<p>Ride-sharing service Uber is testing the waters on Martha’s Vineyard. While there are no firm plans to expand Uber service to the Island, the company began advertising for drivers this week. Local cab companies said they fear Uber would quickly put them out of business.</p>
Uber, the ride sharing service which has disrupted the taxi industry in cities all over the world, is testing the waters on Martha’s Vineyard.
The company began advertising for drivers this week. While there are no firm plans to expand Uber service to the Island, if the company finds enough interest, there could be Uber drivers competing with cabs and car services as soon as this summer.
Island cab companies fear Uber will quickly put them out of business. They see Uber as unfair competition, with drivers who don’t have to comply with the same regulations they do, and they have strong feelings about it.
“The CEO of Uber wants taxi companies dead, and the feeling is mutual,” said Benoit Baldwin, owner of Alpha Taxi based in West Tisbury. “There will be a significant reduction in business wherever Uber is allowed to operate.”
“It’s going to kill us,” said Jim Hickey, owner of Bluefish Taxi and Aquinnah Taxi. “Especially a company like mine. It will be a slow death.”
Uber was founded in 2009 and has enjoyed explosive growth. Already valued at $40 billion by investors, it operates in 56 countries.
The company is known for moving quickly into new areas.
“As we do in all areas where we’re not currently operating, we run ads to see if anyone is interested in signing up to be a driver,” said Uber spokesman Craig Ewer. “We’re at the very early stage,” he said of any plans for Martha’s Vineyard. “We tend to move as fast as we need to.”
The service works through a free smartphone app. People who need a ride can contact an available driver and arrange a pickup. The app shows the driver’s location on a street map, and estimates the time the car will arrive. Pricing varies in different locations, based on a combination of time and distance. During peak hours, Uber institutes “surge pricing.” Riders have to pay more, and in theory, the higher prices are an incentive for more drivers to work. Uber earns money by taking a percentage of the fare. Drivers set their own hours, so unlike taxis, there is no guarantee a ride will be available at odd times of day. Both drivers and riders rate each other after each ride.
Uber has faced staunch opposition from taxi companies in many of the areas where it operates, but it has proved extremely popular with riders. In Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker and former Gov. Deval Patrick have both been receptive to ride sharing services.
“We must continue to embrace technology and innovation as a means for growth,” Governor Baker said in a press release. “We also have a responsibility to step up to ensure consumer choice and public safety prevail, and that Massachusetts continues to develop as a global destination for business and tourism.”
The Baker administration is crafting a licensing framework, based on regulations issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The regulations, which went into effect in January, classify ride sharing services as transportation network companies. They require drivers be at least 21 years old with a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance. They must also undergo a criminal records check. Any applicant with more than three minor traffic violations in the preceding three years, such as speeding, defective equipment, or lane violations, is disqualified from getting a license. Anyone with a major traffic violation on their record, such as operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol, operating with a suspended licence, or leaving the scene of an accident, is also disqualified. Regulators aim to have the licensing procedure in place by mid-summer, and ride sharing companies are cleared to continue operating while the state works on the system.
On the Island, taxi companies are regulated by either a town’s board of selectmen, or its police department, which issues licenses, enforces safety rules and sets prices. Talks have been under way for years about creating uniform taxi regulations for the Island, but to date no such rules have been adopted.
It’s unclear whether ride sharing services would fall under a town’s jurisdiction. The issues are certainly on the minds of selectmen and police departments across the Island.
“People are aware that Uber is trying to get a foothold,” said Oak Bluffs police Lieut. Timothy Williamson. “I guess some cab companies aren’t too happy. They’re trying to see what they can do to stop it, but there’s not much they can do. It seems like it’s inevitable.”
Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Hickey are looking to local government to keep Uber off the Island.
“It’s new, it’s trendy, it appeals to the Facebook generation,” Mr. Hickey said. “I get that. I’m hoping selectmen will step up, or police will step up to stop it. The taxi business is already saturated, there is way too much competition. We’re barely holding on as it is.”
Comments
Historically businesses on
deshandra brown mvHistorically businesses on the Island have been insulated from the 'pressures' of competition that are the norm off-island, and can charge whatever they want.
there's a reason why uber is
jack obthere's a reason why uber is so successful. it's a good company. and let's just say that the taxi fares here are outrageous and sometimes unscrupulous. but i have found many who were quite good. competition is good in this case.
