[ghshephard]

As an aggregate model, it would make taxis much more attractive for a lot of people who don't like the uncertainty, smelly cars, crazy drivers, poorly maintained vehicles, and long waiting times. Those people would be much more likely to hire taxis, increasing the business liquidity, reducing the uncertainty for taxi drivers in the business who might go a few hours without a ride. The advantage to drivers, is that an uber customer is identified before they get into the vehicle. They also have the means to pay. The ability to discriminate on source/destination is removed, but, in many taxi regions, they aren't, in theory, allowed to do that anyways.

I'm not arguing that 100% of all the uber rules are an advantage for drivers - in particular, the ability to turn down a $30 cab fare in order to wait for the $70 SFO trip will be to their economic disadvantage, but it will result in a healthier business overall.

[jaylevitt]

Is that really allowed in CA? I know that in both NYC and Boston/Cambridge, a hailed cab can't refuse a destination. In fact, after being stranded in uptown Manhattan for an hour, I now make a point of not declaring my destination till I'm in the cab.

[ghshephard]

What's "allowed" and what a cab driver will do are two different things, as you've already discovered. Also, on the peninsula in the bay area, you don't really "Hail" a cab, you have to call for one. And, it's while you are calling one, they can decided whether to send one. I've spent several hours at AMC Mercado in Santa Clara waiting for a cab for a short trip, and continually having it confirmed that they are "Waiting for someone to pick up the ride."

[lsc]

>I've spent several hours at AMC Mercado in Santa Clara waiting for a cab for a short trip, and continually having it confirmed that they are "Waiting for someone to pick up the ride."

Which cab company was this? they sound way more reputable than any cab company I've rode with.

man, when I worked on the peninsula, it was maybe an hour walk to the caltrain. Now, they had a free shuttle, but I work late often.

I can walk for an hour, really, it's not that big of a deal, but if I can get a cab within 15 minutes? that would be my preference.

So I call the cab service, they tell me someone will be there in 15 minutes. I call again after half an hour. they say the same thing. I call to cancel the ride and "oh, they are almost there, just a minute"

I mean, if they would tell me that nobody was on it, I'd just start walking. It was pretty frustrating, and I finally stopped even trying, and walked every time I missed the shuttle.