Genius Chicago Cabbies Protest Uber By Going On Strike -- Forcing People To Take Uber
From CBS Chicago, a bunch of cabbies staged a protest on Chicago's Loop by driving around for four hours and refusing to pickup fares. And by honking. (My take: the sound of "Honk if you love Uber!")
Dozens of cabs drive in circles around City Hall and the Daley Center for more than an hour, honking their horns to draw attention. Many cabbies had posted protest signs in their windows, accusing Uber of stealing their customers."It's good music to my ears," said cab driver Rocky Mmomo, a steering committee member of the United Taxidrivers Community Council. Mmomo said cabbies want the tax industry deregulated, so it can better compete with Uber and the other ride-sharing companies.
They rather reasonably are now upset at big government -- pissed off at the regulations that have been forced on them. For passenger safety? More for government funding:
The cabbies want the city to do away with chauffeur licenses required for taxi drivers, biannual city safety inspections required for all cabs, and medallions required to operate a cab company. A city medallion costs up to $375,000."We have 12,000 drivers who are suffering, because of the invasion of Uber, and UberX, and Lyft into the streets of Chicago; and that was as a result of the lack of regulation from the city of Chicago," UTCC chairman Fayez Khozindar said at a City Hall news conference.
Cab drivers have said, because regulations on ride-sharing companies are much less restrictive, it's very difficult for cab drivers to compete.
"We'll be sitting at a hotel for two, three hours; and all of a sudden you see three UberX cabs just came and picked up customers while we're just sitting there. How is that fair? That's not fair to a cab driver," cab driver Mustafa Husein said.
Hmm, depends what your definition of "fair" is.
It's fair to the passenger -- who saves money and could have chosen a cab but wants an Uber driver.
The case here is similar to the government's prohibition on my eating, say, unpasteurized cheese -- which I want to do. I would be the decider -- as a functioning adult -- in whether I am willing to take that risk. Why should the government get to decide what I can put in my stomach?
I'm staying in an AirBnB place soon. I'll pay less than half of what I'd pay in a hotel and I have a refrigerator and stove. The guy who owns the place seems great. As was the friendly guy who drove Gregg home ("Dave in the Ford Focus") when he took Uber back from my place. Dave has an interest in maintaining his car because he's driving in it and surely doesn't want to die or be maimed, and cars and drivers are rated by passengers.
I like the "sharing" economy and I choose to participate in it, as do many people. Government shouldn't meddle in that.
"their customers"
tmitsss at February 23, 2015 6:40 AM
"Dave has an interest in maintaining his car because he's driving in it and surely doesn't want to die or be maimed, and cars and drivers are rated by passengers."
Does Dave's insurance cover you, the passenger?
Because he cannot eliminate the possibility of accident.
Radwaste at February 23, 2015 7:45 AM
Amy Alkon
https://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2015/02/genius-chicago.html#comment-5864012">comment from RadwasteUber covers you up to a million dollars.
https://support.uber.com/hc/en-us/articles/202347808-In-the-US-what-insurance-is-available-if-there-s-an-accident-
Next question.
Amy Alkon
at February 23, 2015 7:49 AM
Want to take a ride in a small plane via über?
If this principle is valid, then you should be able to leave from the general aviation ramp at Van Nuys. No patdowns, bring your gun, your own lunch and all the luggage Bill's Cessna will hold. Off to Atlanta!
Radwaste at February 23, 2015 7:50 AM
"Next question."
Excellent. Now, remember that this is a consumer protection method in future discussion.
Radwaste at February 23, 2015 7:54 AM
I get why cab drivers are upset -- Uber/Lyft provide pretty much the same service, but with much less regulation.
... but even that doesn't account for the fact that customers are flocking to Uber/Lyft in droves. I've been turned down by cabbies on the spot AND by cab dispatchers when I've called ahead to schedule a cab. Why? Because either I'm asking to be picked up from a "bad neighborhood," or my destination isn't a sweet spot for them. Meanwhile, I've never had to wait more than 10 minutes for an Uber/Lyft no matter where I am or where I need to go.
In fact, there have been times I'd rather take a cab (to avoid Lyft's/Uber's godawful surge pricing, for example). And the second I hail a cab and tell them where I live, they're like, "Nope!" And drive off.
sofar at February 23, 2015 8:01 AM
"Want to take a ride in a small plane via über?"
Actually, it happens more often then people realize. The FAA regs prohibit most private pilots from taking payment from passengers, but the definition of "payment" is nebulous, and having the pax share the fuel cost is very common. My stepfather used to do it some, and I've done it myself a time or two. Actually, it really ought to be safer than Uber, because you can ask to see the pilot's log book and the plane's maintenance records if you have doubts.
(You ask, "What would motivate a pilot to fly someone they don't know if they aren't making a profit"? Answer: hours. Flying is expensive, and a lot of private pilots have trouble affording to fly enough hours to keep their licenses current. They'll gladly fly when someone else is helping with the cost, in order to log the hours, maintain their currency, and get in some practice flying unfamiliar routes and approaches.)
Cousin Dave at February 23, 2015 8:02 AM
And getting back to the taxi hacks: I agree with them on one point. They were required to buy their way into a government-limited market. If they are now going to have to compete with unregulated competitiors, the government should refund to them the money they had to spend on their medallions and licenses. (Of course, this will never happen.)
Cousin Dave at February 23, 2015 8:04 AM
"I like the "sharing" economy and I choose to participate in it, as do many people. Government shouldn't meddle in that." Amy
as some guy is wont to say- "there are insufficient opportunities for graft."