Ah yeah i was charged 50
alisaAh yeah i was charged 50 dollars to take me from edgartown to the ferry at 5:30 am. Freaking rip off
I have never used Uber but
Competition is good! TisburyI have never used Uber but know many people who have. If the service works, is affordable, and meets consumer needs better than taxi companies then it will survive if it comes to the Island. If not, it will fail. What worries me is that taxi companies are going to the selectmen and police to try to stop competition. Last time I checked these government bodies were not there to ensure certain businesses thrive at the expense of others. If the market is saturated with taxis, as Mr. Hickey said, then why are rates so high? And why not let a new model make a go to see what the customers choose?
Really. Do tell. It worries
Benoit Baldwin West TisburyReally. Do tell. It worries you that we are taking the civil route to end illegal competition, by asking the proper authorities to enforce the law against unlicensed taxicab businesses? You prefer we take the criminal route, as some taxi drivers have in other parts of the world? Smashing the windows and slashing the tires of Uber vehicles? I am going to advise myself that this would not be the advisable route to take. Last time I checked, Mass. Gen. Laws Chapter 40, § Section 22 gives selectmen the power to regulate vehicles for hire that operate in their town. You people who complain taxi rates are too high are hilaaaaaariously, stupifyingly ignorant. 1) The rates in my town have been the same since 2006, with a DECREASE in certain rates in 2009, despite regular unleaded shooting to $5.00 a gallon the year before. 2) The rates are set at public hearings, by the selectmen, at which the love-to-complainers never appear to say a word.
If I were to get in a taxi
Competition is good! TisburyIf I were to get in a taxi and pay $60 to go across the Island and the cab was clean, well maintained, I did not wait 10 minutes until the van was packed with strangers and then waited at each stop to let said strangers out, I felt safe and the price was fairly set by regulatory bodies such that I could be guaranteed I would be charged the same amount for the same route the next day then I'd pay it. (Please note that this has NEVER happened - if fares are regulated I would love to learn how the price can be different day to day for the same route - cue meters!) Competition is not just about getting the cheapest good or service. It is about quality of goods and services and I know many people on this Island, myself included, who are willing to pay more for quality. What the taxi companies of MV offer us now is far from quality, let alone safe. Uber is not an illegal ghost cab operated without any regulation. It is a rideshare program that does have some regulation and the ability for the consumer to see ratings on each driver. If I found an uber driver within 5 minutes of the Steamship and the driver's reviews were not to my liking I can choose not to take that car. Just like I want the chance to choose to not use the MV taxi companies based on reviews of friends and colleagues, and my own experiences.
Hmmmm A taxi business owner
TOM HODGSON WTHmmmm A taxi business owner who would make veiled threats, and also insult potential customers. What an excellent advertisement for Uber!
Well the taxi companies are
EdWell the taxi companies are regulated by the selectmen and pay a lot of money each year in licensing fees. The question is why should they bother paying the towns and being regulated by the towns if any "ride sharing" corporation can come in and offer an unregulated taxi service?
It's a tough quandry. Uber
Ken BostonIt's a tough quandry. Uber will not pick you up in lobsterville at 3/00am whereas the is always on 24 cab.
Cabbie business is not what it once was either owners or drivers pre VTA and increased licenses. If no one can make a tmyestrsay for living doing it there will be times in the shoulder seasons and winter when it will be mixed.
I am all for competition and fully support Uber on the mainland, it's just that the Vineyard is different. Not sure when I fall yet in this one.
For sure though, It would be successful June - Aug.
How do you know that Uber
JJ OBHow do you know that Uber will not pick me up at Lobsterville at 3:00am? Also why does everyone think and say the Vineyard is different. The last time I checked the Vineyard was part of Massachusetts and the United States of America not a sovereign nation. Competition is good for business, keeps people honest and working hard.
Ugh, OK, there would need to
Ken BostonUgh, OK, there would need to be more demand than would be the case for an uber driver to be out picking up people at 3:00am in Lobsterville (and I should have said in February as that is what I meant). Of course I can't prove it but come on, common sense.
Yes, the Vineyard is part of Mass but is clearly different! That is why everyone says it.
You must also believe then that a McDonalds should be able to open on Beach Rd (or anywhere else on the Vineyard), its just competition after all (just an example of how and why the Vineyard is again, different).
