Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by sebleon 3325 days ago
Interesting, I hadn't heard that defense before. It seems like Uber's app-based hailing is the reason why poor neighborhoods are able to get serviced.

Previously, no taxi driver would drive around in those areas - because of opportunity cost of higher fares in richer areas, and fears of getting robbed when there was tons of cash in the car.
2 comments
objclxt 3325 days ago
> Previously, no taxi driver would drive around in those areas - because of opportunity cost of higher fares in richer areas

Well, if Uber is using dynamic pricing to ensure fares from richer areas are more expensive than those from poorer ones won't that have the exact same effect?

link
erikpukinskis 3324 days ago
No, because Uber publishes all of the ride requests, regardless of fare. As long as there is one driver willing to go there, the ride gets fulfilled.

If you are leaving drivers to their own devices to try to find hot spots, they have no way to know someone ten blocks over needs a cab right now from a poorer area.

link
wavefunction 3325 days ago
Gypsy cabs exist for those reasons.
link