[cpprototypes]

I often wonder what is the natural market price of these services? Basically, without massive VC money distorting everything, how much would a Lyft or Uber ride really cost? I have a feeling it would be much higher than now. Despite all the hype, true level 5 self driving is decades away. When the VC money stops, what are these companies going to do?

I think the only viable option for them is Lyft Line/Uber Pool. It benefits from network effects (more using the service, better it gets) which also prevents newcomers. It could become a monopoly like Facebook. They should be pushing this harder than unrealistic dreams of level 5 self driving.

[Gibbon1]

I saw one economist trying to figure out what the appropriate fare for BART should be.

Ans: Free.

One place I worked in the early 2000's gave us checks were could redeem for transit.

https://commuterbenefits.511.org/docs/faq.pdf

One thought might be to have a subsidized ride share system where employers/transit authority pays people to ride share. Impression that based on transit authorities reaction to causal car pooling is they wouldn't support it. AKA they don't want people carpooling they want them to ride busses.

Second thought of mine based on buses in San Francisco is the buses are too large and too few. More smaller buses would increase ridership and reduce trip times.

[kingnothing]

You can already pay for Uber rides with commuter benefit cards. https://newsroom.uber.com/poolcommutes/

[Gibbon1]

My thought might be interesting if car poolers could tap into the commuter benefit cards. AKA pick up someone on the way to work and they can transfer 25-50 cents a mile into your account.