Current Events > Taxi drivers to get good news in California? Uber, Lyft about to call quits

(+) Yeah! (+)

Guess taxi drivers have deeper pockets (or, at least, were willing to spend more) and better connections. Of course, this is absolute shit for consumers and will cheap many drivers out of income, all in the name of protecting moneyed interests and government services from low-priced competition that they couldn't deal with.

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HiddenRoar posted...

that they must classify workers as employees

Oh nooooooo

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What would be really nice is it public transport was good

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Good. I'd say 50% of the Uber drivers I get are weirdos >_>

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L0Z posted...

its all about money. I bet the average Uber, Lyft etc driver doesnt report on state taxes. Thats the only reason why they Legalized marijuana; to collect tax on something that people wouldve got ahold of anyway.

states are being greedy as fuck now. Look at Hawaii shutting down all forests and beaches but keeping bars and gyms open and then blaming covid for the closures. Thats because the state gets taxes from the business but loses money paying state workers in the forests and beaches.

You can't just evade taxes, even if it's state tax unless it's very low amounts. Also rideshare drivers pay the full 15.3% self-employment FICA. They don't get to split it at 7.65% each between you and the employer. Though they do get to use half as a deduction.

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Beveren_Rabbit posted...

Some people rely on uber/lyft for work

People rely on paying $10-35 every ride for work? Might as well buy a used car that has great MPG then. That's expensive af but everyone thinking I'm crazy and saying that is cheap and cheaper than taxi.

So much Uber hate. My buddy makes a killing doing it on the weekends in Dallas.

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It would be bad for me if this happened elsewhere. Uber is a very important tool for me. Cheaply gets me to work when the weather is not walkable or I have an injury.

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NeonOctopus posted...

Good. I'd say 50% of the Uber drivers I get are weirdos >_>

Everyone has been normal for me.

One lady had a buncha mini water bottles in a cooler for riders to use.

Another had a candy jar.

But mostly just a driver who did normal things.

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I'm an Uber/Lyft driver and I also do Postmates and GrubHub.

Gig work is a rough deal or should I say has been since covid. Honestly, it was pretty great pre covid. I haven't once had a passenger in my car since covid started. I've only done food deliveries. Currently, the food delivery market in my area has been flooded with drivers. Like I can barely make anything out there.

When Lyft and GrubHub were at their peak it was pretty great though. Like $30+ an hour was regular at times.

Like I know gig economy jobs are a scam, but my regular job feels like a huge scam too. Honestly, my entire employment history has been one awful job after another. Gig work is actually somewhat enjoyable, despite the lack of various protections.

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Why don't uber and lyft just limit people to only being able to log 30 hours per week for driving?

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sylverlolol posted...

lol

imagine getting butthurt and suspending operations because someone tells you to treat your employees like employees

But they aren't employees. There's no schedule, there's no office, there's nothing like that.

eston posted...

So basically their business model doesn't work unless they can exploit their workforce

So you rather have them charge taxi prices?

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LightHawKnight posted...

So you rather have them charge taxi prices?

Well someone has to.be exploited lol. Pretty sure that was how the American economy was designed.

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Just means Ghetto Uber is going to be use more.

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TommyG663513 posted...

Well someone has to.be exploited lol. Pretty sure that was how the American economy was designed.

Nobody is being exploited right now.

Idk what people are celebrating for here.

This is actually bad everyone becuase now Californians will have to pay alot more for transportation outside of their crappy public options. Which hurts the bottomline most of all.

The same people some of you supposedly are trying to help......

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Taxis are the worst.

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Prismsblade posted...

Idk what people are celebrating for here.

This is actually bad everyone becuase now Californians will have to pay alot more for transportation outside of their crappy public options. Which hurts the bottomline most of all.

The same people some of you supposedly are trying to help......

Wouldn't it be great if the public options were good though

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I dont know what the right decision here is, but this seems like a completely hollow victory.

Now the people that were doing Uber will be making zero money and have to work fast food or retail.

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While Uber and Lyft and far from perfect and entirely propped up on investor money as opposed to a financially viable business model, the taxi industry's complete unwillingness to innovation or adapt is baffling.

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scar the 1 posted...

