caj11 wrote:
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downright wrote:
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caj11 wrote:
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user1111 wrote:
Hoboken cracks down on Uber drivers despite customers' rave reviews of service

On a night in early August, Uber driver Joseph Broytman had just picked up a customer in Hoboken, when a police officer stopped him and knocked on his window.

The officer told the woman to get out of the vehicle at Washington and Eighth streets and call a Yellow Taxi, Broytman said.

When she insisted on calling another Uber car, the officer said he'd just force her to exit that one, too.

More

She should have just walked over another block or something where the police officer couldn't see her.

Anyway, I thought the law in Hoboken says you need to be a licensed taxi only for picking up and dropping off in Hoboken on the same trip. In other words, you can't take Uber from one Hoboken address to another Hoboken address, only a licensed taxi can do that. However, if you are getting into an Uber car and your destination is outsdie of Hoboken, there is no problem. Did the officer think to ask the woman what her final destination was?

I tried taking UBERx from the Hoboken Path station. Same deal, cop knocked on window, informed the driver it was illegal for him to pick up passengers. Also, asked where I was going...with was DTJC, obviously not within Hoboken. Nevertheless, he told me I couldn't take UBERx. Wish i would have known this detail beforehand and argued. Cop offered to get me a yellow taxi, which conveniently was right there waiting. Seemed like a scam to be honest...so I declined and just took the Path.

I remember reading that news story before. Question - couldn't you have just walked a block over or something so the cop couldn't see you? I wouldn't try it at the PATH station. Just wondering because I'm headed down to Hoboken later today, and I just LOATHE their taxicabs.

anonymess wrote:
Does anyone have much experience with lyft in jersey city?

downright wrote:
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caj11 wrote:
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user1111 wrote:
Hoboken cracks down on Uber drivers despite customers' rave reviews of service

On a night in early August, Uber driver Joseph Broytman had just picked up a customer in Hoboken, when a police officer stopped him and knocked on his window.

The officer told the woman to get out of the vehicle at Washington and Eighth streets and call a Yellow Taxi, Broytman said.

When she insisted on calling another Uber car, the officer said he'd just force her to exit that one, too.

More

She should have just walked over another block or something where the police officer couldn't see her.

Anyway, I thought the law in Hoboken says you need to be a licensed taxi only for picking up and dropping off in Hoboken on the same trip. In other words, you can't take Uber from one Hoboken address to another Hoboken address, only a licensed taxi can do that. However, if you are getting into an Uber car and your destination is outsdie of Hoboken, there is no problem. Did the officer think to ask the woman what her final destination was?

I tried taking UBERx from the Hoboken Path station. Same deal, cop knocked on window, informed the driver it was illegal for him to pick up passengers. Also, asked where I was going...with was DTJC, obviously not within Hoboken. Nevertheless, he told me I couldn't take UBERx. Wish i would have known this detail beforehand and argued. Cop offered to get me a yellow taxi, which conveniently was right there waiting. Seemed like a scam to be honest...so I declined and just took the Path.

caj11 wrote:
Quote:

user1111 wrote:
Hoboken cracks down on Uber drivers despite customers' rave reviews of service

On a night in early August, Uber driver Joseph Broytman had just picked up a customer in Hoboken, when a police officer stopped him and knocked on his window.

The officer told the woman to get out of the vehicle at Washington and Eighth streets and call a Yellow Taxi, Broytman said.

When she insisted on calling another Uber car, the officer said he'd just force her to exit that one, too.

More

She should have just walked over another block or something where the police officer couldn't see her.

Anyway, I thought the law in Hoboken says you need to be a licensed taxi only for picking up and dropping off in Hoboken on the same trip. In other words, you can't take Uber from one Hoboken address to another Hoboken address, only a licensed taxi can do that. However, if you are getting into an Uber car and your destination is outsdie of Hoboken, there is no problem. Did the officer think to ask the woman what her final destination was?

JCishome wrote:
It's great that Hoboken police have no other crimes to worry about.

user1111 wrote:
Hoboken cracks down on Uber drivers despite customers' rave reviews of service

On a night in early August, Uber driver Joseph Broytman had just picked up a customer in Hoboken, when a police officer stopped him and knocked on his window.

The officer told the woman to get out of the vehicle at Washington and Eighth streets and call a Yellow Taxi, Broytman said.

When she insisted on calling another Uber car, the officer said he'd just force her to exit that one, too.

More

JadedJC wrote:
I just want to be clear and make people aware that Uber and Lyft are NOT car services nor are they regulated like one. People have the mistaken notion they are car services and it's a notion the companies don't mind perpetuating.

caj11 wrote:
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Frank_M wrote:
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caj11 wrote:
If Uber or Lyft are like a car service with more bells and whistles, maybe the car services out there need to start providing those bells and whistles too - have any car/limo companies considered creating an app for smartphones? They may be unfair competition, but fighting back simply by whining to the city council and/or state should not be your only actions.

