The Off Topic Topic

[Tamas]

I don't know which I hate more - Silicon Valley "disruptive" douchebags that think just because they do something on the internet that normal rules don't apply to them, or the poster-child of regulatory capture that are taxi boards.

Artificially limiting the number of taxis allowed on the streets benefits nobody other than taxi companies.  The whole model of taxi licensing should be dramatically deregulated.  However, Uber/Lyft and the like need to follow the rules like anybody else.

There is definitely a lot of quasi-anarchist douchebag bullshit coming out of SV right now.  That said, it is hard to play by rules that were created to prevent you from existing in the first place.

Then they can buy a medallion and get licensed by the city commission like everybody else.  They've got the cash for it.  The fact they go to work in t-shirts and shoes with no socks on in Silicon Valley doesn't make them any different than any other capital investment firm.

Don't you realise that rule is a total BS and only serves as a barrier for new competition, so the established ones can cartel the shit out of prices and stuff?

It might had the advantage of keeping total idiots out of the business, but since then this little thing called the Internet has been invented, and in a system like Uber, drivers are ranked and reviewed, so assholes and scammers will be without business anyways.

[garbon]

I don't know which I hate more - Silicon Valley "disruptive" douchebags that think just because they do something on the internet that normal rules don't apply to them, or the poster-child of regulatory capture that are taxi boards.

Artificially limiting the number of taxis allowed on the streets benefits nobody other than taxi companies.  The whole model of taxi licensing should be dramatically deregulated.  However, Uber/Lyft and the like need to follow the rules like anybody else.

There is definitely a lot of quasi-anarchist douchebag bullshit coming out of SV right now.  That said, it is hard to play by rules that were created to prevent you from existing in the first place.

Then they can buy a medallion and get licensed by the city commission like everybody else.  They've got the cash for it.  The fact they go to work in t-shirts and shoes with no socks on in Silicon Valley doesn't make them any different than any other capital investment firm.

Maybe yellow cabs should get an app. It is much easier for me to get an uber or gypsy cab then wait all day for a yellow cab.

[CountDeMoney]

Don't you realise that rule is a total BS and only serves as a barrier for new competition, so the established ones can cartel the shit out of prices and stuff?

Don't you realize that if the NYC cabbie industry wasn't regulated and controlled, nobody would get anywhere? 

Hey garbon, what do you think lower Manhattan traffic would look like if the reins were taken off the cabbie industry, and every dirtbag with a minivan decided to hack?

[CountDeMoney]

It is much easier for me to get an uber or gypsy cab then wait all day for a yellow cab.

For now.  Wait till it dwarfs the yellow cabs.

[garbon]

Don't you realise that rule is a total BS and only serves as a barrier for new competition, so the established ones can cartel the shit out of prices and stuff?

Don't you realize that if the NYC cabbie industry wasn't regulated and controlled, nobody would get anywhere? 

Hey garbon, what do you think lower Manhattan traffic would look like if the reins were taken off the cabbie industry, and every dirtbag with a minivan decided to hack?

To be honest, I don't know. The subway system is so affordable that there's little reason not to use it as my main transportation source. In fact, I generally only take cabs if a) late at night/too drunk, b) going somewhere "far" like village to UES and I'm feeling lazy, c) going to/from airport though usually use car service or d) going to a job interview and want to make sure that rain/humidity hasn't hampered my look.

I mean right now we have Uber and gypsy cabs and I'm not sure they are snarling up all traffic.

[garbon]

It is much easier for me to get an uber or gypsy cab then wait all day for a yellow cab.

For now.  Wait till it dwarfs the yellow cabs.

I don't understand. Why would it be harder to get an uber/gypsy cab if there were more of them than licensed cabs?

[Barrister]

I don't know which I hate more - Silicon Valley "disruptive" douchebags that think just because they do something on the internet that normal rules don't apply to them, or the poster-child of regulatory capture that are taxi boards.

Artificially limiting the number of taxis allowed on the streets benefits nobody other than taxi companies.  The whole model of taxi licensing should be dramatically deregulated.  However, Uber/Lyft and the like need to follow the rules like anybody else.

There is definitely a lot of quasi-anarchist douchebag bullshit coming out of SV right now.  That said, it is hard to play by rules that were created to prevent you from existing in the first place.

This.

No.  They can go out and lobby to change the system, or challenge it in court, like everybody else.  That can't just barge ahead and pretend the rules don't even apply to them.

To be fair to Uber, it has started to do this, but only after being repeatedly called out for ignoring the law.

[Tamas]

I don't know which I hate more - Silicon Valley "disruptive" douchebags that think just because they do something on the internet that normal rules don't apply to them, or the poster-child of regulatory capture that are taxi boards.

Artificially limiting the number of taxis allowed on the streets benefits nobody other than taxi companies.  The whole model of taxi licensing should be dramatically deregulated.  However, Uber/Lyft and the like need to follow the rules like anybody else.

There is definitely a lot of quasi-anarchist douchebag bullshit coming out of SV right now.  That said, it is hard to play by rules that were created to prevent you from existing in the first place.

This.

No.  They can go out and lobby to change the system, or challenge it in court, like everybody else.  That can't just barge ahead and pretend the rules don't even apply to them.

To be fair to Uber, it has started to do this, but only after being repeatedly called out for ignoring the law.

That law was in place to protect established monopolies. I will not shed a tear.

[Malthus]

That law was in place to protect established monopolies. I will not shed a tear.

So are the provincial Law Societies. They protect the established monopoly that benefits me. One hand washes the other, so I have to shed a tear. 

[alfred russel]

That can't just barge ahead and pretend the rules don't even apply to them.

There is a very long tradition of doing this in the case of economically restrictive laws that are difficult to enforce. See diocletian's edict of maximum prices, among others.

[derspiess]

That can't just barge ahead and pretend the rules don't even apply to them.

It's a ride-sharing service, not a taxi service.  So those taxi laws don't apply.

[Tamas]

You guys are fortunate enough to not really see how laws and customs like this come to life, Hungary has had a number of very new ones thanks to the glorious present government, which regulated and monopolised a lot of things from watermelon pricing to tobacco sales. Seeing it in practice at birth really makes you appreciate the sinister nature of it. I understand having it as default through your life makes you subservient to its existence (I mean look at CdM), but the world and technology needs and will move on eventually, only question is if these oppressing dinosaurs manage to delay it or not.

[garbon]

That can't just barge ahead and pretend the rules don't even apply to them.

It's a ride-sharing service, not a taxi service.  So those taxi laws don't apply.

Is it really though? As far as I know the uber drivers are just looking around for fares. They aren't typically traveling to a specific destination themselves and happening to let me go on part of that journey if I had them a few bucks.

[Barrister]

It's a ride-sharing service, not a taxi service.

And what, exactly, is the difference?

[DGuller]

Don't you realise that rule is a total BS and only serves as a barrier for new competition, so the established ones can cartel the shit out of prices and stuff?

Don't you realize that if the NYC cabbie industry wasn't regulated and controlled, nobody would get anywhere? 

Hey garbon, what do you think lower Manhattan traffic would look like if the reins were taken off the cabbie industry, and every dirtbag with a minivan decided to hack?

Better?