are private car owners running taxi service?

[look 171]

These 30something folks rent the house next door. Sometimes I see different cars that come by and pick up people. Once, I heard her talking on her phone while waiting and asking for a price quote then the driver pulls up within seconds. Different cars drop her off. This isn't happening daily, but i notice all the drivers are around their 30s. If they are doing so, don't they need commercial insurance and some kind of lic to operate a business? Is the job market that bad that these younger folks are doing this to make end meet? One time this guy had a pink mustache and I know that's some kind of ride deal?

[Flieger]

Google search for Lyft, Uber

Uber is very popular amongst my peers. I spend all my time on Pelican so I don't go out, and when I do I use my own car.

[LakeCleElum]

In Fiji, I'd start out in a nice Mercedes cab.......As we got closer to town and picked up more people, we'd pull into a sketchy neighborhood and transfer to mini-bus.......Twice........

[Jrboulder]

A guy I know was an Uber driver here in Phoenix. Apparently he was making pretty good money for a college kid ($4-5k/mo) but he was working 15 hour stretches, sometimes longer. He crashed his Hummer H3 (no surprise) and I think his insurance got on him about it. He certainly wasn't operating under any legal classification beyond sole proprietor, which is nuts considering how easy it is to set up an LLC.

Personally, I wouldn't ride in one.

[porsche4life]

Jackson, I ride in uber quite a bit. Most recently riding home with north of 5k cash in my pocket after selling my pickup. I didn't tell the driver that of course. I've never felt concerned for my safety in an uber. Every time I've taken a cab however the cab has either seemed unsafe, the driver is unsafe, or unsanitary, or both.


I'm pretty ticked if I get somewhere and can't get an uber ride. Btw I investigated th uber driver requirements. They require cars '07 and newer to sign up and make you go through a safety check. Something I've seena few cabs that no way in hell would pass.

Uber is consistently HALF the cost of a cab. So for half the price I get a newer safer car, with a decent driver, which I can hail and pay for from my phone and never have to discuss or exchange money with the driver? What's not to love!

[aigel]

I checked and Uber does not pay well at all if you factor in the true cost of operating your vehicle. They require a 2005 or newer 4 door vehicle that you will get to drive into the ground. Cars do not only need fuel to operate. There is a reason personal mileage reimbursements are over 50c a mile ...

The biggest attraction I see in driving for Uber is the flexibility. You are free to work any schedule and just make a few extra bucks when you have some time and feel like it. Have an hour to burn before bedtime? Sign up and get a couple rides in.
Another attraction to people is the social network aspect where you will know who picks you up, how they rate etc, making it overall a more pleasant experience than the average cabbie.

The biggest down side aside from working for peanuts is the insurance situation. While Uber apparently will cover once you are hired, they do not cover you when you are driving from a job or between jobs. In addition, most personal insurance companies will not cover you if they find out you wreck while working for a ride share service. They will also drop you if they find out without you having a wreck. On the other hand, I do think that the Uber insurance for passengers is decent, even compared to the average taxi cab.

In terms of drivers, I think it is for millenials. In your area Look, drivers are likely "actors" who make ends meet with odd jobs like Uber and pizza delivery. They pay for the gas while their parents buy them a new car every 3 years.

G

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by aigel

In terms of drivers, I think it is for millenials. In your area Look, drivers are likely "actors" who make ends meet with odd jobs like Uber and pizza delivery. They pay for the gas while their parents buy them a new car every 3 years.

G

So far the majority of my drivers have all been over 30. One in Hawaii was retired and driving in his Cayenne to kill time. The other was a semi retired guy who was taking care of raising grand kids and drove uber to make extra cash when he could. One here in Phoenix was a delivery driver during the day, and did this in the evenings and days off. The other few haven't been as talkative.

I've taken Uber in Hawaii, Seattle, Phoenix, and Denver without an issue ever.

[look 171]

I learn something new daily here.

These companies must carry a huge insurance policy. If someone gets hurt, the lawyers will have field day. I am surprise taxi companies (in places like NYC, Chicago, or larger cities where they are more common)haven't made any noise to stop this from happening? Taxis almost do not exist here, and eventually they will put people like Yellow Cab out of business due to the fact that they can summons someone with their phone and see their profile.

[motion]

I've used Uber all over the world. Its the future. Get ready for it.

[Holger]

Uber/UberPop is forbidden to operate in Germany since Wednesday.

[mattdavis11]

Originally Posted by look 171

I learn something new daily here.

These companies must carry a huge insurance policy. If someone gets hurt, the lawyers will have field day. I am surprise taxi companies (in places like NYC, Chicago, or larger cities where they are more common)haven't made any noise to stop this from happening? Taxis almost do not exist here, and eventually they will put people like Yellow Cab out of business due to the fact that they can summons someone with their phone and see their profile.

