Comment by SirensOfTitan | Hacker News Reader

Comment by SirensOfTitan | Hacker News Reader

The interesting bit here is that the exertion of control: encouraging drivers to accept rides more indiscriminately, constraints around car cleanliness and modern make, and a rider centered experience are the elements that make Uber bearable compared to Taxis.

I recently rode back from Newark Airport into New York with my girlfriend. We were tired so just grabbed a NJ cab. We were given a ticket for a 51 flat fare. What they didn’t say was that the fare didn’t include the toll or an almost 6% credit card fee. The car we took was filled with trash and it took 5 minutes for the driver to get his trunk to close. It took us about 25 minutes to get home and was about 100 altogether. Uber, Juno, or Lyft were flat about 60 not including tip. These kind of experiences were commonplace before Uber: and drivers are lobbying to get the same kind of awful regulations that kept taxis from competing toward better service everywhere.

I realize the issues with my perspective, I just don’t have much sympathy for drivers who could easily stop driving if the economics don’t make sense for them.

I imagine a lot of drivers do not have the luxury to stop driving if it doesn't make sense because Uber has encouraged many to take on financing (either through Uber or elsewhere) for these luxury / more recent vehicles that they would not otherwise have bought.

When I first moved to Palo Alto in 2014, I didn't have my own car so I used Uber several times a week for almost a year. I would have to estimate at least a third of my UberX rides were in Priuses, and a few of my drivers had talked about how they had financed their Prius through something related to Uber. Since 2017, I honestly can't remember the last time I had an UberX driver with a Prius -- it's almost always Honda Civics/Accords or similarly low-priced vehicles.

It also seemed in 2014-2015 that far more of my drivers seemed happier, more professional, and enthusiastic about talking how much money they made. Nowadays I rarely if ever have that conversation.

If I understand correctly they were making significantly better money in that time frame.

The VC money that flowed into these drivers has essentially dried up as gig-economy startups push towards sustainability / profitability. As was predicted.

An Accord is not exactly a low-priced vehicle for regular middle class buyers.

> and enthusiastic about talking how much money they made

Do you get into a car and start having a conversation with the driver how much money they make? I can’t imagine anything more rude to do to a driver!

I have taxi drivers start these conversations far too often, usually several times a week.

It’s a shame that Uber seems to be encouraging their drivers to get less fuel efficient vehicles. Given the number of Uber/Lyft miles driven a year we could save a lot of carbon if they incentivized hybrids or EVs

I take it you've never had to keep a crappy underpaid and overworked job in your life just to make ends meet?

> I realize the issues with my perspective, I just don’t have much sympathy for drivers who could easily stop driving if the economics don’t make sense for them.

This is an incredibly privileged statement. Uber is how many people put food on the table. Many of these people do not have a better option available.

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