Hundreds of cab drivers protest outside San Jose City Hall

[alp227]

Source: San Jose Mercury News

SAN JOSE -- More than one hundred taxi cab drivers circled San Jose City Hall on Wednesday, honking their horns angrily to protest a proposal that would allow Uber and similar companies to pick up passengers at the airport.

"They're taking our money and stealing our services," said Shakur Buni, a Yellow Cab driver for 20 years, and president of the San Jose airport driver's association. "We will be out of business if they don't take care of this."

The plan under consideration would allow Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, and other "prearranged passenger transportation services" to obtain a ground transportation permit to pick up passengers at the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport. The City Council will consider approving the proposal Tuesday.

The Uber drivers would be required to pay permit and trip fees, similar to the taxi cab companies, but Yellow Cab officials say it's still not a level playing field.

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_28198000/hundreds-cab-drivers-protest-outside-san-jose-city

[bluestateguy]

1. I hate Uber and I hate the cab companies

So I kind of like seeing them fight each other.

[mpcamb]

6. Not sure if

You gotta problem or they do.

[Starry Messenger]

7. Both of them make life suck for their employees.

Their fighting each other only hurts the drivers, which is the real point here.

[ToxMarz]

2. Uber as a sevice is great, the business model is horrible for the economy

Everyone loves using Uber and the price, but the drivers are working for less than minimum wage trying to make ends meet, killing jobs and local business (much as it's disliked) that people can make an honest living. All the cash leaves the community to Wall Street. And the drivers are just a place keeper until they can get their fleets of self driving cars on the road.

[mpcamb]

8. Dunno. The cost of leaving an airport is inflated.

Compare any European city where a trip by public transport downtown is reasonable.

Cabbies aren't overpaid, but the price to leave an airport is very pumped up.

This may be a breakthrough for reasonable exit prices. I say this as a 3 generation union guy.

[KeepItReal]

3. Lyft and Uber drivers don't complain about where I want to be dropped off

And they have NEVER refused to stop for me or demand cash instead of a credit card when I'm on a business trip.

Taxi drivers have done all the above to me.

Evolve or be made irrelevant.

[Psephos]

4. The past is not a blueprint for the future.

It's what the word "progressive" actually means.

Technological advance is reducing the relevancy and competitiveness of the century-old city cab model. I understand why they're protesting (their own self-interest, natch), but I am very happy to have better choices, and expect to have more.

[cstanleytech]

5. Don't the taxi drivers have to pay a pretty hefty fee for their license's? If so then the money

they spent should be refunded and the license's should be abolished.

[mpcamb]

9. Good point. Tangled situation.

!) What's the likelihood of a city giving up a long standing tax?

2) What else do you need?

In truth, I like a competitive price on airport exit costs. Sorry if it's your bread and butter, but it's way too high most places.

[cstanleytech]

11. Some of that is due to the license requirement I bet but from

what I have read the licenses also make sense so as to reduce the congestion that having an unregulated taxi service's could cause on the road's.

[KamaAina]

10. This from the cab drivers who got the city to institute a $15 minimum fare

on all airport pickups. Upon first arriving here, I figured I was in pretty good shape, with my hotel less than a mile from the airport. Then they socked me with the $15 minimum fare! And now they're complaining about competition from Lyft and Uber?!

[displacedtexan]

12. Any Uber trip one way in San Francisco is $7.

That's from anywhere to anywhere within 49 square miles. And they arrive in about 10 minutes or less after you call. When we moved here 3 years ago, the taxi dispatchers were so stoned that we had to spend over an hour on the phone with them, and the taxi never arrived. Thank goodness for Muni.

We absolutely love Uber, but we prefer taking BART or a shuttle service to and from the airport.