Again, all for Uber on the mainland (and for free market and competition in general) but the Vineyard is indeed different and if competition is the only driver and not the continuation of year round cab service without subsidy, say goodbye to winter cab service on a 24 hour basis and good luck getting that ride from Lobsterville.
What are you doing in
Sparkle ChilmarkWhat are you doing in Lobsterville at 3 am and why do you need a cab???
Good question! Fishing? That
KenGood question! Fishing? That's all I got.
I'm willing to guess that
Rex Treadwell TisburyI'm willing to guess that taxi companies and drivers have engendered precious little goodwill over the years with their surly and erratic behavior. The groundswell of support for them will be puny and tepid. Let them be euthanized by the free market.
I'm a Uber user, but if you
Peter BruceI'm a Uber user, but if you are in an off-road house up-island, it'll be interesting to see whether the Uber location system is up to the task of finding you.
Why wouldn't they find you, I
JJ OBWhy wouldn't they find you, I'm sure they use GPS like everyone else. Taxi drivers usually find people just fine and most of the drivers are foreigners (no offense).
GPS can get you really turned
Ed CisekGPS can get you really turned around on the island, especially on some of the old dirt roads. That's why I sit in an office all day talking to drivers and giving them directions despite all of them having smartphones. My local knowledge allows me to tell drivers that even though the GPS says they can get to Haypath Road from Sea Glen, that "road" is actually a footpath through the woods.
The Uber system allows the
Ken Esq EdgartownThe Uber system allows the driver to call you and ask for specific directions/location if necessary.
If the drivers are local,
Jen Coor Chilmark & CambridgeIf the drivers are local, then they will know as much as the taxi drivers.
Disruptive innovation. And
Abbott ThymeDisruptive innovation. And consumer choice. The freedom to avoid smelly broken down vehicles and unwelcome shoulder to shoulder ride shares. The opportunity for islanders with decent vehicles to make a few dollars helping visitors get place to place in relative comfort. It is about time!
The cab owners can compete in an open market. They have a head start, and all the goodwill (or ill will) with customers to decide their future.
What a gift to visitors and islanders! Only socialism takes a hit.
Have you been following
Chris Oak BluffsHave you been following Ubers plans for the future. By 2025 the company plans to do away with driver and run driverless vehicles. Ultimately eliminating jobs for islanders.
Ten years of job security!
Abbott ThymeTen years of job security! That is impossible to find these days. Islanders are a creative bunch. We'll find the next big thing well before remote cars knock us out of the game.
As I suspected, the article
Henry Emmet Groton, MAAs I suspected, the article completely misses the tenor of the times. Support for Vineyard cabs? Good luck. Overpriced, unsafe, crowded, late… The point about back roads and local knowledge, however, may be well taken.
I'm all for it. Uber works
Mit Gold EdgartownI'm all for it. Uber works well and gives opportunity to some that need it.
Also agreeing with Mr Treadwell: I've had some bad experiences with the current lot of taxis.
Unforgetable ride from OB to the Park & Ride in VH: first he took us all over the island and right past our house in Ocean Heights Edgartown.
I want a cab ride home after
RD WTI want a cab ride home after a late night - so I jump in a cab/van. Expecting an expensive but quick ride, I find I have to wait perhaps twenty minutes while the van hangs around to pack em in. We end up stopping point by point and eventually I get home - still paying an outrageous fare. I'll wager Uber will be one late night outrageous fare, but at least it's quick and not packed with other late night revelers.
I guess this needs to be
Jim Hickey West TisburyI guess this needs to be explained to those who might not know, although anyone who has lived here a while probably already understands this (or should understand). Either way please hear this: NOBODY ever has to share a taxi unless they don't want to. All you have to do to get a taxi to yourself is call the company up, any taxi company, and order a cab (as opposed to jumping in a cab at the boat or at the cab stand near the bars etc.) Once you call, the cab will either pick you up where you are, or be waiting for you at the steamship or the airport or wherever, and you will get that cab all to yourself. It's that simple. Those complaining about 'having to sit shoulder to shoulder with strangers and making ten steps before getting home' either don't know how it works or are being willfully obtuse for the sake of their anti-taxi argument. Most people who live here and use the taxis regularly have the number of at least one company programmed into their phone and can order a ride with just the push of a button. It's kind of like this Uber thing -- except when you call you will have to actually talk to a person briefly when you order a cab (unless you order by text which you can do with our company). If your a regular the dispatcher will most certainly know where your live as well as your name etc. Believe it or not some people like those little personal touches, and for those of you who don't like that amount of human interaction -- just sit tight because Uber has announced plans to have driver-less taxis in only a few short years. All hail our corporate robot overlords.
