The popular ride-share program Uber is lobbying to expand their services to the college haven of upstate New York. Quite frankly, I am shocked they aren’t there already. This might be why 80% of the state’s drinking-related auto accidents take place outside Manhattan, in northern hubs like Buffalo and Rochester. It could also be attributed to the fact that most of the driving in the state happens outside of New York City since the majority of its residents don’t own cars. Either way, where there are colleges there is drinking and where there are roads there is driving so there should be as many alternatives to drunk driving as possible.
Wait, What’s a Cab Again?
As a Los Angeles resident, it’s hard to remember life before Lyft and Uber. Though it’s only been two-and-a-half years since the oversized pink mustache first graced the streets of our fair city, the convenient and affordable ride-share programs fill a gap we desperately needed. Coming from Boston, Massachusetts, where public transportation is at your disposal, relocating to Southern California in 1999—where there were few options beyond driving or being emotionally abused by a cab driver —certainly put a damper on my drinking career. Okay, it didn’t—but it really should have.
It’s a Great Option and Should Be Available
Thankfully, I escaped my partying days without a DUI but that is merely a technicality. I could probably drive up Laurel Canyon at night with my eyes closed because I basically navigated it that way for four years. I am one of the lucky ones; I never got pulled over or hurt anyone. Some people aren’t so fortunate, which is why it is a godsend to have peer-driven transportation available. This is why it’s hard to believe Uber is getting pushback from cities with drinking and driving problems, especially college towns.
There have been arguments that Uber rides are generally operated by civilians, not professional drivers and that they take work away from taxis. But, my god, if you have ever been in a cab in New York or LA, it’s really hard to feel bad about that. Even though I don’t drink anymore I still use Lyft when I don’t feel like fighting traffic or looking for parking. I can’t express to you the joy of not being enslaved to an abrasive cabbie whose driving technique requires Dramamine and noise-canceling headphones to drown out the sound of them yelling on speakerphone. With peer-driven services, I may not be getting a licensed professional but I’m also not getting a raving lunatic (or at least someone who acts like one). Taking a ride through Uber is really no different than taking a ride from a friend. Plus, I can set it up in less than a minute through an app on my phone. Other than sex, I thoroughly support anything that doesn’t require me to have to interact with other humans.
A Bully with a Heart of Gold
Apparently, part of the problem Uber is having is that they have earned a reputation for being “aggressive” in taking over markets, making their business ethics and tactics unappealing for bureaucrats in charge of giving them the green light. This is understandable. No one likes a bully to come in and steamroll over anyone’s livelihood but I think the success of these programs should be an indication that it’s time for cab culture to change. There is a demand for these services and taxis have monopolized the space for too long. Their (generally) crappy customer service is a direct result of that. We are a country that supports free enterprise, for better or for worse, so it’s time for cabbies to up the ante. Lyft drivers often offer their passengers bottled water, a place to charge your cell phone and a say in what plays on the radio. While this might be a bit much for most cab drivers to handle, perhaps the competition will force them to at least be cordial.
Photo courtesy of Gratisography
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