Anyone here used the car service called Lyft? City council is trying to derail it's success...

[mkarch]

Originally Posted by flyingsaucermom

A permanent system will solidify who gets services and who doesn't.

Exactly. Capriciously changing which areas have service doesn't promote stability. Why build buildings meant to last 50+ years when the transportation infrastructure might leave after 5? Why develop around fixed corridors when you can just lobby for a new corridor and take the transportation away from an older one? I can guarantee that once an existing corridor is 'built out' developers will start on a new one with the goal of enticing people away from the 'old' areas. Works well for the developers, not so much for the people who own property and/or live in the areas the developers are done profiting from.

[flyingsaucermom]

Originally Posted by mkarch

Exactly. Capriciously changing which areas have service doesn't promote stability. Why build buildings meant to last 50+ years when the transportation infrastructure might leave after 5? Why develop around fixed corridors when you can just lobby for a new corridor and take the transportation away from an older one? I can guarantee that once an existing corridor is 'built out' developers will start on a new one with the goal of enticing people away from the 'old' areas. Works well for the developers, not so much for the people who own property and/or live in the areas the developers are done profiting from.

So the problem is with developers/master planning and not with transportation? Or both?

[mkarch]

Originally Posted by flyingsaucermom

So the problem is with developers/master planning and not with transportation? Or both?

It's both. The developers have little incentive to take on master plans. Their job is done once the buildings are built. The developers have a financial incentive towards early obsolescence. The sooner they can sell new properties the better. If that comes at the expense of established neighborhoods, that's not their problem.

The developer interests don't support fixed transportation corridors unless they happen to be the ones to do the building when it goes in. They're not particularly concerned with the future viability of a property/area the way the city, owners and residents are. That's where transportation planning comes in.

Fixed corridors focus development interest on areas with a long term plan, not just "what can we build an sell within the next 36 months".

[Havefunwiththat]

I can't wait for Lyft and Uber to corner the market and wipe out the taxi industry and any other form of transportation that is relatively affordable. Then jack up the price on everyone that says "let the free market decide" and continues to shout down the Taxi drivers that are just trying to make a living. You'll be faced with no choice then, you'll have to pay Lyft and Uber overinflated prices because there's no other competition to them, no more taxi's. Cities won't get tax funds from the Taxi industry anymore, money that goes towards paying for the fixing of roads and other vehicle related costs that the city incurs. I wonder where the city will find the money that they'll lose from the taxi industry? Oh, I know, by raising the taxes on other things in the city that Uber and Lyft lovers need/want. Live it up now, you'll starve tomorrow.

[Hemlock140]

Originally Posted by Havefunwiththat

I can't wait for Lyft and Uber to corner the market and wipe out the taxi industry and any other form of transportation that is relatively affordable.

These services are also affecting the bus ridership, as are Car2Go and Zipcar, but not to the extent they are affecting cabs. I really don't expect Lyft and Uber to "corner the market" here, the City has always been very much involved in regulation of cabs and is not about to let these services take over. More likely Lyft and Uber will go away or be greatly reduced when are forced to charge at least as much as the cabs.
Their only advantage at that point will be their superior customer service.

[mkarch]

Originally Posted by Havefunwiththat

I can't wait for Lyft and Uber to corner the market and wipe out the taxi industry and any other form of transportation that is relatively affordable. Then jack up the price on everyone that says "let the free market decide" and continues to shout down the Taxi drivers that are just trying to make a living. You'll be faced with no choice then, you'll have to pay Lyft and Uber overinflated prices because there's no other competition to them, no more taxi's. Cities won't get tax funds from the Taxi industry anymore, money that goes towards paying for the fixing of roads and other vehicle related costs that the city incurs. I wonder where the city will find the money that they'll lose from the taxi industry? Oh, I know, by raising the taxes on other things in the city that Uber and Lyft lovers need/want. Live it up now, you'll starve tomorrow.

It's refreshing to hear an illogical and highly speculative take on this issue! Thanks.

[JBVirtuoso]

Originally Posted by mkarch

It's refreshing to hear an illogical and highly speculative take on this issue! Thanks.

Hey now. That very educational post taught me that having more firms in the market leads to less competition and higher prices.