Well here's the thing. If I
RD WTWell here's the thing. If I need a cab off island, I simply hail one, or walk up to one and jump in. Once in the cab I NEVER have to think about the cabbie waiting to pick up additional fares. I shouldn't have to know how it works here on island, and if I don't know, then surely the throngs of tourists aren't going to know how it works on the island, and they shouldn't have to. Besides, try getting a cab to come by in a timely manner. I called one for my son and friends to pick them up at the Y, and an hour and a half after the cab was to be there I ended up driving across the island to pick them up.
The fares are high after a certain hour, I get it's supply and demand, and making it worthwhile for cabbies to be there in the wee hours of the morning, but if the cab companies listen to whats going on here they could fix the complaints easily. Require more from your staff, and offer clean vehicles. If how it is on the Vineyard is to collect as many fares as can possibly cram into a van, then there should be a discount for the inconvenience of not only waiting, but to have to be towed all around the island to eventually reach your destination. This isn't asking a lot. Just looking for fairness.
"All you have to do to get a
Chris Boston"All you have to do to get a taxi to yourself is call the company up, any taxi company, and order a cab (as opposed to jumping in a cab at the boat or at the cab stand near the bars etc.) Once you call, the cab will either pick you up where you are, or be waiting for you at the steamship or the airport or wherever, and you will get that cab all to yourself. It's that simple."
Haha, yeah right. "What time is your Ferry?... Oh Ok, we can be there in 40 because we are picking up other people in that area. That should give you time to make the boat."
To answer Competition's
Jim Hickey West TisburyTo answer Competition's previous comment, the rates for all the taxi companies on the Vineyard are set by the board of selectmen in each of the towns those companies are licensed in. The taxi companies do not set the fare schedule; they are approved after public hearings in which the members of the public can come and ask questions, give their input, recommend changes etc.
The selectmen also set regulations that among other things establish how many taxis should be allowed on the road, the hours of operation for the taxi companies, the level of insurance required for each vehicle, as well as a process that allows a customer to file a formal complaint that can result in hearing before selectmen and in some cases the loss of the driver's taxi license.
The regulations also require each town to issue taxi licenses to every driver, which requires the town police department to perform a background check into their driving history and criminal background.
I mention all this because Uber Taxi, if allowed to set up shop on the Island, would circumvent every single process I just laid out. The drivers would NOT need to undergo a police background check, receive a taxi license from the town, attain commercial or taxi plates from the RMV, or carry the same level of insurance as the taxi companies currently do.
They will be able to put as many taxis as they please on the road, they will not have to follow any hours of operation, they will be exempt from any formal complaint hearings before the selectmen, and they will be able to charge on a sliding scale that increases rates when there are fewer taxis available and demand is higher. I just hope everybody realizes what that means -- it means the cost of an Uber taxi ordered now, for example, in mid April, would be higher if you ordered it late at night or during the busy summer season.
If this predatory business model -- by an out of state, multi-billion dollar company, no less -- were to threaten ANY OTHER industry on the Island there would be a public outcry and officials would swiftly take action to stop the company in its tracks.
And please take a moment to consider just how 'out-of-state' this company really is. If they are allowed to take root on the Vineyard they could likely do so without a single official, manager or representative from Uber having ever set foot on our shores. With only an ad in the newspaper (placed over the phone I am sure) and an app that people download on their phone, a $40 billion giant corporation will arrive on the Island and threaten to put an entire locally owned, year round industry out of business.
If somebody invented an app that, say, connected people who were hungry with people who cooked food in their own kitchens, without approval from the town and in non-compliance with the local health codes, the Island's restaurant owners would wit throw a fit and for good reason. And they would march directly to town hall and have this so-called 'food-sharing service' shut down.
Or what if the Uber model were applied to the construction industry on the Island, and there was an app allowing homeowners to connect with unlicensed and regulated tradesmen? Of course it would never happen, because the town building inspector or zoning officer would shut it down in a heartbeat while the public applauded.
