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Comment by big_gulp | Hacker News Reader

If uber/lyft were cheaper (especially during peak) this would be the future of "inferior goods". Honestly, they should be taking pennies on the dollar for each ride instead of their current rate in order to secure their place in transportation.

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I think Uber is in a great position already with the dramatic increase in cost of new and used vehicles and people's ability to work from home multiple days a week or permanently. It may already be more cost effective to Uber over having a car. Obviously bussing is an option but Uber matches the flexibility of a car much better. I'm going to generalize here but you might spend $700/month on a car. A monthly payment of $400 for the car (or equivalent purchase price/useful life), $100/mo for insurance, and $200/mo on gas. In a given month there might be 20 to 25 business days. For $700/month you could instead spend $28 per business day on Uber and break even, and if you work from home Uber comes out cheaper. This is without including parking costs in metropolitan area's, repairs, license fees, tows, and of course the insurance deductibles as well when an accident eventually does happen. Plus you get the comfort of not driving and ability to get things done on the trips. If we are drinking we end up Ubering anyways as well so we don't have to drive home.

If my 11 year old Ford gives up the ghost, I’m definitely living the Uber lifestyle. I did it for a year during Covid when I gave my car to my older son who doesn’t live with us. I work remotely and didn’t miss it.

The only reason I have a car now is because we bought a car for my wife and the Ford was hers before.

When I travel for business, I love taking Uber everywhere.

I would rent a car once every two or three months to see my parents who live about 200 miles away.

They're already losing billions each year. You want them to lose more?

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