# Uber Uber Alles **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 3, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-uber-alles/714105 "2015-03-03T17:23:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-uber-alles/714105/81 "2015-03-04T16:44:22Z")
> [@Kenm](#): > > That’s ridiculous. Because a woman in the U.S. talks about Uber-driver rape it doesn’t count? > > The entire story is predicated on her writing that Uber is sexist and misogamist, for which an Uber exec threatened her, with more than a whiff of blackmail, for saying so. > > No Indian reporter or blogger said so, so it can’t be true. What are you? Eight years old? You’re the one who said: > [@Kenm](#): > > All beside the point. None of these rape stories include statements from a cab company executive threatening the reporter and the reporter’s family for writing the story. Goose/Gander ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-uber-alles/714105/82 "2015-03-04T16:50:11Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Is anyone saying you shouldn’t be allowed to regulate fares or safety practices for Uber? Uber is. They continuously assert that they’re not regulated by rules on taxis or livery cars or anything else for that matter, and their fares are generally well in excess of what legal taxis are allowed to charge. In Seattle, for example, the city has set a maximum fare of $2.60 per mile, and a flat rate of $40 from the airport to downtown. An Uber black ride from the airport to downtown is quoted by their website as _starting_ at $91, and rates for trips within town average about $5 per mile. ---
**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-uber-alles/714105/83 "2015-03-04T16:56:45Z")
Uber black cars are livery service/limos. You want to ban limos from Seattle? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-uber-alles/714105/84 "2015-03-04T17:02:41Z")
> [@Trom](#): > > Uber black cars are livery service/limos. You want to ban limos from Seattle? Something tells me that Uber black drivers aren’t licensed as chauffeurs, and I never heard of hailing a limo anyway. I used black as the example because Uber doesn’t offer regular service to or from the airport - a rare case of them actually _complying_ with local laws, which grant Yellow Cab the sole concession for taxi services originating at the airport. ---
**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-uber-alles/714105/85 "2015-03-04T17:22:44Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Something tells me that Uber black drivers aren’t licensed as chauffeurs, and I never heard of hailing a limo anyway. I used black as the example because Uber doesn’t offer regular service to or from the airport - a rare case of them actually _complying_ with local laws, which grant Yellow Cab the sole concession for taxi services originating at the airport. You’re wrong. Uber Black service calls licensed livery drivers. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-uber-alles/714105/86 "2015-03-04T17:31:16Z")
> [@Trom](#): > > You’re wrong. Uber Black service calls licensed livery drivers. Assuming that’s true, if the drivers and vehicles are properly licensed and insured, then I have absolutely no objection to Uber black. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-uber-alles/714105/87 "2015-03-04T17:44:38Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Like when Uber raised its rates by 800% during snow in NYC this winter? Well as the fare is quoted ahead of time you’d be free to take any number of the licensed cabs yes? > [@](#): > > And how about when they deliberately keep drivers off the road to create scarsity and jack up the price, like they did in NYC on Valentine’s Day? again, use another cab if you don’t like the price. I don’t see the outrage. If I want to travel via air during a busy time when demand is high…guess what? I pay more or I don’t go. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-uber-alles/714105/88 "2015-03-04T18:09:57Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Well as the fare is quoted ahead of time you’d be free to take any number of the licensed cabs yes? > > again, use another cab if you don’t like the price. > > I don’t see the outrage. If I want to travel via air during a busy time when demand is high…guess what? I pay more or I don’t go. If you want to travel by air, you can’t call an unregulated airline and fly on them because you don’t want to use one of the “normal” airlines. Uber is in the taxi/livery business, but they deny that and try and claim that they are something different. They try and run around or ignore regulations that apply to their business, claiming they don’t apply because they aren’t in the business of transporting people (Uber describes itself as a “technology company”). They are liars and crooks. [ > [@](#): > > Technology company Uber has arrived in Las Vegas and plans to launch its ridesharing service today, a move that could spark an all-out battle with local taxi companies intent on keeping the competitor out of the market. ]([Taxi in Las Vegas? Maybe not with Uber arriving - VEGAS INC](http://vegasinc.com/business/2014/oct/24/uber-arrives-las-vegas-today-battles-taxi-companie/)) [ > [@](#): > > The temporary shut down came after just a little over a month of service by Uber in the Silver State. The technology company opened its app for business in Nevada on October 24, > [@](#): > > Uber, which defines itself as a technology company, not a transportation company – and therefore outside the purview of transportation regulators – ]([http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/nov/28/uber-travel-nevada-becomes-first-state-shut-down-u/](http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/nov/28/uber-travel-nevada-becomes-first-state-shut-down-u/)) Let me know when they start Uberair; I’m sure they’ll try and claim they aren’t in the business of flying people from one place to another. