Lyft

[nissangirl74]

Have any of you ever used this service? I had never heard of it until tonight when I saw a Nissan commercial advertising someone using a Sentra in the program.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doyLOhp9 ... ov&index=1

Here's a link to their website. https://www.lyft.com/

Greg said he has used it before and it is

- much cheaper than standard taxi service
- much friendlier drivers

There's a link at the bottom of their home page that lets you know what cities it is available in. It's not available in Nevada as of right now but could you imagine the fit the taxi drivers in Vegas would throw if this ever made it there?

[numbnuts240]

never used it, but there's a funny skit where conan o'brien, kevin hart, and ice cube rent one together.

[frapjap]

Never used it, but have seen it in major markets. Uber is also very popular here and I've used it a couple of times. It sends the taxi folks into a tizzy- but their service is better, they're friendlier (there is a rating system for both passenger and drivers), cheaper (not to mention that you prepay, so all you do is get in and get out), and the vehicles are WAY nicer than the typical taxi. I hope they put the taxi market out of business or at least make them behave like a business and stop pretending that the "credit card machine is broken."
I have no idea why everyone else takes credit cards and deals with the percentage taken from them, but the goddamned taxi business can't suck it up...

[nissangirl74]

I have no idea why everyone else takes credit cards and deals with the percentage taken from them, but the goddamned taxi business can't suck it up...

They'll figure it out when people start boycotting them en masse. Then it will be too late. They'll go the way of the buggy whip.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Variety and choice in the marketplace is always good. It's a marketplace I have no interest in, but it's still good. I hate being a passenger anyway. PAYING to be a passenger is just massochism.

I'm fairly disgusted by taxi companies' efforts to strangle Lyft and Uber out of more taxi-saturated markets through legislation rather than fighting the fight by doing better business. It feels similar to dealer networks' fight against Tesla. If you feel that threatened, stop sitting on your complacent asses and do something new to keep your edge! Or shut up and die and get out of the way. Either way, really.

[szh]

Uber is gaining a lot of support in the Bay Area - haven't seen Lyft yet (although they are here in San Francisco too). Of course, the taxi associations are trying to stall their growth, but I hope they are unsuccessful.

I have another solution that I use on occasion: a number of the local Yellow cab drivers live near my house and I have the numbers of the good ones (after having used them), with clean cars, good attitudes, etc. Since my taxi trips tend to be to the airport, I give them a call and pre-arrange for them to stop by at the right time in the mornings.

Z

[Dattebayo]

I am surprised no one has brought up the issue of personal safety yet?

[frapjap]

One of the stipulations is that your car must be newer than 200x (don't remember), have a very good driving record, and carry full coverage. They're all over that one. Scroll to the bottom.
https://get.uber.com/drive-uber/boston/ ... oClw3w_wcB

[nissangirl74]

I am surprised no one has brought up the issue of personal safety yet?

I have thought about this from a passenger stand point, a driver standpoint, and a woman standpoint. As a driver, what if the person you are giving a lyft to is drunk, tweaking, or just gives you the creeps in general. As a passenger, how do you know if this person giving you a ride is legit. These are all rare instances, I'm sure, but still in the realm of possibility.

[hannibal]

I am surprised no one has brought up the issue of personal safety yet?

Word! It's all fun and games til someone gets hurt. The driver/passenger feedback help a little. If you're a jerk, chances are you'll have trouble finding fares/rides in the future.

I've never used Lyft but have plenty of friends who have. The law will eventually crack down on these undercover taxi services, just like they're doing with airbnb, a site where people can offer up their spare bedrooms to short term visitors. NYC city argues that the host is acting as a hotel, and must therefore adhere to laws that apply to hotels. NYC government also wants the hotel tax revenue they're missing out on.

I'd be more likely to accept a ride form a stranger than sleep in their house.

[szh]

I'd be more likely to accept a ride form a stranger than sleep in their house.

Yes!

Z

[AZhitman]

...I have the numbers of the good ones

Well, yeah. Relatives don't count.

Love ya Z.

[AZhitman]

One of the stipulations is that your car must be newer than 200x (don't remember), have a very good driving record, and carry full coverage. They're all over that one. Scroll to the bottom.

As an insurer, I would be all over this.

Let me play Devil's Advocate for a sec: When you apply for insurance, you certify that your car is not used for livery or commercial ventures. So, if you have a claim while transporting a fare (or they have a claim), your insurance company can deny that claim (since you lied).

I'm sure there's some language in the Lyft / Uber TOS that holds the driver harmless, and protects them from being sued by a rider, but how smart is that, really? You're gonna sign away any rights for a cheap ride? Not a great idea.

I can see the issue that the taxi companies have with it, but IMO, they're approaching it the WRONG way. They need to be honest, explain their position, and quit acting all Guido about it. This isn't Chicago and it's not 1939.

[Dattebayo]

I am glad that the issue was addressed, I personally don't see how the service can continue in it's current form, however I am in favor of anything to bring down the costs associated with cabs since I use them frequently and will NOT use uber or any other service like that (due to the safety and professional reasons).

[AZhitman]

What do you mean by "due to the safety and professional reasons"?

So far, the Lyft / Uber drivers I've experienced were both super-cool, regular folks, very professional. (Granted, that's a pretty small sample size... )

The first one was a 40-something mom, former model, with a CCW permit who was an amateur circle track racer in her teens... Black Nissan Armada, and she works (Uber) during the 5 hours her kids are at school (since her commute is long).

Second one was less interesting, but a regular Joe, 30-something, recently laid off graphic artist, with a newer Camry. Cool guy.

[szh]

...I have the numbers of the good ones

Well, yeah. Relatives don't count.

Love ya Z.

Z

[darylzero]

Yeah Uber is big in Chicago. This year city has been going crazy about it, trying to tax the hell out of them as well as shut it down.

I have a buddy who has been doing this for a few months now. It is cheaper than a cab, but it can also get very expensive. They have peak times and if it's raining the price triples.
However there have been tons of news articles on Lyft and Uber. Uber says it doesn't hire any convicted felons or people with bad driving records, s***!! The kid I know driving for Uber is a convicted felon. They don't do any background checks.

Also, I can see the cabbies point of view of not wanting it because the ones who own their cab's pay a s*** for the taxi medallion. In NYC a Medallion will sell for $1,000,000!! There is a set number of them so these people who spent 3/4 Million dollars on them are now not worth nearly that much and they had to pay it because of the city.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/won ... ging-that/