Is uber a taxi?

[Cubus]

[MrOracle]

It's similar, but not exactly the same.

Taxi companies, even big ones, are regional and they relied mostly on phone dispatching, and there was no way to check on status, or have any idea what the rates might be, etc. In theory, taxi companies could have gotten together and built a tech infrastructure and would have continued to own the market they'd been in - largely without competition (especially in areas where licenses were very restrictive, due to their lobbying) - but the truth is that established businesses almost never have a good handle on new technology.

Uber and Lyft, among others, BEGAN as TECH companies who wanted to improve the "ride on demand" system that taxis had always fulfilled by making - what they eventually hoped would be - a worldwide service that incorporated smart phone technology to dispense with phone dispatching, to allow driver location to be known to the customer and some limited information shared with driver and rider, and to incorporate a payment system right in the same app.

Those might not seem like big differences, but the results would argue. Taxi companies have taken a huge hit, and some have already gone out of business, and as time goes on and older people age out of traditional business roles (these are the people primarily keeping taxi companies alive), Uber and Lyft will almost certainly crush the remaining taxi companies.

[NathanDavis]

no, they work very differently...

even a taxi and Uber in the USA work differently than in Mexico

in the USA, usually... taxis are cheaper than ride-sharing apps

but in Mexico... ride-sharing apps are way cheaper than taxis

[Cubus]

Well, the definition of a taxi is "a car with a driver whom you pay to take you where you want to go". Uber fits in this definition.

[NathanDavis]

but that would be a very simple definition that is not an actual description of two services who are actually required to define themselves as companies way way WAY more extensively, in order to be regulated, set up taxes, insurance, policies and so much more

the only reason why so many taxi companies and even entire governments fought so hard to keep Uber away is because they are NOT taxis and they do not play under the same set of rules that Taxis will do

by the way, if we were by your definition alone... I could give someone a ride to wherever they have to go and then accept some money in exchange

would that make me an Uber worker? no

would that make me a taxi driver? no

I fit the simple description... but in reality, I would not be either of those things

[Cubus]

"by the way, if we were by your definition alone... I could give someone a ride to wherever they have to go and then accept some money in exchange"

Yes, if he/she paid you, in theory, that would be a taxi service.

[NathanDavis]

in your idea of a theory yes...

but in court... it will not hold, at all

IRS won't think so either, lmao

so yes, personal theories... and actual real life are different things

[Cubus]

That's the definition from a dictionary

[NathanDavis]

you realize dictionaries are mostly for kids, right?

and that's why they keep it as simple as possible... lol

[Midgetmcwidget]

No it’s a private car service like Addison Lee but shitter

[Lucy68]

I would say technically yes

[Lucy68]

Thank you for the MHO

[OlderAndWiser]

It differes from a traditional taxi company because the drivers, and not the taxi company, own the vehicles being driven. The drivers can choose the hours they work and the areas in which they work. They are independent contractors rather than employees.

[AviatorTom]

Uber and Lyft are not taxis, st least that's the business model. But some cities are starting to classify them as taxis... in order to regulate them, satisfy unionized taxi drivers, and make money by requiring permits and taxing them like taxis.

[letuswaltzforthedead]

Technically, it's a more modern version of it.

[DryGermanGuy]

No. It’s a crippled version of the German word „über“. 🤔

[CaptainSmartass]

Yeah. It's a private hire (minicab) service and all vehicles and drivers have to be licensed to perfom such services.

Simples...

[Apulu_Imback]

I thought it was a car service.

[Cubus]

Taxi is a car service too.

[Apulu_Imback]

No, Uber is a car service which is somewhat related to car dealerships as well. at least in my country. Yes you can also say it is an Taxi Service company.

[Cubus]

Well, the dictionary I use says that "taxi" is "a car with a driver whom you pay to take you where you want to go:" and uber fits in that definition. But if you use a different definition, that's understandable

[Apulu_Imback]

Lol no it means taxi only. There is a car servicing and exchange company named uber here. That's what I meant.

[Cubus]

Well, that's the definition dictionary. But I know there are different dictionaries.

[Nazgol]

Very much similar to it yes

[Static_In_The_Attic]

It sure is!

[KostasKouvalis]

Basically

[skyee_727]

yes... ?