But I guess the taxi industry doesn't get that type of protection, or more accurately even consideration of that type of protection. And that's because its the taxi industry. So many people take a dull view of taxi drivers, and these people will welcome these outliers and cheer as it puts many of us out of business.
I'm not sure when taxi drivers and taxi owners turned into the evil empire of our society, but I can tell you that a vast majority of taxi drivers are hard working, honest people just trying to make a living like anybody else. Can we be better .... yes, we can. I'll be the first to admit there is work to do and I, for one, am willing to make changes to make the taxi business here better.
There is currently a taxi committee that includes town selectmen and police officials, that is considering changes to improve taxi service on the Island. That is a public process, something anybody can get involved in, they can go to the meetings and ask questions and help effect some type of positive change.
But that's a different issue as to whether or not Uber should be allowed here. If people are unhappy with the taxi industry on the Island, that is not a justifiable (or legal) justification for allowing an illegal corporation to come here and put local taxi owners out of business.
We live on an Island where it costs more for a gallon of gas, or a loaf of bread, or a steak at a restaurant -- but that's no reason for people to call for the gas stations and grocery stores or restaurants to be put out of business. And remember the public has no process for filing a complaint or possibly changing the cost of such items -- but that processes does in fact exist for the local taxi industry.
You, the board of selectmen or even the police will not have any such control over policies or rates of Uber Taxi -- in fact the cost for an Uber ride will be determined by an algorithm that charges more when demand is highest and when you are willing to pay whatever to get a ride. How is it a national company can come here, subvert our local regulations, threaten local business and charge whatever they want depending on demand? How is that fare? How is that just? How is this as some have already put it 'inevitable'?
I think this type of business model works in a big city like Boston or New York City; but then again we don't live in Boston or New York City. We live on Martha's Vineyard.
We live in a place where there are no Wal-Marts or strip malls or even Dunkin' Donuts. It a blows my mind when I compare what many Islander's reactions would be to the sudden arrival of McDonald's on the Vineyard to the arrival of an another corporate giant like Uber Taxi.
If McDonald's tried to come here (and I believe they have in the past) there would be a riot in the streets, and the proposal would be stopped cold by the Martha's Vineyard Commission, a regulatory body with unique legal powers allowing them to prevent chain restaurants and box stores from coming to the Island.
But when Uber Taxi tries to come here -- without asking for or receiving permission from any board or commission on the Island -- they are welcomed with open arms while by many who are already calling for blood from the taxi industry on Martha's Vineyard.
I am watching as these angry comments toward the the taxi business continue to pop up on the Gazette web-site and I feel the need to tell everybody: Yes I am a taxi owner. And no, I am not a mustache twirling kingpin lighting my cigars with $100 bills.
I work about 100 hours an hour in the summer, and still barely manage to eek out a living.
I charge the rates set by our elected board of selectmen, and I provide jobs to about ten drivers I trust and feel lucky to under my employ. I keep my cabs clean and I try to know the names of most of my regular customers and where they live.
I drop my rates in the winter for our year round customers, without having to do so, I offer a discount for anybody the an Island Club card, and I've even helped little old ladies to their door on occasion. And don't tell anybody, I'll even let a customer charge a ride if they they're short on cash.
I'm sure many of you don't care, but my girlfriend and I spent most of our savings on our taxi company five years ago, only to standby now and watch a a billion-dollar company with absolutely no Island ties threaten to take away everything I have worked so hard for.
In the coming weeks there will be much debate about the legality and viability of Uber Taxi coming to the Island, but for now I only ask that you look at this issue from our point of view and try to understand we are only asking to be treated fairly -- the same as any of you out there.
Jim Hickey
Co-Owner of Bluefish and Aquinnah Taxi
That food sharing idea is a
Venture CapitalistThat food sharing idea is a gem! I say you get right on it. Build it up to, let's say two hundred k in revenues. My partners and I will fund a seed round at 2x sales. Get you on Shark Tank ASAP...we might get funded we might not but the publicity is key. We will need an app. Know anybody who codes?
It's the American Dream! Former cab owner displaced by Uber, goes out and displaces The Black Dog, and eventually Olive Garden. All with home cooked meals.
Don't worry about the regulators. Underfunded and unpopular, they already have minimal say in this day and age.
We'll be poppin bottles in no time.
