically deducted from your account).
Sounds very similar to what Uber is facing in the US.
For example, in San Francisco, they banned anything but buses, bicyclists, 2-axel trucks and.... taxis from turning onto Market Street (busiest street in SF) between 3rd and 9th ave. What makes taxis safer and special but regular autos and Ubers unable to turn on the street? Safety, apparently.
But yea, Uber is now the classic example of a "disruptor" that is forcing a market that is heavy monopolized and lobbied to make drastic changes to stay alive.
For example, in San Francisco, they banned anything but buses, bicyclists, 2-axel trucks and.... taxis from turning onto Market Street (busiest street in SF) between 3rd and 9th ave. What makes taxis safer and special but regular autos and Ubers unable to turn on the street? Safety, apparently.
But yea, Uber is now the classic example of a "disruptor" that is forcing a market that is heavy monopolized and lobbied to make drastic changes to stay alive.