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[–] Yollasho ago  (edited ago)

“The only way we can get the state to realize that we’re a dying business is if everybody gets behind you. Boston shuts down, Somerville shuts down — now you’re getting attention.”

So even the taxi drivers know their real fate...

“...we’re a dying business..."

Since uberX Launched, the Price of a Boston Taxi Medallion Has Only Gone Up-June2014 Article

Taxi medallion costs $700,000 (Seven Hundred Thousand....WTF)

For $700k I'd expect someone to become a surgeon of the absolute highest degree and make bank for their foreseeable future no problem. Not get the right to operate a taxi. Oh wait, becoming a surgeon doesn't even cost that much...damn. Even in residency surgeons make $50k+ so they can pay back their $200k in debt.

One guy owns 21% of the medallions in Boston.

To make it worse, most of the taxi drivers are paying the owners of the medallions to actually drive a cab...

They pay someone else...to drive a taxi...

Seems to me they're failing to see the outdated corruption within their own industry and should be trying to dismantle the whole taxi business themselves.

Guess since so many of them got scammed, they can't come out and admit it.

This article shows how fucked the taxi industry is in general

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[–] basaltine ago 

As a retired restaurant owner, I know what it's like when others open new places around you...taking business that you think belongs to you. But this should just make you a better business man....work smarter....clean your place up....make better food...have better customer experience... better prices...more value. this is the way to keep your business, not screwing with the same people who you are trying to keep as customers. good luck to them, but they are going about this all wrong in my opinion

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[–] Noblegnarble ago 

Taxi drivers have been fighting Uber all over for a while now (some also drive for Uber on the side). Some fight city hall, cut off Uber drivers, and let passengers know how bad it's been for business, but I've yet to see them collectively appeal to passengers based on merit. Passengers are telling you with their wallet that Uber creates a better experience: address that.

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[–] lostmydisk ago 

Given the cost of a medallion are the independent cab owners just SOL? Seems like an incredible uphill battle to both cover higher insurance costs and make repayments toward buying their medallion. I don't see how cabs exist in the future without some large sweeping government ruling that cripples uber, lyft, and others like them.

[–] [deleted] ago 

[Deleted]

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[–] CryHavoc ago  (edited ago)

Even of I accept everything above as gospel you know what would be great? Let the market decide if Uber and Lyft would survive.

If enough employees feel treated like crap the neither company will have enough drivers and they will fail. And if too many customers are uncomfortable with the lack of a medallion, or background checks, or driver training then they will not have enough business and they will fail.

But I much prefer if they fail either of those ways as opposed to a bunch of people who had a buggy whip monopoly and are pissed because someone figured out a way to compete with them.

And I also love the instinctive response of most who are sympathetic to the taxi drivers.

"This isn't fair, we need to put more regulations on them."

I always wonder why they never say "this isn't fair, let's remove some of the regulations from taxis."

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[–] pepepepepe ago 

If you receive full-time employment benefits then you are entitled to work full-time. At that point you might as well be a traditional cab driver. You are expected to be there day in and day out. If you want to stop working for them you are expected to put in notice and allow them time to hire someone else.

Services like Uber automate the ability of two people to form a private transaction. It's different from punching a clock. Someone could work 80 hours one week and 5 the next. They're not expected or entitled to work, they enter and exit a market at will. Are you going to give them benefits during weeks they work full time and then revoke them weeks they don't? It just wouldn't make sense. Contracting is a trade-off. Some people are comfortable with punching a clock and like the benefits that come with it, others want flexibility and are fine having to bankroll their own supplies.

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[–] obi-1 ago 

You got me with that title, you silly billy!

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[–] klongtoey 0 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago 

Uber couldn't buy better PR if they tried.

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[–] ialreadyhaveaccount 0 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago 

Screw you and your shitty service! Go ahead and boycott you miserable fucks!

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