tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post3139630721535331681..comments2023-12-20T04:18:41.617-06:00Comments on The Hunting of the Snark: Innovation And RegulationSusan of Texashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00076915322771385454noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-64155497452063233852012-04-16T09:07:20.875-05:002012-04-16T09:07:20.875-05:00Considering how often she's complained about D...Considering how often she's complained about DC's cab licensing issues in the past (and how to get car in DC with a broken mirror), I wouldn't be surprised if they have her picture in the do not drive list. <br /><br />Tall, female white economist? Nope. No cab for you. <br />PROFILED. <br /><br />Seriously though, this whole thing is loony and they should just rename her blog White People Problems.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-56958091294050061152012-04-16T09:07:20.569-05:002012-04-16T09:07:20.569-05:00Considering how often she's complained about D...Considering how often she's complained about DC's cab licensing issues in the past (and how to get car in DC with a broken mirror), I wouldn't be surprised if they have her picture in the do not drive list. <br /><br />Tall, female white economist? Nope. No cab for you. <br />PROFILED. <br /><br />Seriously though, this whole thing is loony and they should just rename her blog White People Problems.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-16659359829753926102012-04-16T00:31:22.959-05:002012-04-16T00:31:22.959-05:00I notice Paris is on the list of cities where Uber...I notice Paris is on the list of cities where Uber operates. When I lived there (and I'm told the situation hasn't changed since then) trying to call for a taxi resembled what Lurking Canadian describes. You'd call, spend five, ten or even fifteen minutes on hold, and then be told there weren't any cabs available.blivetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-4354811922986660372012-04-15T21:41:05.967-05:002012-04-15T21:41:05.967-05:00I was briefly in the San Francisco area some years...I was briefly in the San Francisco area some years ago for a wedding. I can see a service like Uber being very useful there because...well, because there simply are not enough taxis to go around.<br /><br />It is the first, and only, experience I have had with calling a cab and getting the answer "No." As in, "No, I don't have anybody in your area right now, so too bad for you." SF area taxi companies would actually give me their competitors' phone numbers, in hopes that maybe, some cab company, somewhere in Northern California, could help.<br /><br />In a city like DC, though...yeah, not so much a problem.Lurking Canadiannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-26955963485192313912012-04-15T15:19:51.281-05:002012-04-15T15:19:51.281-05:00She went from saying that it's difficult to ha...She went from saying that it's difficult to hail a cab to saying that it's difficult to call a cab. Why in the world is it difficult to call a cab?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-21584360231209667212012-04-15T11:14:04.345-05:002012-04-15T11:14:04.345-05:00Uber sounds to me like a black-car car service wit...Uber sounds to me like a black-car car service with a social media interface. I lived in Brooklyn for years, and yellow cabs didn't like to go out there because they couldn't be assured of a fare back to Manhattan. I seriously had a cabbie fake a breakdown in the middle of Houston Street because he didn't want to take me to Brooklyn -- the cabbie who picked me up after that guy dumped me out had witnessed the whole thing and was pretty pissed off at the other driver. I find it amusing that McMegan thinks this only happens in DC -- but then, she grew up in Manhattan, and you can always get a cab to take you within Manhattan. <br /><br />As much as it sucks to have a cab blow past you or drive away when you tell them you're going to Brooklyn (one of the tricks is to get into the cab before you tell them your destination, but on rainy nights, the drivers will lock the doors and won't let you in until you tell them where you're going), it's not like you can't get a ride. There are all kinds of car services, all licensed by the Taxi & Limousine Commission. And now they can pick up people from the street.<br /><br />Sounds to me like Uber is quite clearly a car service, but one that's made a clear pitch to yuppies who think that anything they can do on their smartphones makes them much more special than the plebes. What a surprise, then, that DC's Taxi Commission has decided they need to be regulated like any other car/taxi/limo service -- and what a surprise that the libertarians are bitching that they're special and don't deserve to be regulated.zuzunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-58726705154617058422012-04-15T08:09:57.961-05:002012-04-15T08:09:57.961-05:00I couldn't figure this out either--if it takes...I couldn't figure this out either--if it takes up to 15 minutes for Uber, why not call a regular cab? We don't use cabs here very often but the very few times I did, I just phoned for one and they came within 10 minutes.<br /><br /><br />"McMegan1 day agoin reply to rick jones<br />Usually, when I'm trying to get a cab, it's because I'm running late & the train is a ten minute walk plus one transfer from whereever I want to go.