New State Law Regulating Ride Sharing Moving Through Legislature clearing Lyft+Uber Return to Cities

Big gubbermint always tellin us whut to do.

 

I am guessing this means Galveston will get Uber back? Hopefully this passes! I don't want to drink and drive when I am there so we take it easy or pay $15 for a cab to take us 1 mile.

 

Just trying to keep up here, so ppl are against background checks?

 

I think uniformity across the state is a good thing. However, I didn't see any mention of my main concern, which is the inequity with cab services. I assume they've done nothing to address the inequity, so I don't think I can be in favor.

 

What's wrong with that? Teachers, cops and bank managers gotta do it, why not the stranger driving you around that in some cases knows your home address.

 

Question: Would this literally destroy cab companies? Does this favor Uber over Taxis?

It seems like this is basically. . . .taking the job of protecting the public and verifying identity and standards. . . .
out of state hands and into corporate hands
With the idea that Corporate hands will do a better job and won't screw over the public
whic . .. make me uncomfortable because for the $$$ . . they will definitely screw us

Rocket River

 

Do they not have finger prints?

 

when ridesharing companies switch over to driver-less cars this will all be a moot point. for now though, its pretty obvious that many of our politicans are bought and paid for by rideshare lobbyists. and for many i think they are in favor simply b/c liberal austin is against.

republicans sure love local control, right?

 

They better not have fingerprints if they want to get away with murdering 15-year-old girl passengers, as I'm told all Uber drivers aspire to do.

 

Yes, I think it'll literally destroy cab companies. I don't think this is really about public safety at all. Cabs are basically safe, and Ubers are basically safe. But, we made cabs safe with some antiquated heavy-handed regulation and we made Ubers safe with market forces, transparency, and digitization. The cab approach was an exchange -- we get to regulate you, but in exchange we'll erect barriers around your jobs and prop up your prices so you can get a decent return. Uber knocks those barriers down. So, politicians who give Uber a hard time on background checks aren't doing it for safety, they do it to honor the deal with cabbies by trying to lock Uber out. It's like a union fight. Uber is the union buster. In the long run, I think it should happen. Cabs need to modernize. But, I think this transition is seedy. When the market landscape changes and puts a corporation out of business -- like the way the internet is bankrupting department stores -- that's just the way the cookie crumbles. It's sad though when it puts little proprietorships out of business, especially ones that invested on the assurance of government that they'd be protected.

 

The idea that Uber and Lyft can't operate in a regulated environment is silly. Rideshare Austin, Fasten, and all the other random replacements that work just fine for most people in Austin suggest otherwise.

Agree with those that say this has nothing to do with safety or what's best for anyone - Uber/Lyft just successfully lobbied for their view of the world. As long as cabs and rideshares are on a fairly level playing field, I don't see why cities shouldn't have freedom to set up their own low or high regulation environments based on what their people want.

 

As a consumer, it doesn't matter to me personally. I'm going to use Uber regardless. And if I were to get into a cab I'm not going to feel any safer than I would in the Uber. Ultimately I don't care, just drive me somewhere as hassle-free as possible. If you're worried about it then don't use it.

 

Yeah...me, too. There's a definitive value to me, especially being in The Woodlands, to having Uber. Much much cheaper to take to go into the city for events where I plan to drink. It would be nice for them to have competition in Lyft. I used Uber often when I lived in Austin and it sucked when they got rid of it. I understand the call for the background checks but no one is forcing you to use these services if you don't feel comfortable with it.

 

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