Cambridge trying to stop Uber! Meeting at 6pm tonight.

[billharnois.livejournal.com]

http://blog.uber.com/ubercambridge

Comments

[trysha.livejournal.com]

Basically the new rules say tat there are monetary restrictions on non-taxi rides.

You cannot use any electronic device determine the fare unless that device has been licensed by cambridge. Meters yes, phones no.

Basically: technology has beat taxi drivers in quality. Taxi companies do not want to change so they want to have it banned.

[achinhibitor.livejournal.com]

Taxi companies do not want to change so they want to have it banned.

As incumbents always do.

But it's also possible that Cambridge has a taxi medallion system, and Uber is essentially destroying the vast amount of money invested in medallions. Certainly Boston has that problem; a large chunk of a taxi fare goes to renting the medallion that allows the taxi to operate.

[ifotismeni]

what utter bullshit. cambridge, city of innovation, should be completely ashamed of trying to pull something like this.

[tikva.livejournal.com]

The only legit argument I can see for restricting Uber in Cambridge is that Cambridge taxi drivers are required to take training on relevant laws, civil rights, rules, etc. and pass a written exam before driving a Cambridge cab. (I know this because I help teach part of it. It's an interesting program). Uber drivers aren't, and they probably should be - and not just in Cambridge.

Cab service in Cambridge is just WEIRD. There are no actual taxi companies. The "companies" are just radio subscription services. The only real authority is the Licensing Commission, and it's all wicked political. There is one Cambridge police officer (used to be two) devoted to working with taxis and the Licensing Commission, and I wouldn't want to have to do his balancing act. Yes, this is the same Commission that also handles liquor licenses and such.

I'll be interested to see how this plays out. I take Uber a lot now that I live in Medford, where the taxis are crap, but I'd take it less if I lived in Cambridge still, partly because I've trained half the drivers and partly because of the Cambridge Taxi Discount Coupon program, which does NOT work with Uber.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

Not that I am in favor of banning Uber, but I also understand in general where Uber operates that there are concerns about liability as well.

[achinhibitor.livejournal.com]

There are no actual taxi companies.

There used to be taxi companies, but they got unionized. Then the company owners realized that they could reorganize as a service for independent taxi operators: they rent the radio dispatch, the cab itself, and the medallion. Then the drivers can't unionize.

[ron_newman]

Here's a liveblog of the Cambridge hearing

[rose_garden.livejournal.com]

Thanks!