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Recursion

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101. Are they "intensely regulated" or "a corrupt politically powerful cartel"?

Mon May 11, 2015, 04:16 AM

May 2015

It varies by city; I don't know about Philly. In DC the cab medallion owners are one of the most powerful political forces in city politics (or were until a couple of years ago) and fought tooth and nail against any increase of the medallion fleet size (which was set in like 1938 or something like that). It's not as bad as NYC, but medallions were still absurdly expensive and under-available, with the result that Virginia cabbies would pay people to ride into the district so they could pick up a fare on the way back (and don't even get me started on the "zone" scam; thank God they finally got meters).

Uber and Lyft have a market because the medallion owners used political influence to entrench themselves and then use the cab drivers they exploit as rhetorical shields. The big problem with that: cab drivers are fleeing medallion fleets to livery services like Uber because they make more money with Uber.

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Philadelphia journalist went undercover as an Uber driver � here's how much she made [View all] FreakinDJ May 2015 OP

I am disgusted by people who use Uber and the like. Luminous Animal May 2015 #1

Why? Is that a fair reaction? Agschmid May 2015 #4

Its like "Shopping at Walmart" - your Screwing ALL Working Class Americans FreakinDJ May 2015 #6

So these people shouldn't be able to get to work on time? Agschmid May 2015 #11

If they instead made $1 per hour Trajan May 2015 #15

People couldn't get to their jobs on time bvf May 2015 #16

In cities without adequate mass transit, no nxylas May 2015 #29

Maybe cities should focus more bvf May 2015 #36

You'll get no argument from me there nxylas May 2015 #45

Yes they should. Agschmid May 2015 #46

There shouldn't be any need for Uber. bvf May 2015 #47

That's just rediculous. Agschmid May 2015 #48

OK. Sure. Uh huh. bvf May 2015 #49

What decade were you born in? Agschmid May 2015 #50

Late 50s. Cleveland. bvf May 2015 #51

It answers my question. Agschmid May 2015 #52

Again, what the hell? bvf May 2015 #53

At the expense for those who work for them. Luminous Animal May 2015 #67

My mother and I don't have a car lunamagica May 2015 #18

I'm with you. AtomicKitten May 2015 #22

Tell her to ask the cabbie if they have a business card. JVS May 2015 #27

I drive for Uber, and so does my husband... CoffeeCat May 2015 #77

This happened all the time when I lived in S.F. and the bus was never on time mackerel May 2015 #78

How so? RedCappedBandit May 2015 #42

I am a working-class American... CoffeeCat May 2015 #76

Wish you could see what Capitalism looks like in other countries FreakinDJ May 2015 #88

Using your logic... CoffeeCat May 2015 #89

Because Corp America is Screwing us - you in turn screw some thing else FreakinDJ May 2015 #90

A popular myth, but false, at least in South Asia Recursion May 2015 #100

obviously you have Never been to the Philippines FreakinDJ May 2015 #106

I live in Mumbai, which is poorer Recursion May 2015 #107

So you don't live in America FreakinDJ May 2015 #110

I'm an American overseas on orders Recursion May 2015 #111

Why? underpants May 2015 #5

Shifting risk to labor, few or no labor protections, predatory pricing, Luminous Animal May 2015 #43

Understood underpants May 2015 #75

Most of what you have written NOT AT ALL what I have experienced as an an Uber driver... CoffeeCat May 2015 #79

Thanks for that post Egnever May 2015 #80

Curious of what you think of this OP by me... stevenleser May 2015 #94

Use it...love it. trumad May 2015 #14

I won't use Uber Skittles May 2015 #117

There is no free ride wyldwolf May 2015 #2

People who tout those companies are chumps. Starry Messenger May 2015 #3

Why does the article show a pic of Birdcage Walk in London? malthaussen May 2015 #7

good catch Liberal_in_LA May 2015 #10

Right? truebrit71 May 2015 #13

How One Woman Could Destroy Uber�s Business Model Fla Dem May 2015 #8

So her actual pay of 9.34 an hour does not even count her taxes as a contractor.? dixiegrrrrl May 2015 #12

Yep, she has to pay about 15.3% in self employment taxes AZ Progressive May 2015 #65

You'd also need a commercial insurance policy Major Nikon May 2015 #69

From what I understand 1939 May 2015 #87

Good article- I'm glad to know there are people like this out there. NBachers May 2015 #23

I've only done Uber when other people ordered it for us. onehandle May 2015 #9

It is when you make a cash deal with your local drivers who use the app to make a living. Sunlei May 2015 #20

Eventually, we're going to see this... Spitfire of ATJ May 2015 #17

Change that figure to a screen with "Robert" or "Cynthia" from South Asia. NBachers May 2015 #24

Ah yes,...the six year old urchins that have been on the posters for twenty years. Spitfire of ATJ May 2015 #31

Uber takes a 28% cut? to allow car drivers to use their fare finder app? nice gig for Uber. Sunlei May 2015 #19

