[intopieces]

Pardon my ignorance, but is there something in the cabbie's contract that restricts her from also being a driver for Uber/Lyft? I assume so; in Japan, this is not the case, because every time I hailed an Uber, at traditional cab driver appeared.

[JoshTriplett]

> in Japan, this is not the case, because every time I hailed an Uber, at traditional cab driver appeared.

Uber actually has partnerships with some local taxi companies to do exactly that, in cities that treat it as less of a war between the two.

[dajohnson89]

In DC, you can order a metered taxi via the Uber app.

[gregoryrueda]

Same in Chicago. If the metered taxi takes an inefficient route, Uber legally can not do a fare ajustment. It's nearly impossible to complain to the City of Chicago if it happens, so you end up having to pay whatever the meter displays.

[brianwawok]

Chicago has medallions. You as a driver are paying $x per hour to borrow one. Lets call it $5.

Would you take a Taxi fare for $20 (- $5 medallion rental = $15 profit), or an Uber fare for $15 (- $5 medallion rental you still owe = $10 profit)...

Even if it were legal or within the contract to do so (it may be, I have no idea), it would be a losing prop for a taxi driver to take an uber fare.

[aub3bhat]

Err NYC also has medallions but Uber drivers don't need one. Why would chicago uber drivers need to get one?

[temp246810]

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and explain.

Usually, what Taxi's can do that uber can't is pick up riders who are hailing a cab.

That means if I'm walking down the street and see a cab, I can waive it down and it will take me to my destination.

I cannot do this with uber - the only way to get an uber car is through the app.

This is a subtle distinction but it matters and doesn't begin to get into the arrangements cabs have with hotels, airports, etc.

So what OP was saying is that if you're paying for the medallion, to recoup the cost youre incentivized to pick up normal taxi fares and not drive for uber, assuming you can generate the same value.

[gozur88]

On the other hand you have fixed costs - you're paying for the medallion whether or not you have a fare, so you're probably better off taking the odd Uber fare when business is slow.

[lvh]

Grandparent is not saying that they need to get one; almost the opposite: that it does not make sense for a medallion-owning taxi driver to also drive for Lyft or Uber.

[brianwawok]

Yes exactly. That is why a taxi driver would not also drive Uber. It would pay even less per hour than driving Uber in your own car.

[ben1040]

I don't know about cabbie's contracts, but Uber offers this as an option (including in Chicago).

https://www.uber.com/chicago-drivers/services/uberCAB/

As a customer, I've only done it because I wanted a cab after a concert and didn't want to wait in line -- I walked two blocks and used Uber to hail a cab instead.

You pay meter fare plus tip and the whole thing is charged through the app.

[laurieg]

Japan does not have regular uber cars, the uber app just hails regular taxis. Uber did a trial in Fukuoka, Japan but ran into legal issues and had to end it.

[aianus]

Uber in Toronto does not allow you to use a car with taxi livery. Afaict it is Uber's rule, not the taxi company's.

[jandrese]

Presumably it would screw with the Taxi company's dispatch system. Also, the Uber/Lyft rate would generally be less than the posted rate for the Taxi.