Like any business, you need to evolve and change with the times, and give people a reason to use you instead of Uber or Lyft. Forcing Uber and Lyft out of business will only work temporarily for you - there will always be another company out there that offers something like this, in some places, Sidecar and Gett have emerged. It's too good of a product to not exist. Seems like the car service and taxi industries only want to fight and win battles, ignoring the big picture and ultimately losing the war.

A taxi medallion in Jersey City costs about one-hundred thousand dollars, and in New York City they?re at least a million. If you?re in the taxi business, you?re deep in the hole before you can pick up a single passenger. How do you compete with a business that is able to charge customers less because they avoid traditional licensing fees by taking advantage of an abstract concept? An app isn?t going to solve that problem.

I don't know what else to tell you. The cost of a medallion - which I assume you have to buy for both taxis and car services - isn't my or any other customer's problem. I didn't say an app would solve everything either, I said that the car services and taxi industries need to adapt and change with the times too. They seem to be reluctant to do so. Exactly what they need to do, I don't know, but lobbying government to shut down Uber and Lyft will not solve the problem in the long term anyway. This is a concept that people love and it isn't going away anytime soon.

As soon as Uber or any other service of that type is gone from the area thanks to your efforts, another service will sinply take its place. I assume you don't like gypsy cabs either but they continue to exist and when there's a problem, they are even harder to track than anyone who drives for Uber/Lyft/Sidecar/Gett.

Welcome to our capitalist society. Uber and Lyft seem to be working to provide something the customer wants, while the car service and taxi industry are simply fighting to keep things the same. I have no sympathy, regardless of how much you spent on a medallion.

Frank_M wrote:
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caj11 wrote:
If Uber or Lyft are like a car service with more bells and whistles, maybe the car services out there need to start providing those bells and whistles too - have any car/limo companies considered creating an app for smartphones? They may be unfair competition, but fighting back simply by whining to the city council and/or state should not be your only actions.

Like any business, you need to evolve and change with the times, and give people a reason to use you instead of Uber or Lyft. Forcing Uber and Lyft out of business will only work temporarily for you - there will always be another company out there that offers something like this, in some places, Sidecar and Gett have emerged. It's too good of a product to not exist. Seems like the car service and taxi industries only want to fight and win battles, ignoring the big picture and ultimately losing the war.

A taxi medallion in Jersey City costs about one-hundred thousand dollars, and in New York City they?re at least a million. If you?re in the taxi business, you?re deep in the hole before you can pick up a single passenger. How do you compete with a business that is able to charge customers less because they avoid traditional licensing fees by taking advantage of an abstract concept? An app isn?t going to solve that problem.

caj11 wrote:
If Uber or Lyft are like a car service with more bells and whistles, maybe the car services out there need to start providing those bells and whistles too - have any car/limo companies considered creating an app for smartphones? They may be unfair competition, but fighting back simply by whining to the city council and/or state should not be your only actions.

Like any business, you need to evolve and change with the times, and give people a reason to use you instead of Uber or Lyft. Forcing Uber and Lyft out of business will only work temporarily for you - there will always be another company out there that offers something like this, in some places, Sidecar and Gett have emerged. It's too good of a product to not exist. Seems like the car service and taxi industries only want to fight and win battles, ignoring the big picture and ultimately losing the war.

Frank_M wrote:
I agree that yellow and white cabs in Jersey City are mostly terrible?both the equipment and the personnel?but a business model like Uber?s has same potential to undermine the competition regardless. I don?t mind seeing bad companies and bad drivers take a hit, but they won?t be alone. Uber sells the same product as a car service, albeit with more bells and whistles, but it avoids a car service?s much greater overhead. That?s not fair competition, and seems it would have the potential to become a race to the bottom.

JadedJC wrote:
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Lima17 wrote:
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JadedJC wrote:
My understanding of how they operate is that any schmuck with a decent car and a driver's license can become a driver.\

That would be UberX, not the original and still existing Uber Black service. Here is an article:

http://detroit.legalexaminer.com/auto ... -uberx-rights-if-injured/

Uber Black ? (Similar to a limo or metro car service)
?Premium option,
?Licensed chauffeurs of black sedans and SUVs,
?Follows state law,
?Background checks on drivers,
?$1 million in liability insurance,
?Cars inspected once a year to earn certification sticker that?s visible on back window to police.


UberX ? (Free for all)
?Low cost option,
?Drivers use their own vehicles,
?No licensed chauffeurs, and not required to get ?vehicle for hire? licenses,
?Background check on drivers,
?$1 million in primary coverage ? when a driver is transporting a passenger.

You neglected to note the last three paragraphs of that article, which basically proves my point:

Uber has responded by saying it?s primarily a technology business and doesn?t need to comply with local and state taxi and limo laws that may require higher safety standards.

So, if Uber doesn?t need to comply with local and state laws, what happens if one of its passengers is injured in a crash?

