Wednesday morning, I took an early lunch and headed to the Municipal Plaza Building to listen in on City Council’s Public Safety Committee meeting regarding rideshare, or transportation network companies (TNCs) – sparked by the recent arrival of Lyft and Uber in San Antonio. I’ve been following the rideshare issue since I got wind that they would make their debut here in San Antonio about a month ago. It was no surprise that our proud, local taxi companies greeted it with opposition, but I was curious to know their reasoning. With every accusation from detractors, logical solutions came to mind.
Arguments were made out of desperation, this was clear. It’s understandable to feel threatened. It’s understandable to be afraid.
This fear, however, is the very thing that’s holding our city back from being all it’s trying to be. But on the other hand, this fear is what helps us hold true to our roots and culture. Compromise and flexibility are the keys to finding a solution to this ongoing generational and technological battle – but that may be too much to ask in a fast-growing city.
Safety was, inevitably, a major issue during the forum. The accusations and assumptions were radical, to say the least. No matter what form of transportation is used, a safety risk is being taken. Cabs. Limos. Uber. Lyft. You’re putting your life in another’s hands. One woman taxi driver commented on the extra effort it would take to contact a distant Lyft manager or CEO about dangerous situations customers may encounter. If a person truly felt threatened, it seems quite ridiculous to focus on the administrative direction of an angry email. If a man or woman is assaulted or gets ripped off, they should contact the police. It is known that a few incidents have occurred under Lyft’s watch, but similar problems exist with cab drivers.
Having more certifications or training doesn’t make a dangerous person any less dangerous. Standard safety precautions are taken to become a Lyft/Uber driver. These customers and drivers know the risks, just as the cab drivers and their customers know and accept them.
Rideshare opponents touched on the exclusivity and/or discrimination that comes with only being able to book a Lyft using a smartphone. How will their poor, old, tech-challenged grandmother get to her doctor’s appointment if she can’t event open the app and utilize the very service they’re opposing? The confusion sets in. Are they proposing that Lyft/Uber improve their services to snag that clientele as well? So grandma can be fortunate enough catch a ride with these so-called “invaders?” It’s a niche market that these rideshare mobile applications serve, they aren’t looking to take over the entire vehicle for hire market.
Most that spoke against the TNCs made Lyft and Uber out to be these big businesses stepping on the little guy, stealing jobs and ruining lives. To me, these services are the ones being bullied by the big city cab corporations that are too stubborn to share. They’re creating jobs, and helping others get to theirs.
The reality of it all is that these services are aimed towards a certain demographic. The downtowners, urbanites, college students, and locals who need a “Lyft” from point A to point B. They don’t want to be waiting for an overpriced cab ride that lasts a fraction of the time they spent waiting for it. The cab drivers wouldn’t be running scared if they could compete with this level of service. This fit that the taxi industry is throwing is just giving Lyft and Uber some well-deserved advertisement.
*Featured/top image: Taxi drivers and media crowd the Public Safety Committee meeting room to hear talks about how San Antonio authorities will deal with rideshare/transportation network companies. Photo by Brandy Rae Perez.
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Been like that for 50+ years here
Great points throughout the piece. What’s wild about “fear” is that we often make a mountain out of a molehill. Solid points in this article.
Brandy makes very good points about our inability to get over our fears as a city. We’ve been this way for a long time. I wonder if it will ever change.
Right on! Make Lyft happen San Antonio. #supportthestache
I have no fear – I support new ideas and innovation – just take care of my fellow citizens, and we’re good. Great piece. Let’s make Lyft happen.
#cityontherise
I’ve spent a lot of time traveling and when I can, I always use Lyft to get me from place to place. The drivers are always on time, courteous and helpful when needed. SA is my home. Lyft would make a great addition to its transport offerings.
I used Uber twice today in Boston. It’s the best. Safer. Faster. Better service.
How does Lyft or other ride sharing services really hurt the cab, limo, bus industry? I have yet to read one story anywhere that Lyft or Uber has put those industries out of business. It’s just another option for citizens, that’s all. They are not going to kill the industry as they worry about so much.
I’ve been in more than one cab where I felt my life was threatened by erratic driving.
I’ve booked cabs that never showed.
I’ve sat in cabs and had to give directions.
Want to remove the threat of companies like these? Build a better mousetrap.
People design startups and small companies to solve problems. When they figure out a better way to do it than the status quo, they are called job killers and demonized.
Will some cab drivers lose jobs? Probably. Will there be incidents? Probably. Will most rides go off without a hitch? Probably.
I think the police should release a list of all the incidents reported involving cabs as a public document. I’m willing to bet the list won’t be short. Do we cut off cabs in the city because of it? Of course not. Do we close down bars because of the potential for drunk driving? No. Perhaps we should close the airport…we all know high jacking and crashes happen.
But of course, all of that is ridiculous. Give the world a chance to build a better mousetrap. I’m tired of progress being hindered by those who propose hypotheticals in order to spark fear.
Get it together San Antonio. Let’s try something new.
Love the reporting. Very refreshing to see someone shake it up. Thumbs up!
Good article. Well said.
On this, we can agree. 😉
The thing here is that Lyft could have adopted a strategy to deal with the inevitable regulatory action. They could have visited San Antonio months in advance and started work on a legal framework but they did not. I am sure that Google with Google Fiber made all the arrangements before hand to work out a deal with the City of San Antonio.
This was a problem because Lyft was unprepared. I challenged the validity of the law without realizing that this was a problem with communication. In this case, communications between COSA and Lyft would have made this a nonissue.
City of San Antonio = City of Mediocrity