Jim, it seems to me like you
Concerned Vineyarder ChilmarkJim, it seems to me like you are unwilling to even consider improving your business. OK, so prices are set...well then improve customer experience, set up loyalty programs, etc. If you were able to build this business without help, you should be able to use your creative business skill set to keep a foothold in the market. In the end, markets innovate, and those who cannot keep up with the competition will inevitably fail. Also, Uber started as a small business just like yours. The thing that grew them into this multi-billion dollar revenue producing powerhouse is ambition, creativity, and cleverness. If you were to adopt some of these traits, I have no doubt in my mind that you could protect some market share on the island. Think about what you specialize in, and if you can't think of anything that you do better than anyone else, then maybe you should come up with a few competitive advantages. It sounds to me like you are banking on this "island grown" ideology to play out. Instead, try to come up with some competitive advantages that would position your business to be an optimal choice for at least some subset of your target market. That way, people will have a reason to choose you over Uber. All I see in the above is a rant about corporations invading the Vineyard, when in reality, I should be seeing communication that Bluefish and Aquinnah Taxi are better options than Uber for X, Y, and Z. Until we see real benefit to using your company, I'm afraid your fears may be manifested.
"I keep my cabs clean and I
Samantha Church West Tisbury"I keep my cabs clean and I try to know the names of most of my regular customers and where they live. I drop my rates in the winter for our year round customers, without having to do so, I offer a discount for anybody the an Island Club card, and I've even helped little old ladies to their door on occasion. And don't tell anybody, I'll even let a customer charge a ride if they they're short on cash."
Jim's post isn't a "rant" it stating facts.
There are reasons to choose an island owned and island based company. Our vans are clean and safe, all have Ac, our driver wear uniforms, and we offer discounts for local and regular customers. We also charge the same amount for a fare no matter what time it is unlike Uber with there surge pricing.
Samantha Church
Co-Owner Bluefish & Aquinnah Taxi
To Concerned Vineyarder -- I
Jim Hickey West TisburyTo Concerned Vineyarder -- I actually said very clearly in my post I am willing to make changes to improve my company and the taxi industry on the Island. But then again it was a very long post, so I will say it again: I am happy to work with any committee or board to achieve changes for the better in the taxi industry here on the Vineyard. And if that means I have to sign up for an app that allows you to order one of my taxis from your phone then Ill look into it. If it means I have to offer little bottles of water in the taxis, yea I can do that. I am even willing to consider putting meters into my taxis, even though it will come at a huge cost and it will actually increase rates across the board. But were not talking about 'market innovation' here, we are talking about a international, multi-billion dollar operating with complete impunity as they circumvent the local regulations and laws that I am required to follow. Their drivers will not be required to undergo police background checks, their vehicles will not have to be insured at the same level mine do, and they will have complete freedom to jack up their rates when demand is highest. And Ill say it again, taxi companies DO NOT set the rates on Martha's Vineyard. The rates are set by the selectmen in each of the towns that license taxis -- which requires a public hearing to which people are invited to come and ask questions, make suggestion lodge complaints etc. Uber wouldn't have to go through this process, instead their rates are determined by an algorithm that jacks up the price when demand is higher and vehicles are in short supply. That's not innovation. That's dealing from a stacked deck.
"It sounds to me like you are
Competition is good! Tisbury"It sounds to me like you are banking on this "island grown" ideology to play out. Instead, try to come up with some competitive advantages that would position your business to be an optimal choice for at least some subset of your target market."
Well said!
So happy to see Uber come to
not surprised Martha's VineyardSo happy to see Uber come to the island (if they do). The taxi's should have embraced a metered system a long time ago and should use this opportunity to work different hours. If you can't find an uber driver after 10pm, maybe taxi's should come start work at 10 pm and provide a service for the first time in their existence.
Any islanders that have
Ed CisekAny islanders that have issues with island cabs should petition their selectmen about reforms. The taxi companies will comply with new regulations. Allowing an international cooperation to operate the taxi industry is not the correct solution.
Your earlier reply to my
JJ OBYour earlier reply to my comment when you said GPS can get you turned around and mark paths as roads. That's the problem of the town assessors since they are ones the GPS companies get their road information from. Maybe we should have an outside company come in and do that too.
I wonder if they'll charge an
Doug Ulwick oak bluffsI wonder if they'll charge an extra fee to transport a dog as some vineyard cab companies are doing?