<br /><br />At night, there's a different problem--there are some sort of tricky spots on the walk between me and the train, and I'm a little reluctant to make it. Probably it will get safer as more people move into the area."<br /><br />There are a lot of people there already. Maybe she's talking about a different kind of people?<br /><br /><br />"McMegan1 day agoin reply to Susanna Yusufova<br />Well, in DC it's very difficult to call a cab."<br /><br />Dc has more cabs than any other US city.<br /><br />I'm going with snob factor.Susan of Texashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00076915322771385454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-82503834059833393932012-04-15T07:24:43.882-05:002012-04-15T07:24:43.882-05:00I commuted for years on the LIRR and Metro-North a...I commuted for years on the LIRR and Metro-North and I *always* saw cabs waiting in line at the train station as I got off. I drove my car to the station but I did not see one person stuck at the station without transportation.<br /><br />The only time I used a car service to get from the City to home was when I worked late and *our firm could bill it to the client*.<br /><br /><b>That</b> is the market Uber is after: the guys who don't give a damn what it costs because someone else is paying. I am willing to take bets that Mcmegan does not pay out of her own pocket for those 6 AM airport trips or those late nite rides back from the bar. It is all research, dontcha know.cynichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02438583188725326668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-7501331826860156062012-04-15T02:37:22.286-05:002012-04-15T02:37:22.286-05:00It's actually called "Uber"? Holy c...It's actually called "Uber"? Holy crap.<br /><br />And as others have noted, she could just <i>call a cab</i>. With a little planning, it's easy.<br /><br />Furthermore, if she lives close to the subway as she suggests, that will get her to most places, including Adams Morgan. Unless she's coming home <i>really</i> late, that will also get her home, but hailing a cab in Adams Morgan is pretty easy (and even easier with a phone). Add in the bus system, and she can get many more places, but might have to associate with a poorer sort. (Of course, they might confide in her a libertarian-affirming anecdote.)Batocchiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02193752396025012825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-83811984067648945172012-04-14T16:11:41.398-05:002012-04-14T16:11:41.398-05:00Well, this is McArdle after all. She managed to tu...Well, this is McArdle after all. She managed to turn getting a drivers license into a 4-part fail parade.<br /><br />http://agonyin8fits.blogspot.com/2011/08/laws-are-for-little-people.htmlDownpuppyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10312490198813632190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-36881963092147175902012-04-14T16:03:10.244-05:002012-04-14T16:03:10.244-05:00"I wanted to see what would happen if I appli..."I wanted to see what would happen if I applied for a license to drive a limousine in the District of Columbia."<br /><br />Providing you work for an existing taxi or limousine service, you can still get a license to drive for them. The moratorium isn't on new drivers, it's on new companies.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-41749581462809030282012-04-14T12:33:29.443-05:002012-04-14T12:33:29.443-05:00But is it a luxury car? Has Goldman, Sachs investe...But is it a luxury car? Has Goldman, Sachs invested in that cab? Why should people take cheap taxis when they can afford better? In fact, they need that reliable, convenient service to do their important jobs well. And surely drivers that respond to such important clients on technologiclally advanced iPhone apps will be safe, polite and, well, less exotic than your typical taxi driver.<br /><br />It's the free market at work, as long as that meddling government gets out of the way.Susan of Texashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00076915322771385454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-57126148814618054112012-04-14T12:21:24.599-05:002012-04-14T12:21:24.599-05:00I stopped reading when she complained about how to...I stopped reading when she complained about how tough it is to get a ride to the airport at 6 am. <br /><br />Is there anything she can't fuck up spectacularly? Seriously--anywhere near a airport, in my experience, will have vehicular services. You call the night before, they give you a ride to the airport the next morning. <br /><br />Modulo MyselfAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-87777013057678929982012-04-14T11:24:39.693-05:002012-04-14T11:24:39.693-05:00So it has come to this. The preppies are revolting...So it has come to this. The preppies are revolting. <br /><br />In every way.runstnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-22250018124405030292012-04-14T00:25:26.995-05:002012-04-14T00:25:26.995-05:00Has anyone inquired as to whether Uber is providin...Has anyone inquired as to whether Uber is providing some sort of special service, either in availability or price, to Ms. McArdle or the management of The Atlantic. Would be wise to get Uber on the record with a denial - especially if said denial later proved to be false.