Cab companies are raising a stink. Insurance and commercial license requirements are the biggest two. Insurance companies are also tailoring policies to cover the drivers, but I doubt many drivers will purchase them.

[Daves911L]

Originally Posted by look 171

I learn something new daily here.

These companies must carry a huge insurance policy. If someone gets hurt, the lawyers will have field day. I am surprise taxi companies (in places like NYC, Chicago, or larger cities where they are more common)haven't made any noise to stop this from happening? Taxis almost do not exist here, and eventually they will put people like Yellow Cab out of business due to the fact that they can summons someone with their phone and see their profile.

The services of these operations have been suspended in NM for a while, as a result of complaints by taxi/limo services to the Public Regulatory Commision, which licenses taxi/limo services. Seems like a reasonable objection to me. Rules to regulate these operations exist for a reason. There seems to be an attitude among some that if you are young, use a cell phone, and social media, that somehow you are different and can ignore government regulations.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Associated Press
PUBLISHED: Thursday, February 26, 2015 at 7:49 am

SANTA FE, N.M. — A measure aimed at regulating ride-booking companies like Uber and Lyft in New Mexico cleared its first hurdle Thursday.

The House Transportation and Public Works Committee voted 8-3 to approve a proposal that would require such services to provide insurance and conduct rigorous background checks on drivers.

Rep. Monica Youngblood, R-Albuquerque, and Sen. Phil Griego, D-San Jose, are sponsoring the bipartisan legislation as state officials wrestle with how to respond to the expansion of such smartphone-based services that connect people seeking rides with people who have cars.

The measure advanced by the committee contained changes worked out with insurance companies, which said they would cover drivers once the drivers have agreed to pick up a customer, Youngblood said.

The approval came a day after New Mexico regulators tabled a decision to allow Lyft to operate in the state while lawmakers debate the future of such companies.

Last year, the Public Regulation Commission ordered the San Francisco-based Lyft to cease operations in Albuquerque.

PRC Commissioner Patrick Lyons said he supported the legislation because regulators need guidance on the expanding technology in the transportation industry.

“The PRC wants to step up to the plate and regulate these companies,” he said.

However, Ruben Sanchez, a representative for some New Mexico cab companies, said the proposal still lacked some needed safety requirements.

“It does nothing on vehicle checkups,” he said.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed a measure earlier this month to allow ride-hailing companies to operate in that state. Before the state passed the bill, Virginia had allowed the companies to operate under a temporary agreement since this summer.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I think a lot of the success is due to the private operators' ability to sidestep all the nutty regulations that regular taxi drivers are subject to - including price fixing.

I haven't used the service (no need yet) but will at some point I'm sure. It sounds just as reputable if not more so than a lot of the taxi services. Some are great, some are sleazy.

[Scuba Steve]

Originally Posted by look 171

These 30something folks rent the house next door. Sometimes I see different cars that come by and pick up people. Once, I heard her talking on her phone while waiting and asking for a price quote then the driver pulls up within seconds. Different cars drop her off. This isn't happening daily, but i notice all the drivers are around their 30s. If they are doing so, don't they need commercial insurance and some kind of lic to operate a business? Is the job market that bad that these younger folks are doing this to make end meet? One time this guy had a pink mustache and I know that's some kind of ride deal?

It's not Uber/Lyft. It's an escort service. HTH

[strupgolf]

I talked to a Uber driver today. He gets 80%, uber 20%. He works when he wants. No cash ever, all through phones. They give him a I phone, n/c. They call him if he's close, has 15 seconds to say yes or no. He gets paid more if he has a newer black 4 door sedan. He said MUCH cheaper then a cab ride. He said if he wanted, he could make $100k per year. Cabbies should be concerned.

[chocolatelab]

I love Uber.

Very convenient.

Takes all the stress out of going out for the evening.

[67R69S]

They're fining Uber drivers $650 here in Ottawa for operating a taxi without a licence. That's $650 CDN, so about $27 US.

[911_Dude]

Uber type os services are the future. Regular taxis in most towns totally suck and are expensive and unreliable. It wont bother me to see them go down the toilet for something like this.

[WIL84911]

I did Uber for 2 months, though like it I stopped as I think it's too much on my 2012 car. They go through background checks. They are prompt. It's a great thing for riders imo.

[asphaltgambler]

My understanding when Uber started out the pay to the drivers / owners was pretty good as their business model was catering to the people who wanted a better, more personal convenience experience than a 'cab' but not as formal or pricey as a 'car service' So they found a huge niche between these 2 tiers of transportation service.

BUT, as demand grew Uber wanted a larger share of the market - they started to cut prices. Now the drivers make anywhere from 30% to 45% less than a few years ago trying to compete head-to-head with cab services. They know they can do this as the economy is still faltering, a lot of people are either un-employed or under employed and will do this out of necessity.