“A California court has ruled
Benoit Baldwin West TisburyYou should wonder if they'll transport your dog at all. “A California court has ruled that ride-sharing service Uber must face a lawsuit that claims the company has discriminated against blind people by sometimes refusing service to passengers with guide dogs. A magistrate judge in San Jose said in a decision last week that the plaintiffs could argue that Uber is a “travel service” subjected to the parameters of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Reuters reports, rejecting Uber’s position that the plaintiffs couldn’t sue under the ADA. The company issued a statement saying drivers are told it’s policy to comply with all laws related to the transportation of passengers with service animals. The plaintiffs allege there were at least 40 instances when blind passengers with service animals had been refused service, with some drivers yelling “no dogs” to potential riders. In one case, the plaintiffs claim, one Uber driver was said to refuse a blind woman’s request to pull over after she learned her guide dog was locked in the vehicle’s trunk. The company, which has faced global complaints about its drivers’ pay and passenger treatment, has two weeks to respond to the complaint.” http://time.com/3829104/uber-lawsuit-blind/
I should think charging for
KatyI should think charging for dogs is legit. Cab drivers are cleaning up after your wet smelly tic loving animals. Would all your customers enjoy your smelly dog in your place of business? Then there is your next fare an individual who is allergic or dressed for a posh dinner out function and your cab is now covered in dog hair. Life would be ok if dog owners kept there pets/ dogs wet or otherwise of the seats and rendered some control over their dogs. yes after your dog leaves the taxi smells all day. Guess who takes time out to clean up your mess?
The app works very well, Uber
Bruce West TisburyThe app works very well, Uber is great. Let the Cab companies sign up with UBER... worth the %, everyone happy.
I have driven cab on the
Pete BostonI have driven cab on the vineyard and it's a gamble waiting for boats then people don't want to be squeezed in with strangers making stops before theirs and paying the same amount. Once someone took a ride to menemsha in my cab with no AC on an 86 degree day and the seats were ripped exposing the foam underneath and some of the roof hanging down all for 60 bucks and he said tell your boss this is the worst piece of crap that I ever paid for in my life he didn't even bother tipping. I felt humiliated with the condition of the cab it made noise on turns, shook at 35mpg and even hesitated to start before we departed. Now I drive uber in Boston it has been fantastic I don't have to wait long for a rider people know what to expect my car is always kept clean and maintained. I'm glad uber is on the island time to give those cab companies a real run for thier money uber is cheaper and more reliable than taxis and will benefit the residents and tourist tremendously this summer. I might even drive my car over for a weekend and do a couple of runs after some fun in the sun.
To the driver who tried to
Sad Oak BluffsTo the driver who tried to over charge me two (2) times last summer thinking I was a tourist, good luck buddy. Karma really is rough.
What a bunch of whiners and
Phillip McCavity Oak BluffsWhat a bunch of whiners and cry babies the current vineyard taxi owners are. Last time I checked we live in a free market economy. If you are so worried about Uber and other ride sharing companies than get your collective acts together and provide a superior service. People don't want to ride around with 5 other passengers they don't know in a 20 year old beat up Dodge van with no air conditioning in the middle of the summer.
Jim, with all due respect I
Peter peter Martha's VineyardJim, with all due respect I can't disagree with you more on several fronts.
There is more off island competition than you think, or at least are willing to admit.
First off, you giving 10% off with the island card just adds costs to everyone else that doesn't have it. You subsidize card holders at the expense of people that don't have the island card. It's like a supermarket just giving 10% off the top because they want to accept the island club card. The supermarkets, thin margins to begin with, raise there prices to cover that cost, ultimately costing us all. People hire off island companies all the time for building additions or full blown homes. All you have to do is look at the boat in the morning with literally hundreds of people a day walking off to do business here. Some are licensed, some are not, How do we know who walks off the boats on to our shore. We don't. We have off island competition that goes head to head with on island businesses. Stop and Shop vs Reliable Market, UPS and Fedex vs local taxis or delivery companies, off island banks vs island banks, pest control companies, lumber companies, clothing stores that are the likes of Lily Pulitzer, off island food delivery companies (Sysco-Sid Wainer-and more vs Island Food Products.It's all competition. Some can say Amazon is killing local business and has been for years! How about the Mansion House vs the larger company that just bought the Wesley or the corporation that owns the Harborview? All competition. Or better yet, Air B and B vs every lodging house on the island or even house rentals?