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-uber-alles/714105/89 "2015-03-04T18:31:08Z")
> [@](#): > > Uber is in the taxi/livery business, but they deny that and try and claim that they are something different. They try and run around or ignore regulations that apply to their business, claiming they don’t apply because they aren’t in the business of transporting people (Uber describes itself as a “technology company”). They are liars and crooks. see, that’s the shady part. _Technically,_ they’re correct. Uber does not own cars, they do not employ drivers. Which is great for them, but it foists legal responsibility solely on the people who drive for them. So if you drive for Uber and get in a bind for improper license and/or insurance, [you’ve no guarantee you won’t get hung out to dry.](http://uberdriverdiaries.com/diaries/discussion/21/i-could-lose-my-license-thanks-to-uber) ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-uber-alles/714105/90 "2015-03-04T18:36:14Z")
[quote=“Princhester, post:71, topic:714105”] > [@](#): > > It could be true. There is a very very good chance it’s not. Evidently you didn’t read the story. He apologized — by phone, using her private cell-phone number. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-uber-alles/714105/91 "2015-03-04T18:53:03Z")
Wow, it appears that Uber likes to play hard ball. Ordering and cancelling some 5,560 rides in order to drive a competitor out of business??? Sounds like the public needs some regulatory protection from the Uber monster. \*Sabotage against competitors - Uber issued an apology on January 24, 2014, after documents were leaked to the Valleywag and TechCrunch publications saying that, earlier in the month, Uber employees in New York City deliberately ordered rides from Gett, a newly established competitor, only to cancel them later. The purpose of the fake orders was two-fold: wasting drivers’ time to obstruct legitimate customers from securing a car, and offered drivers incentives—including cash—to join Uber.[157] Uber apologized in a statement on its website.[158] In August 2014, Lyft, another ridesharing service, reported to CNN Money that 177 Uber employees had ordered and cancelled approximately 5,560 rides since October 2013, and that it had found links to Uber recruiters by cross-referencing the phone numbers involved. The CNN Money report identified one Lyft passenger who canceled 300 rides from May 26 to June 10, 2014, and who was identified as an Uber recruiter by seven different Lyft drivers. On this occasion, Uber did not issue an apology, but suggested in a statement on its website that the recruitment attempts were possibly independent parties trying to make money.[159][160] A Lyft spokesperson stated to CNN Money: “It’s unfortunate for affected community members that they have used these tactics, as it wastes a driver’s time and impacts the next passenger waiting for that driver\*.”[159] > **[Uber](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uber_(company))** > > Uber Technologies, Inc. (Uber), based in San Francisco, provides mobility as a service/ride-hailing (48% of revenues), food delivery/package delivery/couriers via Uber Eats and Postmates (34% of revenues), and freight transport (18% of revenues). Uber sets fares, which vary using a dynamic pricing model based on local supply and demand at the time of the booking and are quoted to the customer in advance, and receives a commission from each booking. It has operations in approximately Like ot... ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-uber-alles/714105/92 "2015-03-04T18:54:51Z")
Of course Uber is saying they don’t want to be subject to rules and regulations, what business does? The question is whether or not local governments are going to work WITH Uber type services to protect consumers, or whether they’re simply going to use existing taxi laws that don’t quite apply to Uber to try and shore up the existing taxi monopoly. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-uber-alles/714105/93 "2015-03-04T19:14:43Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Of course Uber is saying they don’t want to be subject to rules and regulations, what business does? The question is whether or not local governments are going to work WITH Uber type services to protect consumers, or whether they’re simply going to use existing taxi laws that don’t quite apply to Uber to try and shore up the existing taxi monopoly. Bingo. Uber proves that current services are not serving their market to capacity. Regulations protect the existing businesses, preventing competition. This leads to taxi companies sitting on their asses and not serving their customer base to the best of their ability. If taxi companies provided for their markets, there would be no need for Uber. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-uber-alles/714105/94 "2015-03-04T19:39:51Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Of course Uber is saying they don’t want to be subject to rules and regulations, what business does? The question is whether or not local governments are going to work WITH Uber type services to protect consumers, or whether they’re simply going to use existing taxi laws that don’t quite apply to Uber to try and shore up the existing taxi monopoly. > [@D\_Odds](#): > > Bingo. Uber proves that current services are not serving their market to capacity. Regulations protect the existing businesses, preventing competition. This leads to taxi companies sitting on their asses and not serving their customer base to the best of their ability. If taxi companies provided for their markets, there would be no need for Uber. Whoa! That’s a load of bullshit there! Did y’all strain your backs carrying it? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-uber-alles/714105/95 "2015-03-04T19:44:48Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Of course Uber is saying they don’t want to be subject to rules and regulations, what business does? The question is whether or not local governments are going to work WITH Uber type services to protect consumers, or whether they’re simply going to use existing taxi laws that don’t quite apply to Uber to try and shore up the existing taxi monopoly. > [@D\_Odds](#): > > Bingo. Uber proves that current services are not serving their market to capacity. Regulations protect the existing businesses, preventing competition. This leads to taxi companies sitting on their asses and not serving their customer base to the best of their ability. If taxi companies provided for their markets, there would be no need for Uber. I refer you again to what I said above. Uber is _not_ some doe-eyed David staring down the Goliath that is Big Taxi. Uber _is_ the bully trying to buy laws that favor it over the competition. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-uber-alles/714105/96 "2015-03-04T19:50:34Z")
**Bo** , I’ really surprised at your objections. If I recall correctly, you didn’t seem to have a problem with Aereo when the were in business. And Aereo pretty much works on the same principle Uber does. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-uber-alles/714105/97 "2015-03-04T20:03:14Z")
Uber is a new model for providing taxi service. You can either admit that the new model works, and work with it, or pretend that Uber type services are just a bunch of criminals, and double down with the old model. The old model of taxi service is dead, don’t kid yourself into thinking that it can somehow survive if you can keep these Uber-criminals out of the business. Create laws that manage taxi dispatch services, keep a lid on the fares, ensure the drivers they work with are documented as having a minimum level of insurance, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-uber-alles/714105/98 "2015-03-04T20:10:46Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Uber is a new model for providing taxi service. You can either admit that the new model works, and work with it, or pretend that Uber type services are just a bunch of criminals, and double down with the old model. > > The old model of taxi service is dead, don’t kid yourself into thinking that it can somehow survive if you can keep these Uber-criminals out of the business. > > Create laws that manage taxi dispatch services, keep a lid on the fares, ensure the drivers they work with are documented as having a minimum level of insurance, etc. And clean the damn cars. And for the love of God,mdont let cab drivers talk on the phone the entire ride. Uber is like a nice limo ride in a clean,Mequet and comfortable car. I feel like I need a shower after a cab ride. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-uber-alles/714105/99 "2015-03-04T20:12:34Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > The old model of taxi service is dead What do you think “the old model of taxi service” _is_? Keep in mind, you can hail legal taxis with apps too. ---
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-uber-alles/714105/100 "2015-03-04T20:17:14Z")
I’m fucking tired of disgusting, filthy, broken taxis. I’m tired of getting into a taxi and finding out the seatbelt – **THE SEATBELT** – is broken and unlatchable. I’m tired of the driver illegally talking on his cell phone the whole ride. I’m tired of the reckless driving. I’m fucking tired of it. Now that I know about Uber and that they’re even in my own city, I don’t goddamn care if they’re legal or not but I’m going to use them over taxis from now on until taxis either die or suck on it. Fuck taxis. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-uber-alles/714105.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uber-uber-alles/714105.md?page=6)