UBER-X ------ WHAT THE TAXI INDUSTRY DOES NOT UNDERSTAND IS THAT UBER IS NOT SOME MINOR ENTITY LIKE CABCHARGE! Uber is fiercely determined to up-end the Australian taxi industry, regardless of what regulators and rivals may think. UBER HAS ENORMOUS BACKING AND, FOR THE TIME BEING, WILL CONTINUE TO THUMB THEIR NOSE AT GOVERNMENTS ALL AROUND THE WORLD. REGULATORS ARE REALLY STRUGGLING TO KNOW JUST WHAT TO DO - EXISTING PENALTIES ARE SIMPLY TOO LIGHT. WOULD IT BE BETTER TO HAVE A FIRESIDE CHAT WITH UBER AND REACH A COMPROMISE THAT SATISFIES:- * UBER; * GOVERNMENTS; and * REGULATORS. (NOTHING WILL SATISFY THE TAXI INDUSTRY - NOTHING AT ALL!). ____________________________________________________ UBER-X ------- THE SAGA CONTINUES WHILE SOME ARE GETTING ON WITH INTRODUCING REAL COMPETITION FOR TAXIS IN VICTORIA! THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO INTRODUCE MORE SUPPLY (VEHICLES - BE THEY LEGAL TAXIS AND/OR LEGAL HIRE CARS), OFFER CONSUMERS CHOICE AND, FAR MORE SIGNIFICANT, LOWER FARES. IF UBER-X IS LEGALISED, THAT WILL PROVIDE JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED - EVEN MORE COMPETITION WHICH MAY WELL MEAN THAT MANY TAXIS WILL NOT SURVIVE. THE DEMISE OF MAJOR PLAYERS IN A COMPETITIVE MARKET IS THE KEY INDICATOR THAT COMPETITION IS WORKING WELL AND, THEREFORE, CONSUMERS WILL BENEFIT AS EACH COMPETITOR FIGHTS FOR MARKET SHARE BY OFFERING BETTER SERVICE, A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PRODUCTS AND AT A VALUE-FOR-MONEY COST TO USERS. TAXIS CHARGE WAY TOO MUCH AS THEY TRY TO KEEP ALOFT THE HUGE CAPITAL LICENCE VALUES & KEEP TAXI LICENCE RENTS (ASSIGNMENTS) WAY TOO HIGH. TAXIS CANNOT COMPETE WHILE THEY CONCENTRATE ON KEEPING LICENCE COSTS PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE. YOU CANNOT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS - LOWER COSTS AND THEN LOWER FARES TO ATTRACT AND/OR RETAIN CUSTOMERS OR LOSE A GREAT DEAL OF CUSTOM TO THOSE WHO DO VALUE CUSTOMERS AND WILL OFFER THEM FAR BETTER VALUE-FOR-MONEY. ____________________________________________________ Uber-X featured in the ABCs 7.30 Report on 11th December 2014. For some time, the Victorian Taxi Services Commission has been conducting covert operations to catch Uber-X drivers. Many taxi industry participants have been very critical of the TSC in recent times but the regulator is bound by law to proceed cautiously if successful outcomes are to be achieved in the Uber-X case. The matters will now go to the courts and it will be an interesting time as prosecutions proceed. In the meantime, the debate about legalising Uber-X must continue - the regulator will (and must) not bow to pressure from the few vested interests in the taxi industry. We quote from the 7.30 Report transcript:- GRAEME SAMUEL: In some places, the governments have turned around and said, Look, this is good for consumers. In other jurisdictions, governments have taken a view that the taxi industry ought to be protected from further competition and so theyve taken a view that theyll ban the Uber X service. Im not sure the banning has actually been working cause Uber X just simply says, Were going to do it. and GREG HOY: After its undercover investigation, today the Victorian Taxi Commission launched court action against 12 Uber drivers in an attempt to inflict harsher penalties. Ubers lawyers claim the investigation was unlawful. Other states are watching and waiting to see who wins. This battle has only just begun. Uber is fiercely determined to up-end the Australian taxi industry, regardless of what regulators and rivals may think. and GRAEME SAMUEL, CHAIRMAN, VICTORIAN TAXI COMMISSION: Certainly in their operations over the past 12 months, theyve not been gaming the regulators, theyve just actually been thumbing their nose at them and saying, Were going to operate anyway. and ERIC WEITZMAN, UBER X DRIVER: Its only been going roughly six months, I think, in Melbourne now. More and more people are using it Its very - its got a social impact to it. People are using it more and more often. Theyre recommending it. and GREG HOY: 80 infringement notices have now been issued to Uber X drivers in Victoria and $130,000 in fines. Uber, it seems, has simply paid the lot. DAVID ROHRSHEIM: We dont think anybody should be fined for providing safe transport. We provide any support they need if they have trouble using our technology. abc.net.au/7.30/content/2014/s4147223.htm
Posted on: Thu, 11 Dec 2014 13:46:35 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015