Wouldn't it be great if the public options were good though

No, becuase it will never be as great as Uber/Lyft type service. And unless you're traveling directly from point A-B and vise versa public transportation is garbage.


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Prismsblade posted...

No, becuase it will never be as great as Uber/Lyft type service. And unless you're traveling directly from point A-B and vise versa public transportation is garbage.

I see

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Prismsblade posted...

No, becuase it will never be as great as Uber/Lyft type service. And unless you're traveling directly from point A-B and vise versa public transportation is garbage.

I mean public transportation should still be good though even if rideshare services might be more convenient.

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shockthemonkey posted...

Uber and Lyft are scabs who circumvent taxi regulations. Not that Im really in favor of this but really shows how bad their long term business model is.

Uber has consistently lost billions of dollars every quarter since it started. What even is their long term business model?

RadiantAdolin posted...

But they aren't employees. There's no schedule, there's no office, there's nothing like that.

Since when has that ever been included in the definition of an employee?
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Questionmarktarius posted...

Uber has consistently lost billions of dollars every quarter since it started. What even is their long term business model?

To keep making millions for their executives while they keep getting infusions of cash.

Other than that maybe destroying the taxi industry so they (and other ride-sharing options) are the only option left and force all those taxi drivers either back home or to work for them.
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Questionmarktarius posted...

Uber has consistently lost billions of dollars every quarter since it started. What even is their long term business model?

To destroy the competition and in the long term erode workers rights

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Bio1590 posted...

Since when has that ever been included in the definition of an employee?

Employees generally don't get to choose when, where, and if to work - at least not employees who remain employed for very long.

This will be the endgame if Lyft/Uber somehow remain in California. Malicious compliance leading to never enough hours to actually qualify for benefits anyway, and schedule-screwed into untenable situations just as a "probationary period" nears its end. The drivers will get ridiculous and nigh-random fast-food-style scheduling, and will be fired for "insubordination" for not wanting to give rides at three in the morning on some arbitrary day.

Taking an Uber/Lyft is millions of times better than taking a taxi.

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Oh man. Thats too bad. Uber and Lyft are really useful sometimes.

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shockthemonkey posted...

the regulations of the taxi industry which put a lot of taxi drivers out of a job

Unfortunately, quite a bit of regulation of the taxi industry is specifically for creating artificial scarcity (especially in NYC), which means a lot of taxi drivers never even had a job.

I use Uber when my car is in the shop. Hopefully this trend doesn't reach my state.

But the taxis want a monopoly ; that's all this is.

Questionmarktarius posted...

Unfortunately, quite a bit of regulation of the taxi industry is specifically for creating artificial scarcity (especially in NYC), which means a lot of taxi drivers never even had a job.

there are a set amount of taxis even allowed to operate in NYC. whatever they want to charge, wherever they want to operate, it's their way or the highway.

Yeah whatever your thoughts are on Uber, the taxi industry needed the kick in the dick they got. The problem is they are still resisting any change and instead are just lashing out at the new competition.

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Taxis would be great if you can call them in the middle of the night when you're some sort of emergency or too drunk to drive home. Taxis don't take you out of town .
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Public transportation ISN'T going to get better. That's a delusional pipe dream. Uber/Lyft should be left alone.

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Why do you hate California so much TC?

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Apparently Lyft and/or Uber say a lot of their workers don't want to be considered "employees".

I can see the being true, as it's been mostly considered a part time gig. Work your own hours when you want to work. Work as much as you want to work.

That being said, I have always found Uber drivers and Lyft drivers OVERALL better than Taxi drivers. Not always the case, but a much more comfortable and safer experience I'd say 85% of the time.

A lot of the Taxi drivers I just don't jive with. I've also known them to be more reckless drivers. I find it more comfortable to drive with someone who who using a clean car and wants to make some extra money and can converse with me

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Bishop9800 posted...

Why do you hate California so much TC?

Why does California make it easy to be hated?

HiddenRoar posted...

Why does California make it easy to be hated?

'
to who? You?

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Bishop9800 posted...

'
to who? You?

Well, I'm not picking a fight with Idaho or Ohio, am I?

HiddenRoar posted...

Well, I'm not picking a fight with Idaho or Ohio, am I?

I just find it funny you have a grudge against Cali.

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