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Does no one have any memory of what taxis were like and how much they cost? The taxis are gone because they weren't competitive.
by chermi 14d ago
Does no one have any memory of what taxis were like and how much they cost? The taxis are gone because they weren't competitive.
- bdangubic 14d agotaxis “weren’t competitive” when Uber rides were heavily subsidized and Uber was burning billions. I ride taxi now exclusively because it is almost always cheaper than Uber
- jojobas 14d agoA taxi to the airport in Melbourne was >AUD100 from where I am more than 10 years ago. An Uber is ~AUD70 still, past all the subsidies.
- tclancy 14d agoYes but what’s a taxi to the airport cost now? Otherwise the comparison doesn’t mean much.
- bdangubic 14d agoexactly! it was more expensive, now taxi is often 20-30% cheaper and almost never more expensive
- jojobas 14d ago13cabs, a licensed cab operator, just gave me an estimate of AUD144, UberX 79, Uber Comfort 90.
- protocolture 14d agoWe have an issue where Uber Drivers dont know the local laws about child restraints. They dont need them. Taxis, Busses, Trains and Ride Shares are given explicit exemption from the laws about child restraints. My wife, taking my kiddo around, has had to stop using Uber because they turn up, see the kid, and drive off cancelling the fare. However, Taxis do know the law, and are centrally enforced into permitting children. So she often makes some trips with uber, and some with taxis depending on when my kids along. Roughly speaking, same time of day, same route, same tolls. 25 - 30 dollar Uber, 40 - 60 dollar Taxi. Its a pretty steep charge for "Understands the laws regarding child restraints" Also worth noting, age is a protected characteristic in Australia, Uber refuses to do anything about their drivers, but when I have enough evidence of rejected fares I am considering throwing it to some hungry lawyers.
- jojobas 14d agoAt least Victoria and NSW treat ubers exactly like private cars in terms of child restraints. "Cannot carry safely" is valid defence for whatever discrimination suit I believe. Then again, plenty of Uber drivers carry a booster seat, I wonder why Uber doesn't just have a checkbox for that.
- protocolture 14d agoYeah but in QLD: https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/rules/children/exemptions https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/rules/children/exemp... "Child restraints are not required on buses, trains or personalised transport services such as taxi, limousine and ride-booking services. A bus is a motor vehicle that can carry 13 or more people (including the driver)." Have not spotted a booster seat, or been offered one in an uber in like 3 years with the kiddo. "Cannot Safely Carry" be hard to justify when the legal definition permits them to just sit in a normal seat with a normal belt.
- slopinthebag 14d agoIn my region an Uber to the airport is still cheaper than a taxi and much more convenient
- awesome_dude 14d agopffft - 901 Bus to Broadmeadows station, then jump onto the train to Southern Cross Total cost: $AU2.85 Takes FOREVER though :)
- SoftTalker 14d agoAnd taxis weren't competitive because they were heavily regulated in most markets by a medallion system that artificially kept the supply low.
- brunoarueira 14d agoIn Brazil, it wasn't a matter of regulation, but honest because multiple taxi drivers normally drive to where you want really slow to increase the cost of your travel. Although, when they don't have any passengers they drive like crazy and really unsafe!
- walrus01 14d ago> Does no one have any memory of what taxis were like and how much they cost? The taxis are gone because they weren't competitive. And now in places like Seattle, Uber and Lyft are far more expensive than traditional taxis. Taking uber or lyft from the seatac airport to anywhere within a 30 minute driving distance is ridiculously costly now.
- DarmokTanagra 14d ago[dead]