You're not going to stop this if it comes to the island. You're not. You can not hold back technology like this island tried to hold back expansion or "change" for the last 40 years. It's just not going to happen. What is going to happen is you can bet your bottom dollar that the Chamber of Commerce will embrace these UBER drivers and make them members because it's all about the money and nothing about the community with them. Mark my words, anyone can be a chamber member if they pay (business or not, Air B&B customer, home rental family or soon to be a Uber driver.
Peter you actually did
Jim Hickey West TisburyPeter you actually did disagree with me on several fronts (your opening salvo said differently). I know this talk of Uber has triggered the blood lust for many who dislike the taxis here on the Vineyard, but still I don't quite follow your point about how offering a 10 percent discount to Island Card holders actually costs others more (who don't have the card?) ... But that's not important, I just wanted to respond to your points about large corporations versus island businesses. To be clear, the taxi companies are not asking for special treatment they are just asking that this corporate giant be made to abide by the same rules and laws that they do. I don't think you argument about Stop and Shop versus Cronig's and Sysco versus IFP does not apply here, because all of those companies follow the same zoning laws and building codes and local regulations etc. I am sure both Stop & Shop and Cronig's have to meet health codes and get a business license from the town, and I am sure both Sysco and IFP have to make sure their drivers have commercial licenses and undergo background checks and their vans meet state and federal standards and laws. Uber is proposing to come here and make a complete end run around the local regulations the taxi companies are required to follow. Those regulations, among other things, make sure the drivers undergo police background checks and the vehicles are properly insured and safe. Uber wont have to do that. To borrow your analogy it would be like a Super Wall-Mart suddenly popping up on the Island overnight without gone through any planning review or receiving approval from the towns (or Martha's Vineyard Commission).
Jim, please reread the
Competition is good! TisburyJim, please reread the article. As starred, "The Baker administration is crafting a licensing framework, based on regulations issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The regulations, which went into effect in January, classify ride sharing services as transportation network companies. They require drivers be at least 21 years old with a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance. They must also undergo a criminal records check. Any applicant with more than three minor traffic violations in the preceding three years, such as speeding, defective equipment, or lane violations, is disqualified from getting a license. Anyone with a major traffic violation on their record, such as operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol, operating with a suspended licence, or leaving the scene of an accident, is also disqualified. Regulators aim to have the licensing procedure in place by mid-summer"
Uber is not completely unregulated.
Many people have spoken to the issue of whether or not the Island regulatory bodies should prohibit competition by a company that would hire locals and is legal in Massachusetts not whether or not one should get a ride with a local Uber driver or with a local taxi company. And this issue is not comparable to Walmart or McDonalds because local cars driven by local drivers on the roads of the Island will not change its character one bit as a mcdonalds on beach road certainly would.
I suggest that the taxi
Federal Antitrust Law ChilmarkI suggest that the taxi industry would be wise to understand federal antitrust law before they make public comments about too much competition in their industry. Town governments should understand the same law, because there are legal limits to their right to interfere with competition.
Uber is a great service!
Happy! EdgartownUber is a great service! Bring it on! Just not having to be jammed in a smelly, broken-down, van that makes four stops before getting me to Edgartown will be a joy!
Uber has insurance, Uber also goes out of their way to ensure their clients and drivers are safe and have a good experience. If I were a taxi driver on the Vineyard...I'd be signing up with Uber.
Many views appear that
Dan ChilmarkMany views appear that reflect different perspectives that expose underlying motivations. Cab companies exist not as some altruistic offer but as a way for the cab companies' owners to make money through regulated taxi service. We ought not be surprised, therefore, that cab companies utilize passenger vans to stack multiple fares. Stacking reduces or eliminates the need to purchase additional vehicles to roam or otherwise wait for the boats. Yes, the Towns do regulate the number of active cabs per company but that's life in the fish tank of commerce.
Uber capitalized an old model of promotion, what we once called Web 2.0 aka social media, to offer a scaled business based on market theory. In other words, the price of a ride reflects supply and demand. For example, peak demand during the summer creates higher prices for Uber cars and drives demand back to traditional taxis. Let's also remember that the taxi license fees paid to each town actually buys the right to prime taxi-only spaces. That reserved spot represents a gold mine for cab companies that's unavailable to the public and likewise off limits to Uber.
Does Uber truly represent a threat to bottom line as some would suggest? Perhaps the answer depends on whose wallet feels most affected.
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