Here's a tip: TIP. mainer May 2015 #21

My husband worked for 16 hours last weekend... CoffeeCat May 2015 #81

That 28% cut is pretty big and I'd be very surprised if drivers don't find work-arounds. JVS May 2015 #25

Uber takes 20 percent... CoffeeCat May 2015 #82

The Goober Taxi Playinghardball May 2015 #26

LOL. Cute story. nt okaawhatever May 2015 #34

I am an Uber driver uwep May 2015 #28

Good for you! classof56 May 2015 #40

Travis Kalanick, the founder of Uber, is a billionaire. guillaumeb May 2015 #30

The $9.37 was after the Uber fees and vehicle fees were taken out, but before taxes. nt okaawhatever May 2015 #35

thanks. I updated. guillaumeb May 2015 #37

If you are trying to be fair, you compare apples to apples. Ms. Toad May 2015 #96

Actually a subcontractor is considered an independent businessperson. guillaumeb May 2015 #97

You completely missed the point. Neither does an employee. Ms. Toad May 2015 #99

My original Post was about Uber being a poor substitute for a real job. guillaumeb May 2015 #109

My concern (which you are still completely ignoring) Ms. Toad May 2015 #113

My concern pre-dated your concern. guillaumeb May 2015 #115

I responded to a specific statement you made. Ms. Toad May 2015 #116

Is my statement more or less accurate than the Uber propaganda about guillaumeb May 2015 #118

Uber, so far as I know, is not posting on this board trying to convince people of those claims. Ms. Toad May 2015 #122

Uber has no need to post on DU. guillaumeb May 2015 #125

Here is a link to the article from the journalist herself from a local Philly paper BumRushDaShow May 2015 #32

Are they "intensely regulated" or "a corrupt politically powerful cartel"? Recursion May 2015 #101

Here in PA the type of practice that you describe BumRushDaShow May 2015 #102

The liquor license issue sounds like Boston Recursion May 2015 #103

It's worse here BumRushDaShow May 2015 #104

I've been using Uber a lot and I always ask my drivers how they like it and if the pay is good. stevenleser May 2015 #33

read post number 30 and tell me what you think. guillaumeb May 2015 #38

Don't expect a cogent response, bvf May 2015 #54

As opposed to your response when you have zero first hand connection or knowledge at all? stevenleser May 2015 #57

Thank you for making my point. bvf May 2015 #59

It's sad that you actually think that. Nt stevenleser May 2015 #73

Cheer up, will you? bvf May 2015 #85

I don't get the sense these folks were giving me the party line but... stevenleser May 2015 #56

My point is that the "economy of the future" guillaumeb May 2015 #62

i don't think railing at Uber makes your point. Nt stevenleser May 2015 #74

What's wrong with you? bvf May 2015 #64

You really seem to get upset when facts and reality contradict you stevenleser May 2015 #72

"Scream"? bvf May 2015 #86

I love driving for Uber and so does my husband... CoffeeCat May 2015 #84

Yes, you can count on tipped workers to tell you "all my customers are assholes". (nt) jeff47 May 2015 #60

You don't tip Uber drivers. Obviously you've never used the service why are you arguing with stevenleser May 2015 #91

Yeah, that's why there's multiple posts in this thread about tipping uber drivers. jeff47 May 2015 #119

And if they so 'no' they are at risk for being downrated and losing their job. Luminous Animal May 2015 #68

Get off your high horse. It doesn't suit you. There is an actual Uber driver trying to talk to you stevenleser May 2015 #95

The L.A. Uber PasadenaTrudy May 2015 #39

There's a class action lawsuit against �ber for Ilsa May 2015 #41

Systematically destroying a car, which is basically what you do driving from A to B, and expecting Lars39 May 2015 #121

so what % of uberistas tell their personal auto insurance company they are driving for money? msongs May 2015 #44

^this^ mike_c May 2015 #58

Love Uber Snow Leopard May 2015 #55

And living in NYC on 9.17/hr minus taxes Doctor_J May 2015 #61

no Snow Leopard May 2015 #120

this old geezer would rather walk olddots May 2015 #63

I'm an Uber driver. I think it's great. Prism May 2015 #66

Great post.nt LittleBlue May 2015 #70

What kind of insurance do you have? MattBaggins May 2015 #83

Comprehensive plus Uber's n/t Prism May 2015 #98

I think a lot of people don't understand this is a part-time gig MosheFeingold May 2015 #108

Uber plays up that $90,000 figure. It's disingenuous of them. randome May 2015 #124

one of my sons is an uber driver too shanti May 2015 #114

Care to tell us how much a Philadelphia Taxi Driver makes? brooklynite May 2015 #71

And it turns out that's the rub. It looks like you make more at Uber than at least... stevenleser May 2015 #93

Followup here stevenleser May 2015 #92

I got side swiped by a... meaculpa2011 May 2015 #105

Eke out a living KamaAina May 2015 #112

Reminds me of some other very exciting opportunities! randome May 2015 #123