"This question is no longer theoretical. Sadly, lawyers and safety inspectors are asking the question after a recent tragedy in San Francisco, where a 6-year old girl was killed and her mother and brother were seriously injured when an ?Uber-contracted driver? allegedly turned into the crosswalk without yielding, running down the entire family, according to an article by Tech Crunch, ?Uber?s Denial of Liability in Girl?s Death Raises Accident Accountability Questions.?

Frank_M wrote:
I?m not as concerned with the character and skill of the drivers as I am the business model. What if somebody found a loophole that permitted them to compete for our clients while avoiding the expense and effort that is traditionally required of professionals in our fields? Should we simply ?adapt? and accept lower and lower fees just to stay in business? What's the result of that process?

Frank_M wrote:
I?m not as concerned with the character and skill of the drivers as I am the business model. What if somebody found a loophole that permitted them to compete for our clients while avoiding the expense and effort that is traditionally required of professionals in our fields? Should we simply ?adapt? and accept lower and lower fees just to stay in business? What's the result of that process?

Lima17 wrote:
Quote:

JadedJC wrote:
My understanding of how they operate is that any schmuck with a decent car and a driver's license can become a driver.\

That would be UberX, not the original and still existing Uber Black service. Here is an article:

http://detroit.legalexaminer.com/auto ... -uberx-rights-if-injured/

Uber Black ? (Similar to a limo or metro car service)
?Premium option,
?Licensed chauffeurs of black sedans and SUVs,
?Follows state law,
?Background checks on drivers,
?$1 million in liability insurance,
?Cars inspected once a year to earn certification sticker that?s visible on back window to police.


UberX ? (Free for all)
?Low cost option,
?Drivers use their own vehicles,
?No licensed chauffeurs, and not required to get ?vehicle for hire? licenses,
?Background check on drivers,
?$1 million in primary coverage ? when a driver is transporting a passenger.

JadedJC wrote:
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JCishome wrote:
And that's fine for you, Donald Trump. I've used Uber a bunch of times, and the cars were all clean and well-maintained. The drivers were all polite and friendly. The few times I've been in a JC cab, I felt like I was taking my life in my hands. No argument, taxis are great in NYC - but until we really are the Sixth Borough, I'll stick with Uber.

If that works for you that's great. I just want to be clear and make people aware that Uber and Lyft are NOT car services nor are they regulated like one. People have the mistaken notion they are car services and it's a notion the companies don't mind perpetuating. I know they look cool because (gasp!) there have apps and they're cheaper, but people should be aware that with that cheaper ride comes a trade-off.

JadedJC wrote:
My understanding of how they operate is that any schmuck with a decent car and a driver's license can become a driver.\

JCishome wrote:
And that's fine for you, Donald Trump. I've used Uber a bunch of times, and the cars were all clean and well-maintained. The drivers were all polite and friendly. The few times I've been in a JC cab, I felt like I was taking my life in my hands. No argument, taxis are great in NYC - but until we really are the Sixth Borough, I'll stick with Uber.

JadedJC wrote:
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rescuelife wrote:
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JadedJC wrote:
Uber & Lyft = app-assisted hitchhiking. Just google "Uber safety" and there are a number of hair-raising issues and incidents. No thanks. I'll pay the extra bucks for a properly licensed, regulated and insured taxi or car service.

By that logic, isn't calling a car service phone-assisted hitchhiking? Uber cars are licensed, regulated, and insured so not sure how you are making any distinction other than that all Uber drivers have full background checks done on them (same CANNOT be said about limo and yellow/white taxis) and the entire trip once you are picked up is logged, which is a huge safety feature for women riding alone.

So then why are Uber, Lyft and Sidecar fighting so hard against being regulated in every city they operate? Their standard argument is that they're a tech company and NOT a car service. My understanding of how they operate is that any schmuck with a decent car and a driver's license can become a driver. They often call themselves a "peer-to-peer ride-sharing service." Tech speak for "get into a car with a total stranger." The background checks they do on drivers are cursory at best, and I was under the impression that drivers are carrying nothing more than their personal insurance - which raises a big question of whether their insurance companies would pay up in an accident if they found out they were using their vehicles as a taxi service. And when something does go wrong, Uber typically tries to weasel out of any responsibility. The $1 "safe ride" fee Uber charges is laughable. It guarantees nothing, and my safety is worth more than $1.

I actually feel pretty safe in NYC yellow taxis. The TLC does a pretty decent job regulating them, and all drivers have their hack license and a medallion number displayed so that if something does go wrong, I know I have recourse through the TLC. The lack of regulation is also why I generally don't use JC taxis. The longest ride I ever took in one was between Grove Street and the Heights - that's pretty much my limit. I don't stay out into the wee hours, so taxis/car services aren't a huge expense for me. The only time I ever really need one is early morning or late night trips to/from the airport. Then I'll call the corporate car service my company uses and tell them it's a personal ride I want to charge to my own credit card. The airport trip is perhaps $10 more than Uber, but I'm fine paying that.