Uber ride sharing service now legal in KC

[CrownVic95]

Originally Posted by xenokc

Autos killed streetcar type service in most Midwest cities and partly destroyed the city cores but that's another topic. Mass transit and personal transit (cab/uber type services) both have their place for different situations.

Uber just uses a different biz model with different approach. It will impact traditional cab service (that KC already has), not existing transit plans.

And this current silly fad revolving around the attempt to make city cores what they were in 1890 makes the same sense as having a record shop on every city block. But many of today's youth are on board with it because it's the hippest way now to rebel against their parents.

Different situations is the key phrase above. Personal transit is the much preferred transportation mode by the vast majority of the population where there is room for cars and parking....like there is in KC. Mass transit is a last resort option that KC has the luxury of needing minimal use of.

If Uber really gets going, it will indeed be a distraction from the mindless push for extensive and ambitious new mass transit programs - that KC needs like it needs another ice storm - and that's why kcmo is so threatened by it.

[xenokc]

Originally Posted by kcmo

What does high speed internet have to do with this topic? I just don't see the benefit in KC. It will just put more people in personal cars when the city is trying so hard to get people out of them.

You said other cities could take advantage of it more and I was giving example of services that are still useful in KC even though other cities may take more advantage of them.

It's just another cab service with a different biz model that other cities aren't allowing, yet is in demand. KC already has decent cab service. This will more likely impact the old cab service biz model. Personal transit costs quite a bit more than mass transit. It likely wouldn't alter plans for expanding mass transit in KC anymore than the existing cab model - it's just adding another cab company to the city. If anything, better mass transit will reduce personal transit not other way around and at least using cabs reduces needs for parking and surface lots - step in right direction for KC.

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by xenokc

You said other cities could take advantage of it more and I was giving example of services that are still useful in KC even though other cities may take more advantage of them.

It's just another cab service with a different biz model that other cities aren't allowing, yet is in demand. KC already has decent cab service. This will more likely impact the old cab service biz model. Personal transit costs quite a bit more than mass transit. It likely wouldn't alter plans for expanding mass transit in KC anymore than the existing cab model - it's just adding another cab company to the city. If anything, better mass transit will reduce personal transit not other way around and at least using cabs reduces needs for parking and surface lots - step in right direction for KC.

I see your point. Seems like a double edged sword to me. I don't think it's a game changer either way, just wondering how it might impact KC vs other cities with more established transit and urban lifestyles.

[xenokc]

Yeah, maybe not a game changer, just a different biz model of a traditional service. Kudos to the Mayor for embracing it and actually helping them out.