If you want to see an example of how the rideshare industry is winning, you have to look no further than the airport in Seattle.
I landed in Seattle on a Sunday evening and followed the signs to the rideshare pickup location. It was a little further away from the normal pickup, shuttle services, and taxis. As I was making my way I noticed a person wearing a vest labeled "Uber". Her job was simply to direct people to the correct area in the parking garage. I asked, "Do you work for the airport or Uber?" She responded that she actually works for Uber, and it only took me another minute to realize why.
Upon arriving at the designated area I couldn't believe just how many people. My first thought was "That's incredible!" My second thought was, "This is going to be chaos."
I was wrong.
It was one of the most amazing displays of voluntary coordination and efficiency I've seen in the free market. Uber agents were guiding traffic. Cars were zipping in and out. On average, when a car arrived it took about 20 seconds to load and be on their way. There were around 100 people waiting for their ride and I only had to wait about 8 minutes for mine. Assuming I was one of the last ones to schedule a ride, that means Uber and Lyft are servicing about 100 people every 8 minutes during their peak times.
I have never seen so many Prius.
Which begs the question: What is the plural for Prius?
Uber and Lyft Operation at the Airport in Seattle.
If there's a demand for it, the market will produce it!
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Not only produce it, but in a peaceful and voluntary manner. It's really a thing of beauty!
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Agreed!
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That is why I love free markets and free enterprise.
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Great post Rich...I'm an Uber driver in Montreal part time..
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You should do a post about the free market, taxis, Uber and your personal experience. Montreal is a beautiful city and Steemit would love to hear about your story.
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Thanks Rich! Will continue to post...maybe not about Uber unfortunately :(..they may be leaving this month..their contract is up for renewal and the government wants them to waste more money on frivolous things :/..
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SEATAC is a very busy airport. I was there to go on an Alaskan cruise in 2011, all the taxis were occupied, we found a limo driver willing to give us a lift to our hotel for the taxi rate after some haggling.
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No need to haggle or wait now. I paid $10 to get a ride to a hotel. It was close to the airport, however, that same ride in a taxi is about $20. Also, I only waited about 8 minutes. Awesome!
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Uber and Lyft also do well here in Louisiana. I ordered an Uber X in New Orleans, and an Uber Black showed up in a Mercedes for the Uber X rate. The driver and I had a great time talking about life, muscle cars, and how crazy Bourbon Street was that night.
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right on, love market choices !
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That's wonderful to hear, because in most countries Uber are not welcomed by the local taxi industries.
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At least the existence of these companies give utility to millions of cars that were built and maybe wouldn't be used, or not used that much. Also provides some extra cash to the people who pays or paid for them, so i think is great. I await with expectation the next step on the evolution on this area :)
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Uber & Lyft have come a long way ever since they started providing the service but now a Senate bill was passed. Senate Bill 182, which passed the state Senate Monday, would require a single license to drive passengers anywhere in the state, which drivers can obtain in the city where they live. Local governments don't typically enforce rules that require ride-hailing drivers to have business licenses, but in theory, every city a driver passes through could charge a fee.
Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Gardena), has said the state needs to help facilitate new ride-hailing technology
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Uber Doesnt pay people for their miles and the tips that people give are optional so most people do not actually contribute to the driver, i hope if someone sees the text they remember to tip the drivers because they are literaly reciving money not for driving people but for damaging their own vehicle at the end they would end with no car and most likely no Job and or money,
Uber and Lift drivers should also get together to prevent the companies form using them to make them billions yet not paying a fair rate for the depreciation of the peoples vehicles,
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How many years have Uber and Lyft been around? Long enough that if the drivers weren't making any money and destroying their cars that the word would get out and nobody would drive for them.
I spoke to an Uber driver in Denver, just last week, who had worked a full day and earned $200. How many days of work do you need to make a car payment for a Prius? How many more days to make a good living?
Sorry @cristianmurica but this is a liberty loving post and in support of free markets. I see Uber as helping provide those drivers a good income with the ultimate in flexible hours. Your complaint will receive no sympathy from me!
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@richhersey What a wonderful and heartwarming Tale..
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Love their service, now Uber and Lyft have been introduced into Anchorage, AK.
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