Uber ban @ Boston Convention and Exhibition Center?

[left-of-center2012]

A measure that would give licensed taxis five years of exclusive rights to the BCEC would force the convention center to use a “geo-fence,” or electronic blocker, to restrict the app-based ride-hailing services from accessing customers there, said James Folk, the BCEC’s transportation director.

“You’d have to put up a geo-fence around our property, which encompasses an area down to E Street. That would affect businesses across the street, the Dunkin’ Donuts, hotels. ... One of our venues is the Lawn on D. 
A lot of millennials who go out there use (transportation network companies).”

It could also affect service at the Westin Hotel next door, the Boston Herald across the street and other nearby corporate offices and condos.

Read more at:
http://www.bostonherald.com/business/business_markets/2016/04/proposed_uber_ban_at_bcec_could_limit_service_in_seaport_district

[jonno99]

1. As a general principle, I'm not in favor of the govt. picking winners & losers. nt

[left-of-center2012]

2. I use Uber all the time now

I've used them about 120 times in the past twelve months (doctors' appointments, shopping, pharmacy, etc).
They typically arrive in about 5 minutes.

I needed a ride at 5 A.M. this past Monday to get to a medical test at a hospital and had to call a taxi as no Uber was available at that hour.
It took the taxi 45 minutes to arrive.

[jonno99]

3. Exactly. I understand the argument that taxi unions suffer and/or are at a

disadvantage because of the competition they face with Uber. The onus is on them though to "produce" a better product - not ask their customers to suffer.

If you ask me, it's like comparing the post office with FedEx, or UPS, etc. Should we abolish every delivery service that employs non-union workers? Well, it depends on who you ask...

[arendt]

4. Uber is Robbery

Taxi drivers pay tens of thousands of dollars for "medallions" - licenses to operate. They buy them in the expectation that they can be resold.

As long as laws are enforced, the value of medallions will be driven by supply and demand. Uber just barges in with no license. They are literally stealing money from drivers who made a major investment and played by the rules.

If Uber were honest, they would buy medallions. But then they would be bound by those inconvenient regulations.

Fuck Uber and it's libertarian pick CEO, Travis Kalineck. Making billions by dismantling the government.