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-59011092793853176602012-04-13T23:07:56.265-05:002012-04-13T23:07:56.265-05:00If she can order an uber-car, why can't she ju...If she can order an uber-car, why can't she just call for a taxi?<br /><br />I am currently in Toronto and they have a single number for all the taxi services.<br /><br />It's almost like there's another, underlying reason. Whatever could that be?zombie rotten mcdonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10601960953323752278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-59084720298658868852012-04-13T21:25:27.755-05:002012-04-13T21:25:27.755-05:00I simply love the train of thought that leads to &...I simply love the train of thought that leads to "There is always a cab available, because they just jack up the price until supply matches demand".<br /><br />Translated from Randian double speak, this means "There is always a car available FOR ME because I can bid the price out of reach of the rest of the plebes, who can bloody well walk in the rain for all I care." First come, first served is so UNFAIR, after all. We should allocate resources based on who can pay the most, like it says in the Bible.Lurking Canadiannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-78172283944064769282012-04-13T16:06:48.054-05:002012-04-13T16:06:48.054-05:00Oh, and Megan, the reason its hard to get taxis wh...Oh, and Megan, the reason its hard to get taxis when the weather is bad, or on a Holiday Evening is because they are <i>being used</i> for those reasons.Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03176801494652946278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-73692632447523631292012-04-13T16:04:44.624-05:002012-04-13T16:04:44.624-05:00Megan likes using these "clean" limos be...Megan likes using these "clean" limos because they make her feel special, <i>Rich</i>. She can sneer out the window at hoi polloi, knowing those <i>Poor</i> people (or just <i>Not Rich like Her</i>) can't see her thru the tinted windows. Knowing they're all wondering and marveling at the sight of a limousine and wishing <i>they</i> were riding in one.<br /><br />Next thing our Loony Libertarian will be complaining about traffic laws and stoplights! Everyone should be able to drive as fast or slow as they want, and keep going without some government-funded red light making them <i>stop and wait in line</i>! And why must she or her Limo Driver use the right side of the road? why can't they drive on the sidewalk?Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03176801494652946278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-31998567364033359572012-04-13T16:03:56.590-05:002012-04-13T16:03:56.590-05:00"Dynamic pricing", huh? Not exactly the ..."Dynamic pricing", huh? Not exactly the word I'd use. I wonder when the people who were gouged on New Year's found out. Do the users get a receipt right away? If not, this would make for a hell of a surprise down the line. <br /><br />Reminds me a little of my stint in the People's Republic. Go to any hotel in one of China's major cities, and you'll see multilingual warnings about common scams posted in common areas and/or rooms. One of the more common ones is the "car service" which seems very convenient and comfortable but ultimately cost many times more than a legit cab service. It's effective mainly because most tourists don't know how much transportation actually costs.<br /><br />I guess the difference between a scam and "innovation" depends on your perspective.D Johnstonhttp://kingdomofsharks.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-62550705608339035382012-04-13T15:29:46.022-05:002012-04-13T15:29:46.022-05:00We had all these taxi cabs and we did nothing with...We had all these taxi cabs and we did nothing with them!Susan of Texashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00076915322771385454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-33655893602242774292012-04-13T15:21:59.099-05:002012-04-13T15:21:59.099-05:00Unbelievable. The whole point of fare standardizat...Unbelievable. The whole point of fare standardization for cabs is so that they don't gouge riders during periods of high demand or going to/from "dangerous" neighborhoods. There are many Taxi apps for smartphones if it is just a matter of getting an available cab to pick you up. I often use one and it works great, I have never waited more than 5-10 min. <br />I also want to hear Megan screech to high heaven the first time she gets a cab fee of $200 for a 5min ride. <br />Finally it seems quite a coincidence that Megan heard about Uber from a "friend" then went to a company event. One might begin to believe that perhaps that friend is that same black person riding a bus.fishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01522672049371678717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-34636891839235161682012-04-13T14:28:34.845-05:002012-04-13T14:28:34.845-05:00It doesn't have that Ayn Rand connotation.It doesn't have that Ayn Rand connotation.Susan of Texashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00076915322771385454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2222630007427380394.post-7250214610955463582012-04-13T14:15:46.940-05:002012-04-13T14:15:46.940-05:00"Über"?? Why not just "Nazi"?"Über"?? Why not just "Nazi"?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com