[warsaw]

We all know it's an uphill battle for most cabbies trying to make a living, but why not close shop and do something else?

These days, even luxury Uber Select is usually cheaper than a regular taxicab, so there's a compelling reason to forget about taxis and use a cleaner, cheaper, and faster service.

How much does it cost Yellow Cab to operate each vehicle?
We know that they lease the cabs at an average of $104 per shift, which is mandated SFMTA.

Also, they're obligated to carry commercial insurance which is not cheap and can easily be $6-10K per year.
And, they need to lease medallions from their owners, which are $250K each in San Francisco and other city permits and fees.

 

[warsaw]

https://www.sfmta.com/sites/default/files/WebVersion MeterGate 86 FullDraft.pdf

San Francisco Municipal Transportation
Agency
Best Practices Studies of Taxi Regulation
Meter Rates & Gate Fees

 

[Hillman77]

Same question about Super Shuttle. Those guys must have t a big hit from Uber and Lyft.

 

[Hillary_Clinton]

Why haven’t Uber and Lyft disappeared?

 

[Max Weber]

Because uber and lyft will never be able to capture customers in the cash economy or customers street hailing. Both those methods, if allowed on their platform, would cut them out of the transaction.

 

[Cabby]

Plus because of double payment structure uber rude share prices approaching taxi prices, sometimes even higher. Taxis do not refuse any more, accept credit cards and cash, have their own app, do not do surcharge, fingerprinted, drug tested and don’t need to use gps all the time. In other words they are legitimate because they are part of the city.

 

[Dropking]

Plus because of double payment structure uber rude share prices approaching taxi prices, sometimes even higher. Taxis do not refuse any more, accept credit cards and cash, have their own app, do not do surcharge, fingerprinted, drug tested and don't need to use gps all the time. In other words they are legitimate because they are part of the city.

Not so much part of the city anymore. SF has lost more than half our taxis in the last 6 years, and because of that their scarcity away from downtown hotels is an even larger problem than before.

The ones who remain are making less money, just like uberlyft drivers are accepting less money this year than last. Some will remain forever, im sure, espwcially because of the silly medallions but its less and less every month.

 

[Cabby]

You have a wishful thinking. That what uber and lyft thought. SF taxi are part of city public transportation. That is why when you drive in the city you can see taxi and bus lanes only. You have taxi lanes in front of major hotels. Business is not as it used to be but will become better after Market Street closure for public vehicles in 2020. Also as I understand as soon as bonuses are gone there will be less people who want to drive for peanuts. After IPO the flow of free money is gone. Investors require real financial results. I don’t see uber or Lyft become profitable at all. Lyft even stated it before going IPO. So don’t worry about me I will not lose my business until people need a ride.

 

[Dropking]

You have a wishful thinking. That what uber and lyft thought. SF taxi are part of city public transportation. That is why when you drive in the city you can see taxi and bus lanes only. You have taxi lanes in front of major hotels. Business is not as it used to be but will become better after Market Street closure for public vehicles in 2020. Also as I understand as soon as bonuses are gone there will be less people who want to drive for peanuts. After IPO the flow of free money is gone. Investors require real financial results. I don't see uber or Lyft become profitable at all. Lyft even stated it before going IPO. So don't worry about me I will not lose my business until people need a ride.

I agree with you about lyft and uber profitability. In the long run i expect waymos driverless cars to run them over and whats left of our taxis and their entitled lanes. Rides will be even cheaper then, which will present an even worse problen for taxi drivers and uber drivers alike.

Not wishful thinking. I feel sorry for the taxi drivers whose livelihoods has been ruined by a better system. This is always the way of automation and progress -- there are always losers, unfortunately.

 

[warsaw]

Why haven't Uber and Lyft disappeared?

Offering dirt cheap rides below cost.
Billions of free cash in the bank from VC and early investors.
Thousands of riders tired of Muni and Bart's slow, dangerous, and filthy service.

Tons of stupid ants willing to work for peanuts.

 

[nash801]

I agree with you about lyft and uber profitability. In the long run i expect waymos driverless cars to run them over and whats left of our taxis and their entitled lanes. Rides will be even cheaper then, which will present an even worse problen for taxi drivers and uber drivers alike.

Not wishful thinking. I feel sorry for the taxi drivers whose livelihoods has been ruined by a better system. This is always the way of automation and progress -- there are always losers, unfortunately.

But the win is you don't have to sit for so long. Excessive driving ruins your life!

 

[Cabby]

I agree with you about lyft and uber profitability. In the long run i expect waymos driverless cars to run them over and whats left of our taxis and their entitled lanes. Rides will be even cheaper then, which will present an even worse problen for taxi drivers and uber drivers alike.

Not wishful thinking. I feel sorry for the taxi drivers whose livelihoods has been ruined by a better system. This is always the way of automation and progress -- there are always losers, unfortunately.

What the difference between thousands driverless cars and hundreds of buses? Those cars will not be able to use taxi and bus lane unless the become part of the city fleet. They would have to be approve and limited by the city ( get permit) to ride in those lanes. In addition how do you think driverless car looks like after the drunks you currently drive, or any bum who decided to smoke marijuana or spill a coffee, or decided to have a ******** in the car, since it is cheaper than renting a room. Terrorism, hackers, bugs, and humans who knows that car would not move until they decide so. I am talking about Union square, particular Powell/ Geary intersection were people would cross on green and red light, if they see that you hesitate to move. At the end remember that public transportation exists for a reason. It is affordable, almost always subsidized and it is reduce the traffic. It is not perfect, but not everybody works for google in this town.

 

[Leo.]

@Misunderstood Pirate

 

[1995flyingspur]

We all know it's an uphill battle for most cabbies trying to make a living, but why not close shop and do something else?

These days, even luxury Uber Select is usually cheaper than a regular taxicab, so there's a compelling reason to forget about taxis and use a cleaner, cheaper, and faster service.

How much does it cost Yellow Cab to operate each vehicle?
We know that they lease the cabs at an average of $104 per shift, which is mandated SFMTA.

Also, they're obligated to carry commercial insurance which is not cheap and can easily be $6-10K per year.
And, they need to lease medallions from their owners, which are $250K each in San Francisco and other city permits and fees.

We are still here because we still have business to do and we also know that Uber & Lyft are unsustainable business models, which at some point either will have rates equal to or higher than ours.

We know it's about price to the consumer, and U/L prices are set in a Utopian like world in which losing billions is acceptable.

So yes we are still here, and just so you know...we have a lot of customers who don't mind paying more because they know and understand the difference in our background checks, drug tests, etc...etc, & feel safer with more experienced drivers.

Our company has about 40 drivers, many who have been doing this for over 30 years. That's experience! I've only been doing this for 10 years and I'm still considered "The new guy".

There's a huge difference between us and btw, my car is cleaner than any other car out there.

I do agree that most drivers here in U/P are probably pretty much pros but at a 90% yearly turnover, most U/L drivers are idiotic newbies jamming up the roads and pissing everyone off.