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posted by n1 on Monday July 06 2015, @08:10PM   Printer-friendly
from the next-stop-is-the-east-side-motel dept.

Mexico City is proposing regulations that would allow Uber and other smartphone-based ride-sharing apps to operate, while requiring drivers and cars to be registered, the city's Office of Legal and Legislative Studies said Friday.

The proposed regulation also calls for such companies to pay into a fund for transportation infrastructure. The city would create an app for licensed taxis and help pay for their GPS technology.

[...] The Organized Taxi Drivers of Mexico City have pushed the city to regulate or ban Uber, saying it's unfair that its drivers avoid costly licensing and inspections that taxis must undergo to operate. On Friday, spokesman Daniel Medina emphasized that the proposal is still under construction and the organization continues to meet with city officials, including on Friday.

Uber, meanwhile, said it is not against regulation. "Regulation that allows us to continue to provide service that is quality, safe and efficient," said Luis de Uriarte, Uber spokesman for Mexico and Central America. "We don't want them putting up any obstacles."


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  • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 06 2015, @08:48PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 06 2015, @08:48PM (#205832)

    this has been tried and failed, i suspect only because of the entrenched taxi companies are unwilling to embrace changes of any kind.

    we have a service in my city that you dial #taxi from any cell and it gets you first taxi company available, they had a similar app but it disappeared shortly after it came out

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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by vux984 on Monday July 06 2015, @08:57PM

    by vux984 (5045) on Monday July 06 2015, @08:57PM (#205836)

    this has been tried and failed,

    And this has been tried and succeeded. I was in Melbourne last year, and my host summoned a cab for me on an app. Work great.

    i suspect only because of the entrenched taxi companies are unwilling to embrace changes of any kind.

    Doubtful. They want to cut costs and increase profits same as anyone. And if they can replace half their dispatch staff with app, improve scheduling, and fleet management they will jump on it -- in other words the app has to make them money. If it does, they'll buy-in. It's that simple.

    • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Monday July 06 2015, @09:45PM

      by bob_super (1357) on Monday July 06 2015, @09:45PM (#205849)

      The problem comes from the fact that the cab driver is always on the phone.
      So the only way to add digital dispatch is to provide a second car-mounted smart device. Car-mounted is expensive, so you need an off-the-shelf device instead.
      At this point, the odds of someone getting mugged by a junkie are multiplied.

      • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Monday July 06 2015, @10:12PM

        by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Monday July 06 2015, @10:12PM (#205861) Journal

        Car-mounted is expensive, so you need an off-the-shelf device instead.

        I couldn't imagine that life in this world is so bad that <$6 is considered expensive [aliexpress.com]. Really?

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      • (Score: 2) by vux984 on Monday July 06 2015, @10:29PM

        by vux984 (5045) on Monday July 06 2015, @10:29PM (#205868)

        The problem comes from the fact that the cab driver is always on the phone.

        Yeah, that's changing fast. (emphasis mine)

        "Handheld cell phone use and texting is prohibited for all New York drivers. All cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) is prohibited for New York City taxi drivers and for novice drivers.

        And similar rules are taking effect all over the place.

        So the only way to add digital dispatch is to provide a second car-mounted smart device.

        Which is what is happening; and given they already have gps, credit card payment, fare tracking, and fleet tracking systems installed, this is pretty much a no-brainer to add. It's going to happen.

  • (Score: 2) by frojack on Monday July 06 2015, @10:26PM

    by frojack (1554) on Monday July 06 2015, @10:26PM (#205865) Journal

    It is also specifically illegal in many jurisdictions in the US. Another way the Taxi Industry makes sure there is ZERO competition. In many places cabbies can get in trouble if you know them and call them personally on their private cell phone.

    Want to start some trouble at a taxi waiting area such as an airport? Just walk past the first cabs in line to the third or fourth! Everyone will cuss you out in a wealth of foreign languages, especially if there aren't a lot of customers looking for cabs. (Although single women can get away with this as long as they jump in a cab with a female hack).

    Cabs must not compete. Its some kind of unwritten rule it seems.

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