When I was a kid, in my mom's store, we did a lot of barter for artwork, because we lived in an artist's town. As long as my mom felt that she could afford to let some toiletpaper and lightbulbs go for a piece of artwork that might not sell... she got some pretty good things that she liked to keep, and they got their TP...
or they got new shoes, and my mom only paid for roofing material, and they did the work on the roof... or new motormounts on the old volvo for a case of beer, and a pizza...
the pizza being free because the pizza guy owed us a favor.
And when there is a roof collapse from snow, half the town turns out to help you get back on your feet... and when a new baby comes, people make sure that parents don't have to cook for a while.
'course in a bigger city, there is less of that.
Still, when they tell you no bake sale, or no little lending library on your front fencepost... this is because governments survive based on how much money they can get from you.
And they want it all.
SwissArmyD at February 23, 2015 10:36 AM
Because Uber and Lyft are the newest, hippest toys in the toy box.
Taking Uber is "cool" while taking a cab is old school.
Unfortunately for cab companies, they're burdened by government regulations which hampers them from upgrading their "cool" factor.
==============================
The biggest problem you have in a barter economy is liability. The second is redress for grievances.
If that guy who traded you roof work for toilet paper falls off your roof, you're the one who will pay for his hospitalization through your homeowners insurance.
And if he does a lousy job, good luck getting your toilet paper back.
Uber addresses these issues by insuring its drivers and providing a focal point for lawsuits. The disgruntled passenger sues deep pockets Uber rather than shallow pockets driver, John Doe. Uber is then free to take John Doe to court.
On the flip side, John Doe is willing to give a ride to a stranger because Uber takes care of the liability insurance and vetting the passengers.
Conan the Grammarian at February 23, 2015 11:34 AM
"Dave has an interest in maintaining his car because he's driving in it and surely doesn't want to die or be maimed, and cars and drivers are rated by passengers."
Does Dave's insurance cover you, the passenger?
Because he cannot eliminate the possibility of accident.
Posted by: Radwaste
Arguing for the necessity of licencing hair braiders Rad?
lujlp at February 23, 2015 12:27 PM
Because Uber and Lyft are the newest, hippest toys in the toy box.
Oh, I could care less about what's cool. I started using Uber and Lyft because cabbies refused to pick me up in certain areas or transport me to certain areas in my city, despite laws that require them to do so.
My boyfriend constantly hires Ubers for his car-less employees who miss the last bus, because as soon as the cab dispatcher hears where they live, they won't touch them.
sofar at February 23, 2015 2:32 PM
sofar, I had a similar issue. I live in the East Bay and used to work in San Francisco. Once you cross the bridge, the price of a cab ride quadruples. To get from my office to my house by cab could cost $150 (from the airport it's almost $200).
Most of the time I took BART, but once in a while, I needed to take a cab.
One cabbie told me there's a surcharge because the cab company isn't licensed to pick anyone up in the East Bay to pay for the ride back.
With Uber or Lyft, you're simply catching a ride with someone who's going there (or near there) anyway.
Conan the Grammarian at February 23, 2015 2:38 PM
Who cares. In a couple years there will be Google driven Prii seducing you into their uncomfortable yet eerily quiet layout.
Ppen at February 23, 2015 5:03 PM
They should hop on the Uber tip too. No use in crying about business in the new tech age - it's not going away.
Buffalo Traffic at February 23, 2015 8:27 PM
luj: nope.
Cousin Dave: good point about hours.
Can't a cab driver sign up to drive for Uber? What's a cabbie really make if he's not the medallion holder?
Radwaste at February 24, 2015 6:11 AM
Taxi owners have asked for this by being pricks. I used to regularly go to a club with a taxi rank right outside, leave at 4am (drunk but no trouble to anyone) and because I was a short fare home, have drivers tell me they weren't going my way so talk to the guy behind me, then he would say the rules are the guy at the head of the queue has to take the first comer, etc. I used to go and complain to the bouncers who have a vested interest in seeing good, trouble free customers getting home safely, and they would tell the guy hogging the queue and waiting for a good fare to take me or piss off.
The point being, you want a government monopoly, then fucking deliver according to the rules. I'm not surprised Uber are cutting their lunch.
Ltw at February 24, 2015 7:07 AM
I guess I dont get why their are different standards for uber drivers... they are providibg the same service, why the double standard? Either a cab needs to be ,icensed or it doesnt... and uber drivers ARE cabs
NicoleK at February 24, 2015 7:19 AM
"Once you cross the bridge, the price of a cab ride quadruples. To get from my office to my house by cab could cost $150 (from the airport it's almost $200)."
No joke. A few months ago, I had to make a hit-and-run business trip to Phoenix. Because I was only staying one night, I arranged with a co-worker who was already there to pick me up at the airport in the evening and drive me back there the next day. Unfortunately, on the day I arrived, my co-worker was caught up in a late meeting, and I had to take a taxi to the hotel. The taxi ride cost $85. For about $55, I could have rented a car for the night, including the cost of fuel, and I wouldn't have inconvienced my co-worker to return me to the airport the next day.
Cousin Dave at February 24, 2015 8:58 AM
I guess I dont get why their are different standards for uber drivers...
The thing is, NicoleK, they really aren't cab drivers. Depends on which jurisdiction you live in of course, but generally they can't pick up fares off the street or from cab ranks. It's a purely private arrangement between two consenting adults (oh, wait, that's a different argument). If you called a friend and asked them to drive you to a doctor's appointment then took them out for dinner afterwards to thank them, no one would call them a cabbie.
It's just that smartphones etc have made it possible for private citizens to offer their services to a wider range of friends, who might just happen to be hanging out on a street corner. Legally, they are not cabs, but technology has circumvented the distinction.
Ltw at February 25, 2015 7:16 PM
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